The Top 7 Event Production Companies and Alternatives
Corporate communications
10-10-2024
(Updated 11-13-2024)
8 min
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Outsourcing video production to an agency can make event marketing more efficient. An event film production company can handle technical setup, processes, and requirements — allowing you to focus on delivering a fantastic show.
But let’s be real — not every team has the budget to outsource production to an agency. And even if you do, drawbacks like managing back-and-forth communication and juggling admin tasks make working with an agency quite challenging.
That’s why it’s worth exploring ways to produce event videos in-house — and we have a couple of options for you in this article. That way, you can combine in-house and agency production to power your event marketing strategy.
What does an event video production company do?
An event production company offers the following services:
1. Event strategy and planning
An event production company works closely with the client to understand their objectives and vision for the event. Based on this information, the company will advise on the best setup for high-quality coverage — from the choice of venue to seating arrangement and decoration. Additionally, it may provide creative input and offer suggestions to enhance the overall event experience.
2. Live event coverage
An event production company provides equipment and crew to record your event proceedings as they progress. They’ll set up the camera, lighting, and sound equipment to capture key moments and highlights so you can relive and reuse the footage later.
Sometimes, the event production compact will set up live streaming, allowing people who are not physically present to attend the event virtually and watch proceedings during it.
3. Post-event production
After the event, the film production company will edit the footage and deliver a polished recording that can be used for your content marketing or distribution efforts. This may involve adding graphics, transitions, music, or voiceovers, depending on your needs and goals.
The event production company can also split the recording into bite-sized content for your social channels, extract speaker highlights for your website, or merge the recording with behind-the-scenes footage to produce a full-length film that captures the entire event planning and execution process. Of course, this all depends on your package with the company.
The top 7 event video production companies you should know
Are you looking to partner with a professional events company? Here are the top seven event film production agencies worth checking out.
Location
Specialization
Pricing
True Film Production
New York
Live event coverage
Custom subscription plans
BLive
New York
Live streaming
Custom packages
Caruso Company
San Francisco
Event commercials
Custom packages
Ad.Just
Los Angeles
Live event film production
From $800 (day rate)
JLB Media Productions
California
Corporate event films
From $2,750 (half-day rate)
Bold Content
London
Storytelling films
Custom pricing
Chocolate Films
London
Event videography
Custom pricing
1. True Film Production
Specialization: Live event coverage
Pricing: Custom subscription plans
Founded in 2011, True Film Production is a full-service film content studio based in New York. It specializes in all types of event films, including live streams, testimonials, fireside chat coverage, and post-production services.
The agency has earned a reputation for its excellent visual storytelling skills and quality collaboration. It has worked with top organizations like Google, Uber, and Salesforce.
2. BLive
Specialization: Live streaming
Pricing: Custom packages
BLive provides best-in-class film streaming services for brands and organizations. Its goal is to help mission-driven brands deliver immersive visual experiences that engage the audience while furthering business goals.
The agency was founded in 2013 and already has top organizations on its client list, including Dior, Walmart, and TikTok. Beyond live streaming, it offers multi-camera live production, event consulting and planning, and post-production.
3. Caruso Company
Specialization: Event commercials (TV and Web)
Pricing: Custom packages
For nearly 30 years, Caruso Company has helped the world’s best brands to craft stand-out commercials and event marketing video content. It’s a San Francisco-based agency with a stellar reputation for on-time delivery, high-quality output, and top-notch collaboration.
Project-wise, the agency offers a wide range of services, including social platform film content production, brand films, keynote filming, and so much more. It has collaborated with Salesforce, ServiceNow, Google, and other top organizations.
4. Ad.Just
Specialization: Live event video production
Pricing: From $800 (day rate)
Based in Los Angeles, Ad.Just is a full-service film production agency that offers event coverage services. Its expertise includes conference recaps, event reels, b-roll footage production, live streaming, and onsite editing.
