Pricing · What a film costs
Straight answers about what video production costs.
Most AmeriFilms projects land between $7,000 and $25,000. Focused promo pieces come in under that; documentary series go well above it. Here is how the numbers work, so you can decide if we’re a fit before you book a call.
01 Typical projects
Three kinds of films, three ranges.
Promo film
$4,500 to $9,000
60 seconds to 3 minutes
- One production day, cinematic single-camera with movement
- Full edit, color grade, licensed music
- Lower thirds and title cards
- Two revision rounds
- One vertical cutdown for social
For product launches, service pages, event recaps, and testimonial pieces.
Brand film · Recommended
$7,500 to $15,000
3 to 6 minutes, documentary-style
- Story development and interview prep
- One to two production days, multi-camera
- Real interviews, real locations, no script
- Cinema-grade color, sound design, custom motion graphics
- Three revision rounds
- Three to five social cutdowns
For founder stories, company histories, and the film that lives at the top of your website for two years.
Documentary · Series
$18,000 to $50,000+
10+ minutes, or multi-episode
- Multiple shoot days and locations
- Full crew: director, second camera, sound, aerials
- Long-form edit with archival, graphics, and original score options
- Episode cutdowns, trailer, and stills
- Dedicated project manager and priority scheduling
For statewide series, community documentaries, and organizations with a story that won’t fit in three minutes.
02 Other work
Events, aerials, podcasts, and days on set.
| Service | Starting at | What’s included |
|---|---|---|
| Event coverage | $3,500 per day | Full production day, one cinematographer, board audio feed, 2 to 4 minute highlight film. Second camera, photography, and same-week delivery quoted separately. |
| Aerial cinematography | $750 add-on / $1,500 standalone | FAA Part 107 pilot, insured, color-graded footage and stills. Dual-operator FPV coverage quoted per project. |
| Testimonial videos | $600 to $900 per subject | Filmed on an existing production day. Edited 60 to 90 second piece per person, captioned. |
| Podcast and livestream | Ask | Three-camera studio with live switching. Priced per episode or per season, depending on volume. |
| Production day (crew for hire) | $2,000 half day / $3,500 full day | Lead cinematographer with cinema camera package. For agencies and producers who bring their own edit. |
03 What moves the number
Four things decide where a project lands.
Shoot days. A production day is the biggest single line. One day of filming for a brand film is normal. Three locations in two cities is a different film and a different quote.
Crew. Most brand films need one cinematographer and a second camera for interviews. Documentaries add sound, aerials, and a director who isn’t also operating.
Post-production. Editing is billed on estimated hours per deliverable, not a flat markup. A three-minute film runs 12 to 20 hours of edit. A ten-minute documentary runs 50 to 80.
Extras. Travel beyond 50 miles of Dayton, rush delivery under five business days, extra revision rounds, and raw footage handoff are each listed as their own line. You’ll see them before you sign, never after.
04 Good to know
Three honest notes.
Nonprofits and mission-driven organizations receive a partner rate of 15 to 20 percent off production. It’s written into the proposal, not negotiated after.
Repeat clients and multi-film contracts earn volume pricing. Three or more films in a year is where it starts to matter.
If your budget is under $2,500, we’re probably not the right fit yet, and we’ll tell you that on the call and point you somewhere useful. We’d rather you come back in a year with the right project than squeeze a good story into the wrong budget.
Questions about process and timeline are answered on the FAQ page. Examples of each tier are on the Work page and in what clients say on the Reviews page.
Tell us the story. We’ll send the number.
Every quote is itemized and lands within two business days of the call.
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