Commercial Production Workflow & Capabilities

Curious what it’s like to work with Vive?

Jump to any section below to learn the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about video production.

Process

Our dedicated in-house team and 10+ years of industry experience set us apart from other production companies. We understand that high-end commercial filmmaking requires many complex moving parts: concept ideation, professional scriptwriting, storyboarding, casting talent, location scouting, and so much more.

We know this is a significant marketing investment for your brand. That’s why we handle 100% of the creative and logistical heavy lifting to take the stress entirely off your shoulders. We guide you through a workflow that is fun, collaborative, and seamless, ensuring we deliver a final product that goes above and beyond your expectations.

We pride ourselves on hitting deadlines and getting projects completed efficiently. From our initial pre-production kickoff call to final asset delivery typically takes two to three months (8-12 weeks). This window can vary based on the specific scale, and complexity of the shoot. If your campaign has a strict product launch deadline or requires rushed post-production, we can adjust to accommodate your goals.

1. Kickoff Call & Discovery:

We begin with an in-depth strategy session to lock down your brand goals, target audience, visual inspiration, and production logistics.

2. Creative Ideation & Concepts:

Our creative team develops custom visual concepts for your review, refining them collaboratively based on your feedback.

3. Storyboarding & Scriptwriting:

Once the concept is locked in, we craft detailed scripts, storyboards, and a comprehensive visual plan to map out every frame before cameras roll. Again, this pre-production plan is shared with the client for collaborative feedback and revisions until it is approved.

4. Professional & Local Casting:

If your video requires on-screen talent, we handle the entire casting process based on your preferred demographics. We utilize our direct connections with professional talent agencies, as well as our deep roster of vetted, local, non-agency talent.

5. Scheduling, Logistics & Location Scouting:

We build a highly detailed production schedule to keep us on track during filming. Scouting locations to map out lighting and spatial needs, is a vital part of ensuring our crew is fully prepared. Our team manages all coordination between locations, talent, and crew so you don’t have to..

6. Final Production Review:

Prior to filming, we sit down for a final production review to make sure everyone is on the same page, and lock in all creative and schedule details so that everything runs flawlessly on set.

The moment filming wraps, our in-house post-production editors begin assembly. Every project includes three comprehensive rounds of revisions to ensure the final cut hits your exact standards.

Unlike many of our competitors, our final video assets are delivered with perpetual, unlimited commercial usage rights. You own your content completely—meaning there are zero licensing renewals, zero hidden usage fees, and zero expiration dates.

Yes. We can output your final videos in any aspect ratio, including traditional widescreen horizontal (16:9) for web/broadcast, mobile-first vertical (9:16) for Instagram Reels and TikTok, square (1:1), or custom sizes like for that big billboard in the airport you’ve been dreaming of.

Absolutely. From your discovery call to final asset delivery, you are paired with one of our in-house video producers. They will be your main point of contact throughout the project, and are ready to handle all challenges that may arise. We encourage our clients to call or text us during productions so that we can get things done efficiently.

Yes. It is very common for us to shoot video and photo simultaneously. Sometimes our in-house team can handle the photography and other times bringing in a trusted local photographer is a better fit. Regardless, we can handle all the hiring, communication, and logistics associated with doing photo + video together so that the client doesn’t have to coordinate with multiple vendors.

We pride ourselves on being a highly efficient team. Most of our commercial shoots operate with a nimble 2-to-4 person production crew, allowing us to remain fast, light, and unobtrusive on location. For more complex brand campaigns, we seamlessly scale our network of crew while keeping your overhead highly managed.

Pricing

Our pricing varies greatly depending on the specific scope, deliverables, and needs of your campaign. Generally, our custom, full-service commercial projects typically begin at $10,000 but every project is unique and we’ll work with you to find a scope that fits your marketing budget.

Yes. If you already have an in-house editing team or agency partner and simply need a videographer or small crew for filming, we offer production-only day rates and are happy to hand off the footage.

Yes! We are proud to offer discounted pricing to non-profit organizations.

Yes, we love building long-term creative partnerships. For any ongoing commitment we offer discounts to maximize your marketing spend.
Further, All retainers are handshake deals, there is no long term contract you can’t escape or hidden fees if something changes and you need to pivot.

It's exactly as straightforward as it sounds. If you are not satisfied with your final deliverables we will refund your entire investment plus an additional 10%. We stand behind our work, and are proud to say since the company was founded in 2015 we have never had a client ask for this refund. Our team works hard to make sure our clients stay happy. Sometimes that means doing a little bit of extra filming or editing and we are happy to go the extra mile.

Yes, raw footage delivery can absolutely be bundled into your package. However, instead of handing over massive, raw source files that require video editing know-how, we highly recommend an edited Footage Library.

A Footage Library is a curated, 10-to-20 minute master reel of all the shoot’s best footage—fully trimmed, organized, and color-corrected—allowing your internal marketing team to immediately use the clips for quick social content without extra post-production headaches.

No hidden fees here. If we are already booked to film your project, our drones and FAA Part 107 certified pilots are always included in the base price.

Absolutely. While Charleston, South Carolina is our home base, but our production crew regularly travels for corporate, commercial, and brand campaigns across the country and internationally. Wherever your story takes us, we bring the gear and the expertise to match.

Weather & Rescheduling

We want your video campaign to look stunning, just like you do. Our goal is to be flexible to accommodate for inclement weather, while still being fair to our own crew and timelines. Here are some general guidelines:

Charleston, SC Projects

For shoots based locally that do not involve significant travel, production days can be rescheduled due to forecast inclement weather with at least 48 hours’ notice with zero cancellation fees from Vive. Please note: Independent contractors (such as talent, stylists, and other crew) may maintain separate policies. Any non-refundable booking fees they charge will be passed directly through to the client.

Travel & National Projects

For destination video shoots involving travel, lodging, and other related expenses, we require at least 10 days’ notice to reschedule without incurring cancellation fees.

In Either Case

If a weather-related reschedule becomes unavoidable, our production team will make every reasonable, proactive effort to mitigate and reduce associated costs. Any unavoidable, non-refundable expenses already locked in (like flights or site permits) will be billed transparently to the client.

How We Handle Overcast/Cloudy Days:

If weather on our shoot day is less than ideal our team is adept at pivoting indoors, adding our own lighting, or minimizing the sky if it is looking gloomy. We will provide suggestions on rescheduling or moving forward, but ultimately it is the client’s decision.

Frequently Asked Questions

We operate as a full-service, turn-key agency, guiding projects across a streamlined two-month production timeline. Our in-house producers handle 100% of the pre-production overhead—including concept development, professional scriptwriting, visual storyboarding, talent casting, location scouting, and comprehensive logistics management.

We offer transparent, fixed-budget pricing tiers tailored to your specific project scope.

For local, non-travel commercial productions, shoot dates can be rescheduled due to inclement weather with at least 48 hours' notice without any internal cancellation fees. For travel-dependent projects, we require a 10-day notice period to reschedule. While overcast conditions are often ideal for cinematic visuals, our team deploys professional lighting modifiers to bring our own high-end sunlight to any set.