![IOS app preview](https://static.giggster.com/media/ios-banners/phone-mini@1x.png)
We live in an era when most viewers prefer audio and visual content and multiple videos are vying for their attention, so you'll want your media project to stand out. Lucky for you, there's no shortage of video studio spaces you can book to create exceptional videos and films, be it for a company, entertainment, or personal use.
Even if you found a good filming location, there are things you can only accomplish in a controlled production space. Here are some activities and projects that can benefit from a well-equipped video studio:
Music Video Shoot
Although music videos are short, they have multiple scenes and each often requires a different backdrop. Instead of traveling from one place to another, you can shoot everything in one location by building various sets in a studio.
Film Shoot
Have you ever wondered how those impressive special effects in movies and TV shows are made? The secret is unveiled inside the walls of video studios that are equipped with green screens, computer-generated imagery, virtual production, and other technologies to create illusions and fantastical visuals.
Photo Shoot
Aside from film productions, video spaces can also double as a photo studio with a well-lit area and a blank backdrop for capturing all kinds of images. Some may have a separate room for photo shoots complete with a make-up room, lighting equipment, and props.
Commercials and Ads
Private organizations and businesses use commercials and video ads to inform and attract attention. They're shorter than music videos, just around 30 seconds so they must be impactful. Marketers and commercial producers may look for studio rentals to shoot the broadcasting material.
Educational/Corporate Videos
While most corporate videos are made to promote the brand and raise awareness about the company, others are used for training, instruction, and education. If your office is too small or you don't have enough tools to create quality videos, renting a studio is a must.
Film shoots require a lot of time, money, and resources, and the location can bring you over your budget limit and throw you off your schedule. When you film on set, no distance or bad weather can ruin your shoot. But before you set your heart on any studio space, you should know what to look for to narrow your search.
Lighting
The sun is your source of natural light, but closed spaces have very little to no access to it. Find a production studio with huge windows for natural daylight or a place with quality artificial light sources to create moods and looks based on what a scene requires.
Size
You don't necessarily need a large studio space unless you have a big crew, multiple props, and are filming different sequences. If there's only one or a few subjects and they don't need to do a lot of movements, a room as small as 12 by 18 feet can work.
Facilities
Create a list of facilities, filming equipment, and amenities you need like camera gear, lighting grid, parking, dressing room, sound equipment, restroom, etc. Define your non-negotiables and check if they have everything you'll need for your project. The last thing you'd want is to arrive on set only to discover you won't be able to accomplish your vision.
Additional Rooms
Depending on your project, you may only need one area to record a few scenes or a large production studio with additional rooms you can rent. Perhaps you need standing sets for authentic filming locations like a padded room, a scientific lab, or an interrogation room for investigation scenes. You might also want access to an office space and the green room.
The perfect location for video shoots is different for everyone—it may be a combination of a studio set and a real place you can visit. But if you decide to film everything under one roof, here are ways to improve your video production studio and enhance your story:
Quality Video Equipment and Props
Some studios have in-house filming equipment, pros, accessories, and other items you may need for the shoot, while others only have an empty room. If it doesn’t have those filming necessities, you can dress it up for your creative project or rent it from a local production supplier.
Soundproofing
You don’t want the microphone to pick up roadway noise or the sound of screaming kids outside the studio. If the studio has poor or subpar soundproofing, you’d have to invest in better soundproofing solutions to block background noise.
Good Light Sources
Even if you have a good script, a compelling story, and outstanding actors in front of the camera, if the lighting throughout your video is bad, you’ll lose your audience’s interest. Improve the viewer experience by playing around with different light sources. Allow the natural light in during the day and use artificial light effectively for every scene.
Backdrops
You won’t have much to work with the bare walls of a production studio, so you’ll have to rely on backdrops to create the look and setting you want. A seamless paper works great for eliminating distracting backgrounds and is beneficial for still photography. You can also use a green screen to make characters and scenes appear to take place in different locations.
