corporate, in-house video & motion graphics structure advice? at DVinfo.net

Eric Kome · December 17th, 2013, 12:01 AM

i work for a large corporation, and we are expanding our in-house video & motion graphics team. currently, i have 3 designers/videographers/editors working under me - shooting and editing video, and also creating animation and 3d work - and also 1 video production coordinator handling all shoot details etc.

we do everything from simple interview videos, to commercials, to large scale scripted videos with special effects, hired actors, locations, 3d compositing and more. we also do a lot of product demos/walkthroughs via motion graphics etc. we typically have approx 15-30 projects on our schedule at any given time but that number will be growing.

it's looking like i'll have the opportunity to add several more people to the team, and am hoping to get some advice from anyone working in a structure like an in-house or full service agency/firm.

the structure i've come up with at this point:

1. creative director (me)

2. a manager of traffic & production who would track all incoming projects, assign work and resource manage along with overseeing and managing 3 video production managers (below)

3. video production managers x 3: managing projects beginning to end (shoots, schedules, reviews, casting, props, locations, etc)

4. script writer

5. video/motion graphics designers x 4: shooting, editing video, motion graphics, compositing, fx, etc.

6. production video specialist x 2: entry level - shooting and editing straight forward talking head/interview type shoots, trade show video loops, etc.

we work with a large marketing dept who handles customer/client relationships etc, so don't need account reps. also all financial is handled internally so paperwork can be handled by the video production managers.

how are you set up? and what would you suggest? any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks!

Mike Watson · December 23rd, 2013, 02:52 AM

I think you are top-heavy, and light on people who actually do stuff.

I think your "production managers" should write their own stuff.

Get rid of your writer and add another person to the "video/mograph" guys.

Be specific on the video/mograph guys:
1 DP
1 editor
1 mograph/compositor
1 jack-of-all-trades to be their boss (who is heavy on mograph experience - that stuff takes forever).

that person could also supervise the "specialist" position.

December 17th, 2013, 12:01 AM	#1
Eric Kome Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Iowa City, Iowa Posts: 45	corporate, in-house video & motion graphics structure advice? i work for a large corporation, and we are expanding our in-house video & motion graphics team. currently, i have 3 designers/videographers/editors working under me - shooting and editing video, and also creating animation and 3d work - and also 1 video production coordinator handling all shoot details etc. we do everything from simple interview videos, to commercials, to large scale scripted videos with special effects, hired actors, locations, 3d compositing and more. we also do a lot of product demos/walkthroughs via motion graphics etc. we typically have approx 15-30 projects on our schedule at any given time but that number will be growing. it's looking like i'll have the opportunity to add several more people to the team, and am hoping to get some advice from anyone working in a structure like an in-house or full service agency/firm. the structure i've come up with at this point: 1. creative director (me) 2. a manager of traffic & production who would track all incoming projects, assign work and resource manage along with overseeing and managing 3 video production managers (below) 3. video production managers x 3: managing projects beginning to end (shoots, schedules, reviews, casting, props, locations, etc) 4. script writer 5. video/motion graphics designers x 4: shooting, editing video, motion graphics, compositing, fx, etc. 6. production video specialist x 2: entry level - shooting and editing straight forward talking head/interview type shoots, trade show video loops, etc. we work with a large marketing dept who handles customer/client relationships etc, so don't need account reps. also all financial is handled internally so paperwork can be handled by the video production managers. how are you set up? and what would you suggest? any advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks!

December 23rd, 2013, 02:52 AM	#2
Mike Watson Trustee Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 1,082	Re: corporate, in-house video & motion graphics structure advice? I think you are top-heavy, and light on people who actually do stuff. I think your "production managers" should write their own stuff. Get rid of your writer and add another person to the "video/mograph" guys. Be specific on the video/mograph guys: 1 DP 1 editor 1 mograph/compositor 1 jack-of-all-trades to be their boss (who is heavy on mograph experience - that stuff takes forever). that person could also supervise the "specialist" position.