Clients enjoy collaborating with Ad.Just because it’s easy to work with, responsive, and delivers a polished, finished product that exceeds expectations. So far, the agency has produced event films for Spok, Sensorium, and the Wilson Premier League Championship.
5. JLB Media Productions
Specialization: Corporate event videos
Pricing: From $2,750
JLB Media Productions is one of the popular choices for organizations looking to produce professional event films.
It specializes in creating engaging corporate event coverage — from annual meetings and trade shows to company gatherings. Clients enjoy working with the agency because it offers responsive customer support, excellent attention to detail, and high-quality output.
The agency has worked with brands like eBay, Radisson Blu, and Grant Thornton. It can also help with concept creation, scripting, and animated content.
6. Bold Content
Specialization: Storytelling
Pricing: Contact for a quote
Bold Content Video is an award-winning film production company based in London. It offers a wide range of event film services — from exclusive red-carpet interviews to live streaming and vox pop production.
Clients particularly appreciate the agency’s ability to deliver high-quality films in quick turnaround times. Bold Content has worked with many brands, including Turing Institute, Snapchat, and Coca-Cola.
7. Chocolate Films
Specialization: Event videography
Pricing: Custom packages
Founded in 2001, Chocolate Films is a sustainable film production agency based in London. It has committed to reducing the negative environmental impact of film production to the barest minimum through green activities like tree planting, support for climate action, and minimal fossil fuel consumption.
The agency offers end-to-end event videography, including award production, event highlights, and documentaries. It has worked with the BBC, the British Library, and Art Fund, among other brands.
How much does an event video production agency cost?
Corporate video costs vary a lot. Some agencies charge per hour while others have project-based rates or monthly subscription fees.
However, high-level data shows that most live event video production costs between $1,500-$5,000 per project. The exact amount you pay depends on:
Project scope: End-to-end event film production will typically cost more than event strategy or post-production.
Team structure: Agencies with high overhead costs, like employee salaries and equipment maintenance fees, will charge more than solo freelancers who don’t need to build these costs into their overall fees.
Project complexity: The more complicated the assignment is, the more time, gear, and people are involved—and that’s why the cost goes up. Let’s say you're planning a simple event—maybe just one camera recording a speech. That’s pretty straightforward, so the agency won’t need a big team or fancy equipment, and the editing afterward is basic.
But if your event has multiple locations, different people speaking, and you want shots from all sorts of angles or even drone footage, that’s going to require way more planning, more equipment, and more people to manage it.
Timeline: Most film agencies charge a rush fee for projects with a quicker turnaround time. They might have to bring in extra crew, pay their team overtime to get everything done quickly or work longer hours in the editing process to hit that deadline. The quicker the turnaround, the more they have to rearrange their other projects to prioritize yours, and that added pressure usually comes with extra costs.
If you don’t have the budget to hire an agency, it might be worth taking event video production in-house. Not only will this save you money, but it also gives you more control over the video quality and eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth.
How to take event video production in-house
There are three ways to produce event films within your organization.
1. Hire a full-time video producer
If you plan to publish a ton of films, then it might be worth hiring one or more experts internally. At the very least, you need someone with the technical expertise to handle lights, audio, and cameras, a video editor, and another person to build scripts and strategies.
Hiring full-time employees increases your overhead costs significantly, so you should only do this when there’s a volume of work that justifies the cost. If you only have one-off needs, you might be better off with the other options we’ll discuss shortly.
2. Do it yourself
DIY video production is when you make your own videos from start to finish without hiring a professional team. You don’t need expensive gear; even a smartphone can work!
You’d just need a decent camera, maybe some basic lights (buy from a local production shop or Amazon), a mic for good audio (another easy online or in-person purchase), and editing software (some free ones work great). The idea is to do it yourself, using tools and techniques that are accessible and affordable.
DIY production can work well for simple event promotion or interview-style recap content. However, for live event coverage, you’re better off working with an agency for high-quality output.
