Pricing & Investment Guide

Q: Why is professional video production at these investment levels?

Premium video production includes strategic creative development, cinema-grade equipment ($150K+ in gear), experienced crew with 15+ years of expertise, licensed music, professional color grading, and weeks of post-production refinement. You're not paying for hours, you're investing in an asset that drives measurable business outcomes. Our clients typically see ROI through pipeline acceleration, successful funding rounds, or customer acquisition that far exceeds the initial investment.

Example: One enterprise tech client closed a $2M deal using the customer documentary we created in their final presentation. Another biotech company secured Series B funding with branded content that articulated their vision better than their pitch deck could.

 

Q: What if my budget is under $8,000?

We understand companies are at different stages. We work with early-stage startups on focused projects starting at $5,000 (see Tier 3: Streamlined Solutions above). The key is clear scope definition. Smaller budgets work best for:

✓ Single-day event highlight reels

✓ Interview capture without extensive b-roll

✓ Streamlined social content packages

✓ Specific deliverable with tight constraints and clear vision

What doesn't work well at lower budgets:

✗ Multi-day shoots with complex logistics

✗ Extensive creative development and scripting

✗ Projects requiring significant revision rounds

✗ Unclear scope or "let's figure it out as we go"

If you have a specific need and a clear vision for $5K-$8K, let's talk. We'll be honest about whether we can deliver value at that investment level.

 

Q: What if my budget is under $5,000?

At under $5,000, we likely can't deliver the quality and value you deserve. We'll be upfront about this and recommend partners better suited to that investment level. It's better to work with the right partner for your budget than to compromise on quality.

 

Q: What's the typical ROI on premium video production?

While results vary by use case, we've seen clients achieve:

• 3-5x website conversion rate improvements by replacing static imagery with strategic video

• 40-60% faster sales cycles when using customer documentary footage in enterprise presentations

• Successful funding rounds where video content was cited by investors as "the moment we truly understood the vision"

• Annual summit content that drives 30-40% of next year's registration.

The key is deploying video strategically, not just producing it and hoping it works. 

 

Q: Do you offer payment plans?

Yes. Standard payment structure:

• 50% upon contract signing (reserves production dates)

• 25% at production completion (footage captured)

• 25% upon final delivery (completed video approved)

For projects over $30,000, we can discuss milestone-based payment schedules tied to specific deliverables.

For Tier 3 projects ($5K-$8K), we typically require 50% upfront and 50% upon delivery due to the condensed timeline.

 

Q: How do you compare to cheaper options?

You can absolutely find video production for less, sometimes $2,000-$5,000 for what appears to be "the same thing." The difference comes down to:

CHEAPER OPTIONS typically offer:

• Execution of your brief (order-taking)

• Consumer-grade or prosumer equipment

• Limited strategic input on narrative

• Fast turnaround but commodity output

• One-size-fits-all approach

 

HAZY COAST PRODUCTIONS offers:

• Strategic partnership (we challenge and elevate your thinking)

• Cinema-grade equipment and 15+ years of technical expertise

• Deep fluency in complex technology and life sciences

• Proven track record with enterprise clients (Microsoft, NVIDIA)

• Content that positions you at the tier your innovation deserves

If you need "a video," cheaper options exist. If you need a strategic asset that drives business outcomes, we're built for that.

 

Q: What if we need something faster than the standard timeline?

Timeline flexibility varies by tier:

• TIER 1 ($25K-$35K):

  • Standard 6-8 weeks

  • 4-5 week expedite possible with +20% fee (if schedule permits)

  • Under 4 weeks generally not feasible without quality compromise

• TIER 2 ($8K-$18K):

  • Standard 3-4 weeks

  • 2-week rush possible with +20% fee for Content-to-Video

  • Single-day events: highlight reel within 1 week standard

• TIER 3 ($5K-$8K):

  • Standard 2-3 weeks

  • 1-week rush possible for event highlight reels (+20% fee)

 

Q: Do you work with companies outside the Bay Area?

Absolutely. While we're based in the San Francisco Bay Area, we regularly travel for shoots nationwide and internationally.

For projects requiring travel:

• Travel costs (flights, hotels, ground transportation) are billed at cost

• Travel days may be added to project timeline

• We can also coordinate with trusted crew in other markets for multi-location projects Bay Area clients benefit from no travel costs and easier production logistics.

 

Q: Can you provide an exact quote before we talk?

We can provide ranges (listed above), but accurate quotes require understanding:

• Your specific business objectives

• Timeline and urgency

• Deliverable requirements and platform needs

Any unique constraints or opportunities Book a 30-minute strategy call and we'll provide a detailed proposal with exact pricing within 48 hours. No obligation, no pressure.

 

Q: What happens if we're not happy with the final product?

We include revision rounds in every project (varies by tier) and maintain close collaboration throughout production. We align expectations early through:

• Detailed creative briefs before filming

• Script approval before production

• First-cut review with structured feedback process

• Revision rounds addressing all notes

Revision rounds by tier:

• Tier 1: 2 revision rounds

• Tier 2: 2 revision rounds

• Tier 3: 1 revision round

In 15+ years and hundreds of projects, we've never had a client dissatisfied with final delivery because we maintain clear communication at every stage. That said, if there's a legitimate quality issue on our end, we'll make it right.

 

Q: Do you sign NDAs?

Yes. We regularly work under NDAs for sensitive projects, including:

• Unannounced product launches

• Pre-funding announcement content

• Clinical trial documentation

• Proprietary technology demonstrations

We're happy to review and sign your standard NDA or use ours.

 

Q: Which tier is right for my project?

Here's a quick decision framework:

• Choose TIER 1 ($25K-$35K) if you need:

  • Extensive creative development and strategy

  • Multi-day shoots or complex production

  • Multiple stakeholder review processes

  • Premium deliverable package with many cuts

  • Flagship content representing your brand at the highest level

• Choose TIER 2 ($8K-$18K) if you need:

  • Focused deliverable for specific use case

  • Streamlined production with clear scope

  • Thought leadership or content-to-video

  • Single-day event coverage

  • Good balance of quality and budget efficiency

• Choose TIER 3 ($5K-$8K) if you need:

  • Tight-scope deliverable with clear parameters

  • Event highlight reel or interview capture

  • Quick turnaround (2-3 weeks)

  • Early-stage budget with specific need

  • Minimal creative development required

 

Still not sure? Book a strategy call and we'll recommend the right tier based on your objectives and constraints.