Why Does a Video Cost 10,000 SAR or 100,000 SAR for the Same Brief?
Two productions, one brief, a 10x difference in price — and both quotes are legitimate. Here's what you're actually paying for at each budget level.
A client sends a brief: a 60-second brand film, one location, one spokesperson, delivered in two weeks. One production company quotes 10,000 SAR. Another quotes 100,000 SAR. Both are serious, both are professional. So what exactly is the difference?
This is one of the most common — and most important — questions in commercial production. The answer isn't about who is overcharging. It's about what each budget actually builds.
The Crew Is the Biggest Variable
At 10,000 SAR, you're likely working with a crew of two to four people. One person might be operating the camera, pulling focus, and handling sound simultaneously. That's not laziness — it's what the budget allows.
At 100,000 SAR, those roles split. You have a dedicated camera operator, a focus puller, a separate sound recordist, a gaffer managing the lighting, a production assistant on set, and a producer coordinating everything. Each specialist does one job and does it at a higher level of precision.
More people means more control. More control means fewer compromises on the day.
Equipment Changes What the Image Looks Like
A 10,000 SAR production will typically use a capable mirrorless camera with a basic lens kit and available light, maybe supplemented by a small LED panel. The result can look clean and competent.
A 100,000 SAR production brings a cinema camera with a proper lens set, a full lighting package with multiple fixtures, grip equipment to shape and control that light, and potentially a crane or gimbal for movement. The image doesn't just look better — it feels different. The depth, the texture, the way skin tones render — these are direct results of the tools.
Equipment rental alone for a professional one-day commercial shoot in Riyadh can run 8,000 to 20,000 SAR before a single person is paid.
Pre-Production Is Where the Real Work Happens
This is the part most clients never see, and it's where budgets diverge dramatically.
At 10,000 SAR, pre-production is minimal. A quick call, a rough plan, show up and shoot.
At 100,000 SAR, pre-production might take two to three weeks. A director of photography scouts the location and designs the lighting in advance. A producer builds a detailed shot list and schedule. Wardrobe is sourced and approved. A storyboard or shot-by-shot visual plan is created so everyone on set knows exactly what they're making.
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