3. Use video creation software
Video creation software like PlayPlay makes it easy to create and edit professional event videos quickly. With PlayPlay, you don’t have to start from scratch or spend too much time on creation.
You can customize event templates to match your branding or use our AI tool to generate drafts from prompts. Keep reading to see how to create event videos with PlayPlay.
How to create event videos with PlayPlay
Follow this step-by-step guide to create professional event videos using PlayPlay. For this walkthrough tutorial, we’ll show you how to create an event film using PlayPlay’s customizable templates.
P.S.: If you’re using PlayPlay to create event highlights or interview-style videos, you must have the live event footage already recorded (an agency or freelance videographer can handle that). However, you might not need this for a simple event promotion video. You can use stock media and other elements in PlayPlay to create this type of video from scratch.
Step 1: Sign up for a PlayPlay account for your free seven-day trial.
Step 2: On your dashboard menu, select “templates” and click on “events” from the list of options to see available event templates.
Step 3: Click on the “Use it” button at the bottom of the template. You will be automatically redirected to the editing page with the template screens.
Step 4: Upload your live event footage to PlayPlay if required — for example, if you’re creating an event recap.
Step 5: Replace the information on the template with the details of your event.
You can add your branding elements (logos and colors) and text.
Step 6: Check your video screens to make sure everything is correctly in place. You can also preview the film.
Step 7: Click on the Generate HD video button to get a high-definition version of your event film.
Step 8: Once the HD generation is done, you can download your film and share it with colleagues or upload it to your communication channels.
Examples of event films created with PlayPlay
Wondering what a ready-to-go PlayPlay video looks like? Here are some event film examples from brands that use our video software.
1. BNP Paribas' event recap
BNP Paribas used PlayPlay to create an event recap video sharing key moments of their special Rolland Garos day shared with clients. The video showcased the excitement the company had to greet and spend an eventful day with their most loyal customers, showing their corporate dedication to long-term loyalty.
2. Bidwell’s event recap
Bidwell used PlayPlay to put together an event recap — sharing highlights from the discussions and panel sessions. The recap combines live event footage with film elements, including background music, intro, and outro, to engage the audience from beginning to end.
3. Webinterpret’s event teaser
Webinterpret used PlayPlay to put together an event teaser - sharing key information about the event’s purpose and setting. The Webinterpret event teaser introduced an employee at the company, and showcased to their audience what to expect from this specific event and all future ones from the same series.
4. AirFrance KLM's event announcement
AirFrance KLM used PlayPlay to put together an event announcement for their upcoming Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) event. The company gave all the event details such as timing and place, and which booths they will be located at so their audience would know exactly where to find them.
Bring your event video strategy to life with PlayPlay
With PlayPlay, you’ll be able to implement a well-rounded event film strategy. You can work with a film agency to cover your live events and provide live streaming services.
Then, use PlayPlay to edit the recording into bite-sized content for your post-event marketing and promotion efforts. It’s quick, easy to use, and doesn’t require any technical skills.
Find answers to common questions about event film production companies.
1. What is an event video production company?
An event film production organization primarily captures and produces films for live events. These agencies handle all aspects of creation, from planning and filming to editing and post-production.
2. What are some popular event video agencies in Austin?
Here are examples of production companies in Austin:
5. How can I determine the right event video production agency for my needs?
To choose the right event film production organization for your needs, consider factors such as the organization’s experience, portfolio, client testimonials, range of services offered, pricing and packages, and their ability to align with your event's objectives and vision.
Conduct thorough research and possibly schedule consultations with potential companies to help you make an informed decision.
Melissa Francois
Head of Global Content & Comms
With over 10 years of experience in the wild world of SaaS, Melissa cares about building great brand stories and driving community engagement through engaging content. Off the clock, she enjoys long walks and a pint in a cozy country pub.
The Video Advantage: Trends & Strategies for Content Marketers 2024
Whether you’re a seasoned marketer or just starting out, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. This ebook is designed to help you take advantage of the biggest content and video trends this year.