A video brief is a one-page document that tells a production company what you need, why, and by when. It does not have to be long or polished. It has to be specific, because every vague line in a brief turns into a guess in the quote and a question later in the project. Below is a template you can copy, followed by notes on how to fill in each part. Here is how we handle it: corporate video.
The template
| Section | What to write |
|---|---|
| Goal | What should change after people watch this video? |
| Audience | Who exactly will watch it, and where? |
| Key message | The one thing viewers must remember |
| Format and length | Main film length, plus cut-downs and vertical versions |
| Languages | English, Arabic, other languages; voice-over or subtitles |
| Content | Interviews, product, process, locations, events |
| People on camera | Staff, executives, customers, presenters |
| Locations | Addresses, access rules, preferred days |
| Look and tone | Two or three reference videos and what you like in them |
| Deadline | When the final files are needed, and any fixed event dates |
| Budget range | A range helps the production company choose the right approach |
| Approvals | Who gives feedback and who signs off |
Goal: one sentence, one change
"We need a company video" is not a goal. "Help candidates understand what working at our warehouse is like, so fewer people leave in the first month" is. A clear goal decides everything else: which scenes to film, who speaks, how long the film is and where it will be published.
Audience: be specific
Name the viewers: procurement managers at hotels, graduates in the UAE, investors in Europe, existing customers. Note where they will watch — on a phone with the sound off, on a laptop in a meeting, on a screen at an exhibition stand. That changes the length, the subtitles and the framing.
Key message: choose one
Most videos try to say too much. Pick the single idea you want people to remember, then list two or three supporting points at most. Everything else can live on your website.
Formats and versions
List every version you will need at the start, not after the edit:
- main film (for example, 2 minutes, 16:9);
- 30- and 15-second cut-downs;
- vertical 9:16 versions for Reels, TikTok and Stories;
- square versions for LinkedIn;
- Arabic and English subtitles or voice-over.
Planning versions before the shoot lets the crew frame shots that work in every format. See shoot once for every format.
Content, people and locations
Describe what should appear on screen: the production line, the team at work, the product in use, a customer site. Name the people who will be interviewed and their roles. Give the addresses of locations and any access rules — security passes, safety inductions, filming hours, permits for public areas. Read about filming permits in Dubai.
References: show, then explain
Links to two or three videos you like are more useful than adjectives such as "modern" or "dynamic". Add one line about each: "the pace", "the way interviews mix with work footage", "the colours". Include one example of what you do not want.
Deadline and budget
Give the date you need the final files and any fixed dates, such as an event or a launch. A budget range is not a commitment; it helps the production company suggest the right number of shooting days and crew instead of quoting something unrealistic. Related: what drives the cost of a corporate video.
Approvals
Write down who gives feedback and who has the final say. Projects slow down most when new people join the review at the last stage. More on this: how to give feedback on a video edit.
A short example
Goal: show hotel procurement teams how our laundry service works, so they request a site visit. Audience: hotel operations and procurement managers in the UAE; watched on laptops and on LinkedIn. Message: consistent quality at scale. Formats: 2-minute film, 30-second cut, two vertical clips, English with Arabic subtitles. Content: facility tour, quality checks, delivery, two client-facing managers interviewed. Location: one site in Dubai Investments Park, filming before 11:00. Deadline: final files by 15 March. Approvals: marketing manager, then the general manager.
That is enough for an accurate quote and a sensible shooting plan.
Common mistakes
- Writing a script before agreeing on the goal.
- Listing every product and service in one film.
- Forgetting vertical versions until after the shoot.
- Choosing interviewees on the day.
- Adding new reviewers at the final cut.
Questions people ask
Do we need a script before contacting a production company?
No. A clear brief is enough. A good production company will help shape the script or interview questions.
How long should a brief be?
One page is ideal. If it is longer, put the essentials first.
How we use your brief
At Fat Cat Media we turn your brief into a shot list, a schedule and an itemised quote, and suggest where a shorter or simpler approach would serve the goal better. We have worked with companies across the UAE since 2012. See our corporate video service or send your brief on WhatsApp.
Need help with corporate video?
Company profiles, factory and office films, recruitment and training videos. Send us a short brief and we will come back with an itemised quote.
