What Is a Corporate Film? How to Make One That Works

Corporate films are seen as an essential marketing trend for every business today. Made to deliver a specific message, they are more than advertising videos. They show the company's culture, values and mission. So in today's article MONA Media will walk you through the details of what a corporate film is and the guide to making a corporate film that keeps viewers engaged best. You can also read our take on an AI audit checklist for companies as a reference framework.

What is a corporate film?

A corporate film is a short film of 5 to 10 minutes that covers a company's or brand's history, operations, achievements, production process and more.

Main purpose of this type of film is to promote your image, personal branding and drive business. More than a simple introduction video, a corporate film works like a summary of a company's entire capability and value, told through motion pictures, sound and eye-catching effects.

A company introduction film works like a company profile, helping customers grasp the full picture of your business in just a few minutes. Instead of spending time and effort searching many different sources, customers and partners can now easily see what field the company works in, which products and services it offers, and how reputable and established it is in the market.

A corporate advertising film also boosts competitiveness and builds customer trust. Many studies show that using a company introduction film can increase organic website traffic by up to 157% (according to Conversion XL) and raise phone calls by 39% after people watch a video (according to figures reported by Forbes). That makes it an essential tool in today's marketing strategy.

A concrete example of a creative corporate film is the logistics company Thuận Thành Tín that wanted to raise brand awareness and introduce new projects, and worked with MONA on a professional corporate advertising film. Combining footage from real sites, interviews with leaders and staff, and lively graphics, the company introduction film helped Thuận Thành Tín raise its reputation and professional image in the eyes of partners and customers.

WATCH NOW a company introduction video made by the MONA Media team

Why is making a corporate film getting more attention?

Seen as a bridge between a company and its customers, a corporate advertising film has become an essential part of the communication strategy of many brands and businesses today. Most companies that decide to make a film also base the decision on a few main goals below:

• Save time: A corporate marketing film saves you 50% of presentation time and makes your pitch up to 70% more persuasive than a standard profile. 
• Connect customers with the company: When partners and customers get a vivid, detailed look at your company through authentic footage, goodwill and brand recognition grow.
• Increase brand recognition: 54% of customers want to see more videos from brands, which shows that a creative company film can win customers over effectively.
• Raise company value: Beyond passing on information, the film adds value by presenting your strengths and standout points to partners and customers in the most professional way.
• Strong communication: In addition, a compelling script, visuals and dialogue help drive traffic and keep visitors on your website longer. 
• Attract talent: By showing company culture in an authentic and lively way, a corporate film also becomes an effective channel for getting closer to potential employees.

How is a corporate film different from an advertising TVC?

Most people who start learning about the concept of what a corporate film is find it hard to tell it apart from TV commercials. Both are films meant to communicate and promote a business, but they are two different types of video.

MONA will show the differences in the table comparing a corporate film and a TV commercial below:

Common types of corporate films

In the digital age, a corporate video is not just a promotion tool but also an emotional bridge between a business and its customers and partners. Here are four types of a company introduction film that companies commonly choose:

Live-action corporate film

A live-action corporate video puts the camera right at your headquarters, factory or office to capture the real scene. These films show the scale of operations, the production process and the working environment as they are, so viewers get a clear feel for the core values and culture of the company. This kind of company introduction film is especially good for building trust and transparency with partners and customers.

Year-in-review corporate film

An annual report video is a summary of the achievements and key milestones of a year or a given period. This kind of company film often appears at year-end events, shareholder meetings or internal reports. Combining footage, infographic data and narration, a year-in-review film not only keeps the memories but also inspires your team and partners.

Visual (motion graphics) corporate film

For topics that need a quick, concise explanation, an infographic corporate video combines animation, charts and motion graphics to illustrate a product, service or process. A visual corporate film is the best choice when you want to explain complex information clearly, make it easy to understand and leave a strong impression.

Custom corporate film

Some companies have special needs, from recruitment profiles and internal training videos to marketing campaign launch clips, and will need a corporate film production company made to order (custom corporate video). The corporate film production team works closely with you to develop the script, shooting style and sound tone, so each corporate video is one of a kind and stays on your communication goals. Our AI audit checklist for companies is a good extension to read alongside.