With over half of the world's population owning a camera phone, anyone can pretty much make a video anywhere and whenever they want. But the question is, will it be quality? You might get lucky and make decent content but video production studios do a great job, thanks to a team of experts that make it happen.
Studio Manager
Video production studios are in demand and conflict with schedules can occur without someone managing them. That's one of the roles of a studio manager, along with ensuring that equipment and facilities are available and working properly
Camera Operator
A member of the camera crew, a camera operator works with the cinematographer and director to record scenes or images for TV or film productions. They must have hand-eye coordination to capture clear footage, attention to detail, and visual instincts for identifying the best camera angles.
Audio and Video Technicians
When you need experts to manage speakers, recording equipment, microphones, video screens, monitors, and projectors, you’ll have to contact audio and video technicians. They operate all equipment and tools for recorded and live events, be it for filming, sporting events, news conferences, meetings, concerts, or podcasts.
Lighting Technician
If you have problems with lighting or need to add more lights for better illumination for certain sequences, get the attention of a lighting technician. The chief lighting technician is called the gaffer, who can also be the head of the electric department.
Video Editor
You might notice that the videos you took using your camera don’t look as good as the ones you see on screen despite using the same camera model and settings. That’s all thanks to the skill of professional editors who transform raw video footage and clips into beautiful, finished videos.
Filming is a long process, especially if it's a full-length movie or a television series. It requires a lengthy preparation and part of it is securing a production studio. Don't wait until the last minute before booking one, and here are several reasons why:
Avoid Delays
The script is ready, you have a complete cast, and your production team is complete, but without a stage or studio set, you'll have to delay the shooting schedule. When you book early, you can film on time and have all the equipment and set ready to go.
Guarantee Availability
Large-scale productions require big studio spaces, and there are only a few major production sites in every city. Many sought-after sound stages get fully booked in advance, which means you'll have to find other alternatives or smaller video production studios.
More Options
Booking well in advance allows you to access more photo and film studio spaces. You can examine each location carefully and make the best choice based on your specific needs and budget.
More Planning Time
Once you've secured the production venue for your next project early, you have more time to gather all essential props and materials, build the set according to the director's vision, and finalize all details. You have one less thing to worry about and more time to plan and prepare.
Promote Your Content
Whether it's an indie or a feature film, it takes a big audience for it to become a blockbuster hit and you need good promotional content to give them something to look forward to. When you book a studio early, you can start filming a gripping teaser that gets them hooked and makes them more curious.
It's very unlikely that a movie or TV show is filmed entirely in an actual location. With CGIs and other high-end filming technologies, it's sometimes hard to determine what's shot in a real-life setting and a production studio. Often, filmmakers use a combination of both to create realistic scenes.
Friends
A perfect example of a creative work filmed in a studio and on location is the hit American sitcom Friends. The series was set in New York and used several real-life NYC locations, including the New York University and the West Village. Viewers will probably recognize the exterior of these buildings, but their interiors were actually filmed in a Los Angeles Studio.
Thor: Love and Thunder
If you’re a fan of Marvel movies and followed the heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe from the beginning, chances are you’ve seen the 2022 Thor movie called Thor: Love and Thunder. It also used actual places in Australia and Canada like Sydney’s Centennial Park, but since the protagonist has powers and is a galactic superhero, a studio is needed to make the visual effects look real.
Mare of Easttown
Have you followed Kate Winslet’s journey as detective Mare Sheehan in this gripping miniseries? If so, you’re probably familiar with the fictionalized Easttown, which is supposed to be a town in Chester, Pennsylvania. While they feature several real places in the series, most scenes take place inside a studio on a soundstage.
Whether it's a small or large production project, choosing a filming location is a major decision that not only affects the quality of your output but also everyone's filming experience. But why suffer when you can make it easy on yourself by booking a video studio space with Giggster? It doesn't matter if it's for a music video, indie movie, documentary, or short film—Giggster has you covered.