You're right to ask what it costs.
Ideas don’t grow in the dark. If people can't see you, they can't choose you. Video is how people learn, trust, and decide before they click ‘buy.’
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Great video isn’t accidental. Ours are built with intention, designed to move people from curious to committed.
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Let’s break down the process of capturing your story and where your investment goes to work.
1st, why video?
This isn't changing
84% of consumers want more video from brands in 2026, a trend that's held steady for nearly a decade. Human behavior tells us video is a necessity for growth.
We didn't make the rules. Leatham Mayhem Creative is just really good at making videos that know how to use them.
2nd, Does Video Work?
This is the question we're asked most. The answer starts with understanding the difference between video production and video marketing.
Video Production
(What we do)
Video production is the end-to-end creative and technical process of bringing your message to life.
From concept to final cut, we move people from curious to committed through storytelling created by humans, for humans.
Video Marketing
The strategic distribution of your video content so it reaches the right people, at the right time, on the right platforms. In today's attention economy, strategy is what allows cinematic video to be seen and to actually deliver ROI.
Video That Works
Great video production alone? Beautiful, but unseen.
Strategy alone? Easily ignored.
Together? That's how ideas grow big enough to be visible and shared.
So...? What are you actually paying for?
Let’s step into the edit bay and track where your investment goes, frame by frame.
Phase 1
Pre-Production: Turning Mayhem into a plan
Typically 20–30% of total project investment
This phase includes:
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Concept development
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Scriptwriting and messaging refinement
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Storyboarding and visual planning
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Location scouting and logistics coordination
This is where hooks, vision, messaging, and brand come together to create an intentional blueprint for filming.
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Pre-production is often the phase that determines whether a video performs or just exists.
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Strong pre-production reduces filming time, lowers costs, and keeps creative energy focused where it belongs: on telling your story well. When this phase is done right, production becomes faster, smoother, and enjoyable.
When it's skipped or rushed, projects often run long, cost more, and require reshoots.
Lights, camera, ACTION! Production is where planning turns into execution. Dozens of moving pieces have to align in real time: crew, gear, talent, lighting. When it's done well, it feels effortless on screen. It's the difference between something that looks homemade and something that feels cinematic.
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Our job is to make sure your production day feels controlled, intentional, and creatively focused. Never rushed, chaotic, or reactive.
Phase 2
Production: When the plan gets filmed
Typically 50–60% of your total project investment
This phase includes:
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Cinema camera systems
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Professional lighting
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Broadcast-quality audio
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Skilled crew and technical execution
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On-camera talent when needed
Phase 3
Post-Production: Where the plan becomes the story​​
Typically 10–30% of your total project investment
This phase includes:
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Video editing and story structure
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Sound design, audio cleanup, and mixing
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Motion graphics, titles, and basic animation
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Licensed music and audio assets when needed
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File rendering, formatting, and final delivery
Post-production is where raw footage and audio become a polished, engaging final product. This phase prepares the content for how it will ultimately be seen and shared.
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Most post-production work is billed hourly, with rates based on the complexity of the edit. Straightforward editing sits on the simpler end of the spectrum, while advanced animation, visual effects (VFX), or highly technical work require more time and specialized expertise. Scope can also expand when a project includes licensed music, voice-over talent, or multiple final versions formatted for different platforms, regions, or distribution needs.
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None of this is left to chance. Post-production needs, pricing, and deliverables are mapped and decided during pre-production long before cameras roll. When filming begins, everyone knows exactly what story we're telling and how it gets finished within budget.
Not All Videos Are Built the Same
After 15 years in video production, one thing is consistent: no two projects are ever the same. Each requires a different level of planning, production, and post-production and that's why pricing can vary so widely.​​
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Crew size, locations, lighting, talent, set design, time on set, and post-production all shift depending on the story being told. That's why we focus on pricing what you actually need rather than selling inflated, one-size-fits-all packages.
Why good video costs what it does and why it's worth it
Video is how ideas become visible enough to grow. Most business owners are already working 50+ hour weeks. So when it comes to video, the hesitation makes sense.
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It feels optional.
It feels expensive.
It feels overwhelming to start.
But invisibility has a cost.
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If people can’t see you, they can’t choose you. When competitors show up clearly and consistently, staying silent isn’t neutral. It’s a decision. Hiring professionals isn’t just paying for a finished video.
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You’re investing in:
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Pre-production that anticipates and prevents expensive mistakes.
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Production expertise that brings calm, confident leadership to film day.
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Post-production that transforms raw footage into something people actually watch.
The cost of professional video is visible. The cost of not having it is missed connections, lost trust, and time you’ll never get back.