Conditions for a corporate film to meet the standard

For a corporate film to truly succeed, it takes more than recording footage of your company. It has to leave a deep impression and carry the spirit of your brand. Here are the key factors for judging the quality of a standard corporate video:

Creative, distinctive corporate film ideas

A solid corporate film script always starts from an original idea that doesn't follow the traditional template. Dig into what is unique about your company, from internal culture to production processes, and turn it into a lively story so viewers feel they are enjoying something rather than reading dry information.

Image quality and professional filming technique

Sharp images, carefully balanced colors and camera angles of the corporate footage that arecarefully selected are a must for spreading your corporate promo video further. Whether you invest in drones, steadicams or gimbals, the result must be smooth, clear corporate footage that pleases the eye from the very first second.

A clear corporate promo message that is consistent with your brand

A good corporate promo film must deliver its key message, whether that is the mission, the core values or a call to action, in a coherent and unified way. The visuals, voice-over and background music in the corporate clip should blend together and build emotion, so viewers immediately understand what you want to say and remember your brand for a long time.

Tips for making a successful corporate film

Every company that starts making a film hopes for the expected results, but it does not always get them. With experience producing corporate communication films for hundreds of clients, MONA shares right now the secrets to success in corporate film projects that you should not skip. 

Define the goal of the corporate film

Before you start making a corporate advertising film, the first thing to do is decide what the specific goal of the corporate film is. The goal could be to deliver the message of a specific marketing campaign project, raise the company's reputation and image, or simply thank customers after many years in business. Some of the information to settle includes:

• The company's history, mission and vision
• The company's field of business
• Images of the company, its facilities and its employees at work
• Information about the company's main products and services
• The strengths and benefits the company brings to customers
• Based on this information, set the estimated running time for the company introduction film

Once the goal is clear, it is easier to draw a profile of your target audience. From there you can build a corporate film script that suits their tastes and wishes.

Plan the corporate film budget

Every advertising product needs a budget to run and produce, and a company introduction film is no exception. For your corporate marketing film campaign to succeed, planning the budget before production is very important. A budget helps you control costs and avoid unexpected extras. Here is the process for building an effective corporate film budget plan:

• Define the goal of the corporate communication film
• List the cost items you need to cover
• Get quotes from suppliers
• Build an overall budget table for the corporate video
• Control and adjust costs when needed

Choose the right film length

The length of a company introduction film affects not only production cost but also how engaging it is and how well it delivers its message. Normally, a corporate film should run 5-10 minutes, enough to give an overview of the company, its core values and the mission it wants to share.

When setting the length, think carefully about what you want to say and how to spread it out sensibly. This avoids having to trim the script in post-production because the length doesn't fit. Also, a film that is too long or too short is not ideal for viewers or for the platform it plays on. So the script and the running time of the company introduction film need to be estimated together, to make one complete and effective video.

Set the style of the corporate film

Be clear about the style you want the film to show, from visuals and sound to storytelling. The style of a corporate advertising film should reflect the company's identity and core values, which not only sets you apart but also helps viewers recognize your brand. Every company has its own traits and values, and a corporate film is the tool that carries those messages in the most vivid and convincing way.

When choosing a style, consider the color tone, the emotion and the message the company wants to send. A professional, upscale style suits finance and real estate companies, while a dynamic, creative style fits technology and media companies.

Choose a a TV commercial, reputable corporate film

The choice of company to make the corporate advertising film reputable is very important. A professional company introduction film studio saves you cost and time and delivers the result you expect. Research the studios carefully and ask partners who have worked with them, so you can pick the best fit.

You can use the criteria below to choose the right studio:

• Film production experience: A studio with experience in similar projects is more likely to meet your needs.
• Quality of finished work: Look at its earlier work to judge quality.
• Communication ability: Make sure the studio can deliver the exact message the company wants.

In short, corporate films plays an important role in delivering messages and values to customers. Investing in a corporate advertising film not only raises brand awareness but also becomes a touchpoint that builds customer trust. We hope this article has given you a clearer picture of what a corporate film is, its role and the company filming process, so you can get the best conversions from it.