Video Production in Cairo: What to Prepare Before the Shoot

Video is the most demanding content format a business can commission. Unlike a design file, it cannot be fixed after the fact with a small tweak: the shoot day is expensive, the crew is booked, and whatever was not prepared becomes a compromise in the edit.

This checklist covers what to prepare before a video production in Cairo, based on the questions we ask clients before every shoot.

1. Start with one objective

Every video should have a single job: launch a product, explain a service, recruit staff, or support a paid campaign. Write that job in one sentence and share it with everyone involved.

When a brief tries to cover five messages, the edit becomes a list of features and the viewer remembers none of them. One clear promise, supported by two or three proofs, performs better almost every time.

2. Agree the format before the script

Where will this video actually run? A 30-second vertical ad for TikTok, a two-minute explainer on your website and a 15-second bumper are different products. They need different scripts, shot lists and aspect ratios.

Decide early:

• Platform and placement
• Target duration (and whether cut-downs are needed)
• Sound-on or sound-off viewing
• Subtitles in Arabic, English or both

Shooting vertical-first and then cropping to landscape is possible, but it should be planned, not discovered in post.

3. Write a script that survives production

A good script is not a speech. It is a plan for what the viewer sees, hears and reads at each moment. Read it out loud: if a sentence is hard to say, it will be hard to listen to.

Keep the opening three seconds concrete. “We are a leading provider of integrated solutions” gives the viewer no reason to stay. “Here is what your store looks like when checkout takes four taps” does.

4. Prepare the location

In Cairo, location logistics can make or break a schedule. Confirm:

• Access times, parking and elevator capacity for equipment
• Permission to film in the building or on the street
• Power supply and backup power
• Noise sources — traffic, construction, neighbouring businesses
• A separate holding area for talent and crew

Visit the location with the director or producer before the shoot. Photos and a short phone video help the crew plan lighting and angles.

5. Cast the right people

If the video includes actors or presenters, allow time for casting and a rehearsal. For corporate videos, decide whether employees will appear on camera and prepare them: most people need a short briefing and a practice run to sound natural.

Confirm wardrobe in advance. Small patterns, pure white and bright logos can be distracting on camera. Bring backups.

6. Gather props, products and graphics

Products should be clean, complete and available in more than one unit. Printed materials, packaging and screens all need to look current — outdated prices or old logos will be visible in every frame.

Send logos, brand colours and fonts to the production team before the shoot so on-screen graphics match your identity.

7. Plan the audio

Viewers forgive imperfect images more easily than bad sound. Decide whether you need a voice-over, interviews with lapel microphones, or music only. Book a quiet room for voice recording, and write the voice-over script before the edit begins.

8. Agree deliverables and revisions in writing

Specify the number of final videos, their durations, formats and subtitle languages. Agree how many revision rounds are included and what counts as a new request rather than a fix.

Ask for the project files or at least a clean export without burned-in text, so future edits do not require a new shoot.

9. Build a realistic schedule

A typical corporate video takes two to four weeks from approved script to final delivery, plus shoot day. Motion graphics and animation can take longer because every frame is designed. If your campaign launches on a fixed date, work backwards and leave buffer for feedback.

10. Prepare internally for approvals

The slowest part of most projects is not production — it is decision-making. Nominate one person who can approve script, casting, rough cut and final cut. Collect internal comments in one consolidated round instead of sending revisions from five departments.

FAQ

How much does a corporate video cost in Cairo?

It depends on crew size, locations, talent and animation. A simple talking-head or product video costs far less than a scripted film with actors and multiple locations. Ask for a line-item quote so you can compare scope, not just totals.

Do we need a studio?

Not always. Many effective videos are shot in a real office, store or workshop. A studio is useful when you need controlled lighting, clean backgrounds or several setups in one day.

Can you work with our in-house team?

Yes. We can handle scripting and production while your team manages approvals, or provide a full crew and post-production package.

Next step

If you are planning a shoot in Cairo or anywhere in Egypt, send us your brief and we will help you turn it into a realistic plan. Explore our video production and motion graphics services, or see a fixed-price motion graphics package.