You’re Getting Screwed by Video Companies: Here’s How and Why
Video marketing works. But if your budget feels like it’s vanishing faster than a magician’s rabbit, you’re not imagining things. Many businesses are discovering a hard truth: You’re getting screwed by video companies who pad the budget with unnecessary crew members, extra equipment, and inefficiencies that bloat the final bill. It’s time to pull back the curtain.
Let’s break down the illusion, and teach you what to watch for before signing that next production contract.
The Overstaffed Circus
Some video crews show up like they’re filming the next Avengers sequel. Suddenly your small corporate video needs:
- A director
- An assistant director
- A director of photography
- A gaffer
- A grip
- A production assistant
- A guy whose job is literally to hold a clipboard and point
Do you need all of them? No. In most cases, smaller shoots can be done with a lean, experienced crew who knows how to wear multiple hats. If you’re not working with a full-blown commercial agency or a multi-camera feature shoot, you’re likely paying for people who contribute nothing but extra invoices. That’s how you’re getting screwed by video companies, not through deception, but by “standard practices” that make no practical sense for your project.
The Gear That Never Leaves the Van
Nothing says “professional” like a production truck full of high-end gear, right? Except when half of it never gets used.
Many companies bring:
- Large cranes (for a conference room interview)
- Light panels fit for a Hollywood sound stage
- Audio racks big enough to record a rock concert
This creates two problems:
- You’re paying for equipment you don’t need
- Your shoot time gets eaten by setup and breakdown
Every minute spent lugging and loading is a minute you’re paying for. And while the lights may look cool in behind-the-scenes photos, if they’re not serving your story, they’re just expensive decorations.
Inflating the Invoice…Silently
Video companies sometimes add services you never asked for. Watch for these red flags:
- Unrequested color grading sessions
- Unnecessary reshoots
- Extra edits not agreed upon in scope
- Licensing fees for royalty-free music (yes, really)
Worse yet, these costs often show up after the shoot, buried in your final invoice. The result? Sticker shock.
When you’re quoted one thing and invoiced another, you’re getting screwed by video companies who assume you won’t challenge the extras.
How to Protect Yourself
Here’s what savvy companies do to stay in control:
- Demand a detailed breakdown of crew roles and equipment.
- Get a clear scope of work in writing before filming starts.
- Ask if any equipment or personnel can be removed to reduce cost.
- Request transparency on post-production fees, including licensing and editing.
- Work with producers who are client-focused, not ego-driven.
A good company won’t bristle when you ask these questions. They’ll appreciate your interest in clarity, because that’s how real partnerships are built.
Final Thought: Cut the Fluff, Not the Quality
A great video doesn’t require a Hollywood crew. It requires strategy, clarity, and a creative team that respects your time and budget. At Episode 11 Productions, we built our reputation by staying lean, effective, and honest. We don’t unload gear we’ll never use. We don’t bring twelve crew members for a single-camera shoot. And we never forget: your video is about results, not showboating.
So before your next shoot, ask yourself, do you want to impress your customers or your videographers? Because only one of them is paying the bill.
Citations
•https://www.videomaker.com/article/c10/14728-hiring-a-video-crew-how-many-people-do-you-need
•https://fstoppers.com/business/how-not-get-screwed-your-next-video-production-budget-540933
•https://www.studiobinder.com/blog/film-crew-positions/
