A brand film isn’t just another video, it’s a cinematic representation of your purpose, personality, and promise. Done right, it becomes your most powerful storytelling asset, building trust with your audience while elevating your brand voice.
But here’s the common question we hear from clients at DailyMobDesign:
“How long will this take?”
The short answer: It depends.
The better answer: Let’s walk you through the timeline- step by step.
Creating a great brand film is like producing a mini movie. It involves strategic thinking, creative development, precise execution, and polished post-production. In this blog, we’ll break down exactly how long each phase typically takes, what to expect, and how you can streamline the journey without sacrificing impact.
Phase 1: Strategy & Creative Discovery (1–2 Weeks)
Before a camera is picked up or a line of script is written, the foundation needs to be laid. This phase is often overlooked, but it’s the single most important part of the process.
What happens here:
- Brand audit and audience understanding
- Competitor benchmarking
- Objective setting
- Creative brainstorming and direction
- Mood boards and reference compilation
- Messaging frameworks
This is when we help you answer questions like:
- What’s the story we’re telling?
- Who are we speaking to?
- What emotions do we want to evoke?
At DailyMobDesign, we kick off every brand film project with a collaborative discovery workshop, usually lasting 60–90 minutes. Then we spend 7–10 days crafting a creative brief that guides everything moving forward.
Phase 2: Scriptwriting & Storyboarding (1–2 Weeks)
With strategy in place, it’s time to translate the concept into a working narrative. This is where the story arc takes shape- whether it’s driven by a founder’s voice, customer emotion, or visual symbolism.
Deliverables:
- Script drafts with voiceover/dialogue (if applicable)
- Scene-by-scene storyboard
- Visual references
- Mood, tone, and pacing guides
Depending on feedback cycles, this phase takes about 1 week, sometimes 2 if multiple versions or stakeholders are involved. But a tight, emotionally resonant script makes every later step smoother and cheaper.
Phase 3: Pre-Production Planning (1 Week)
This is the logistics-heavy phase, where all the creative planning is turned into a tangible schedule and resource list.
What’s included:
- Location scouting and approvals
- Casting (if actors/talent are needed)
- Shoot scheduling and crew booking
- Shot list planning
- Equipment setup coordination
- Art direction and props
- Legal & permissions (if needed)
We recommend allocating 5–7 days for pre-production — enough time to get everything aligned, confirm all stakeholders, and avoid costly last-minute surprises.
Phase 4: Production (1–3 Days)
Lights. Camera. Action.
This is the shoot itself- where all the planning turns into content. For most brand films, production spans 1–2 days. Complex campaigns, location changes, or talent coordination might require 3 days or more.
Key production decisions:
- Indoor vs. outdoor setup
- Number of setups/locations
- Live-action or interview-based
- Drone/aerial coverage
- Scripted scenes vs. natural documentary style
Efficiency here depends heavily on how detailed your storyboard and shot list are. A well-planned shoot often wraps in less time, while still capturing everything needed for editorial flexibility.
Phase 5: Post-Production (2–3 Weeks)
Here’s where raw footage becomes a final story.
Post-production is often underestimated in time but it’s where the magic happens. Music, color, motion, pacing, this is what gives your film its mood and polish.
What’s involved:
- Reviewing and organizing footage
- Assembly cut and narrative build
- Sound design and music licensing
- Color grading and transitions
- Motion graphics or animation
- Voiceover integration (if applicable)
- Subtitles, captions, and formatting
- Feedback and revisions
At DailyMobDesign, we deliver the first cut within 7–10 days of production. Final delivery (with revisions and exports) typically happens in 2–3 weeks depending on feedback speed.
Deliverables & Format Finalization (2–5 Days)
Once the final video is approved, it’s time to prepare outputs.
Modern brand films are rarely delivered in a single format. You’ll likely need:
- Horizontal (16:9) master
- Vertical version for Instagram/LinkedIn
- Square version for carousels or ads
- Captioned and clean versions
- Thumbnail assets
We bundle these into final exports in 2–5 business days. If you’re running a full campaign, we also create teaser reels, social cutdowns, and looping snippets.
Total Estimated Timeline
| Phase | Time Estimate |
| Strategy & Discovery | 1–2 weeks |
| Script & Storyboarding | 1–2 weeks |
| Pre-Production Planning | 1 week |
| Production | 1–3 days |
| Post-Production & Edits | 2–3 weeks |
| Final Delivery & Exporting | 2–5 days |
Average Time to Deliver a Brand Film:
4 to 6 weeks (start to finish)
Can You Speed It Up?
Yes, but with conditions.
If you have:
- A clear brief
- A single decision-maker
- A firm launch date
- Existing footage/assets
- Realistic expectations
We can deliver a high-quality brand film in 3 weeks or less.
That said, cutting corners on story, feedback, or post rarely ends well. The better path? Start early, plan smart, and build a content system not a one-off file.
Internal Tips to Speed Up Production Without Sacrificing Quality
- Approve the script quickly — it unlocks everything
- Assign a single decision-maker
- Book talent early (especially founders or team leads)
- Be honest about your budget and timeline
- Stick to 1–2 feedback rounds (add revision buffer in the first cut)
Our clients often ask: Can we combine this with social content or testimonial shoots? Absolutely. We call this a hybrid shoot model, where we capture multiple formats in one go — saving you both time and cost.
FAQs
Q. How long does it take to make a brand film?
Ans. Typically 4–6 weeks from kickoff to final delivery, including strategy, shoot, and post-production. Learn more
Q. Can a brand film be completed faster?
Ans. Yes, with a tight brief, responsive feedback, and focused execution, 2–3 week timelines are possible.
Q. What’s the biggest delay in brand film production?
Ans. Script approval and slow feedback cycles. A single point of contact speeds things up significantly.
Q. What’s included in the brand film process?
Ans. Creative discovery, scripting, shoot, editing, VO/music, captioning, and format exports.
Q. How do you plan a shoot for multiple videos at once?
Ans. Through a bulk content strategy — capture multiple deliverables in one production sprint.
Q. Can I add reels or teaser edits later?
Ans. Yes, but we recommend planning those upfront to save costs and keep edits aligned.
Final Thoughts
Brand films aren’t built in a day and they shouldn’t be. Like any great story, they need time to unfold, to sharpen, and to resonate.
But with a strategic process and the right creative partner, they can be produced quickly, efficiently, and memorably without ever feeling rushed.
At DailyMobDesign, we blend speed with story, and strategy with soul. Let’s build something unforgettable.