Last year, 2018, the ratio of our shooting service in each field is as below.

• Broadcast/Media - approx.. 40%
• Commercial (Web) - approx.. 30%
• Corporate - approx.. 30%

Every time we saw new demands come out, we adjusted the shooting services as to optimise those shooting field or genres. The followings have been added to our services as big updates for 2019.

1. Half day rate comes back!
2. Rates for multiple crew changed
3. Green screen is available!
4. Audio/Visual recording at conferences is also available

1. Half Day Rates Come Back

We once offered half day rate before but stopped it around 2014. It was an easy decision so that the total revenue will not decrease. We had limited resources to meet market demands and it was pointless to accept half day project instead of full day project. Our business circumstances have changed and there are new variables to reconsider our rate system as below.

• DFS have more resources then ever.
• Data analytics says it is possible to make a profit from half day project and increase revenue.

Besides, looking at the market we belong to, I found the following trends in 2018 to 2019.

• The number of video projects increases
• A average budget scale for each project decreases according to above

Demands for half day rate are strong in all fields. Needless to say, media and broadcasts like half day shoot as usual, whereas something have changed in the rest of fields, particularly corporates. DFS have done considerable number of corporate conference shoots in 2018.  Almost all of them are multiple-day shoot or at least one day, while we also had soundings which seeks half day shoot. At first, I was wondering if footage is enough to make the final video just from the half day shoot. It severely restricts a variety of b-rolls for sure but, in the end, I can say it's just possible.  In addition, corporate shoots in Japan are overall punctual. It is possible to target specific time frames in a long conference.

You can see our new rates on the shooting service rate page.

2. Shooting rates for multiple crew changed

Frankly speaking, our multiple crew rates in the shooting service were expensive. One of its reasons is the second and third crew's skill level we brought. They were always expected to be A-team crew. However, we have seen our shooting jobs be getting diversified,  and not a few projects are enough with assistant(s) as a second/third crew. At the same time, we also saw a strong demand for A-team crew separately from the shooting service itself. DFS added the new service, crew coordination, to its list in June 2018.

From 2019, DFS's multiple crew shooting service is simplified. The second and third crew is exchanged from an expert to assistant with a good skill. As a result, the rates get reasonable. Experts are also available as the crew coordination service and up to our client which to choose.

You can see our new rates on the shooting service rate page.

3. Green Screen (optional service)

Wait, yes, we have offered green screen service since 2012. Market demands have changed from that era, for sure. At that time, I remember green screen was not an easy option for especially smaller-budget commercial or corporate video projects, and its use was limited to relatively large budget projects.  More often than not, larger projects seek a studio space specialised in green screens. Our green screen gear is available just for interviews (up to three or four at the same time) and small actions. Demands had been sporadic. In the last half of 2018, DFS did green screen for interviews in corporate and broadcast fields. I noticed that the use of green screen has been somewhat extended from tradition. Traditionally, I dare to say that green screen was used to fake reality. Otherwise, some projects just switched it to company logo or something similar (probably to hide or exchange boring background or noisy). Last year, I saw a corporate video use green screen just to make background more interesting. It inserted B-rolls with blurred effects into the background. Traditionally, it may be regarded as disrupting because background image has actions (even though blurred). Audience's attention is turned away from subjects, possibly. However, I can say it worked. I understood why some projects become unhesitant to use green screen for their shooting.

DFS clearly offers green screen as an option to the shooting service.  You can see the details and rate on the shooting service rate page.

4. A/V Recording at Conference

First, what is this?   To make a long story short, it records conference screen video/slides and audio directly to data drive. Yes, we often record press conference audio when it offers feed. In corporate field, however, I can say not a few A/V technician won't have neither time nor will to give us dedicated feed for our recording. They are simply not supposed to do so. To solve this problem, we require some privileges in prior to shoot. What I can say is that we have our own engineers for sure.

1. An access to control room/facility if any
2. Otherwise a brief meeting with A/V supervisor in advance to shoot day

If you require wrap-up video of events, this optional service rarely is required. We target some potential demands which needs to convey entire lecture-like speech or presentation with supportive information on screen (PowerPoint or something). This final video is comprised of possibly entire speech and its length is long.

We will also put this optional service into the shooting service soon.

We'd like to thank all of our customers for their patronage!