The Perils of Hiring a Video Production Company… and Then Taking Back the Reins
Hiring an expert to bring your ideas to life can be incredibly exciting. You’ve got the big picture, but they’ve got the skill to bring it to life and if you’re willing, add something extraordinary to the project that only comes from their creativity and years of experience. It’s like having a world-class chef cook you a five-course meal, but halfway through, you lean over and start adjusting the salt. It’s an instinct many of us have, but it often ends up stifling the creative process..
Now, imagine this: You’re Steven Spielberg, a man with countless iconic films to your name. You’ve just finished a script about time travel, lightning strikes a clock tower and a teenager is getting to know his mum in some rather awkward ways. You’ve called your film ‘Back to the Future‘. It’s set to be a cultural phenomenon. You hire a creative team to help you develop it into a modern cinematic classic. They’re talented, they’ve done their homework, and they’re all ready to roll when out of nowhere, someone makes a suggestion.
Enter Sid Sheinberg, the president of Universal Pictures. Sid, with all the confidence of a man who wears a suit every day and signs off on millions of dollars in studio budgets, pulls you aside. He looks you in the eye and says, “I have a great idea… Let’s rename this movie ‘Space Man From Pluto.’
Wait. What?
Space Man From Pluto?
When you hire a creative video production company, you’re not just paying for a service; you’re inviting a team of experts to breathe life into your ideas. You’re asking them to take your vision and transform it into something compelling, powerful, and unforgettable. But in order to achieve that magic, you need to trust them. After all, you hired them for a reason—they’re the experts.
It isn’t always easy to hand over that trust.
Despite hiring the best in the business, clients can still feel the need to control every detail.
If Spielberg had let Sheinberg’s suggestion go through, we might not have the Back to the Future trilogy we know and love today. When you hire a video production partner, trust them to do what they do best. You might have the big idea, but they have the expertise to make it come to life.
It’s great to give feedback along the way, but it’s crucial to strike a balance between collaboration and control. Constantly adjusting or micromanaging the creative process will only hinder the final result. The right video production team knows how to deliver creativity that aligns with your vision, but they should also bring a fresh perspective that can elevate your project in ways you may never have imagined.
So, what actually happened?
Steven Spielberg, like any true visionary, wasn’t having it. He was probably sitting in his director’s chair, rubbing his temples, wondering how to gently inform Sid that “Space Man From Pluto” was, in fact, a terrible idea. Spielberg pushed back gently. Legend has it he wrote a note back saying “Hi Sid, thanks for your most humorous memo, we all got a big laugh out of it, keep ’em coming.” The note worked perfectly! Sheinberg was too embarrassed to admit that his ideas were genuine, and the movie kept its original title. The rest, as they say, is history. Back to the Future became one of the most beloved films of all time… Whilst poor Sid’s “Space Man From Pluto” suggestion will forever live on as one of the most hilariously misguided ideas in Hollywood.
Trusting and letting go
Hiring a video crew is like assembling a dream team. They’ll bring their talent, their experience, and their creative flair to the table. You wouldn’t tell a director how to direct, a writer how to write, or a designer how to design—so why do it to your video crew?
If you’ve hired a talented team, trust them. Let them take the concept and run with it. Their unique perspective, creative solutions, and innovative ideas will likely result in a video far beyond what you imagined, one that perfectly captures the essence of your brand or message.
The Right Team Will Never Let You Down
Just like Spielberg knew the value of his vision and his team, so should you. Trust your video production partner to guide the creative process and deliver a product that exceeds your expectations. They’re there to do the job, so you don’t have to.
When it comes to your next video project, let your creative team do what they do best—and trust them to deliver something truly exceptional. Your video might just become the next Back to the Future. But if you keep interfering, it could end up more like Space Man From Pluto. And no one wants that.
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