The New Era of Video Production
AI video production isn’t just a trend; it’s reshaping what’s possible for brands.
At BearJam, we combine human creativity with the latest AI tools to create branded, corporate and social videos that look incredible, move fast, and don’t break the budget.
But what does AI video actually cost? How does it differ from traditional production?
Let’s break it down.
Traditional Video Production: How Costs Build Up
Traditional video production is costed around crew rates for shoot days: directors, camera operators, sound recordists, producers, plus a host of additional items.
Typical costs include:
Cast and talent fees
Location hire and permits
Props, wardrobe and set dressing
Travel and accommodation for crew and cast
Equipment rental such as cameras, lighting and lenses
Then comes post-production: editing, audio mixing, colour grading, graphics, sound design and music licensing.
Each stage adds cost and time. A one-day shoot can involve a week of prep and two weeks of post. Even small corporate films can quickly exceed £10,000 to £20,000, and larger campaigns can climb well beyond that.
This model has served the industry for decades, but it often means budget dictates creativity. Every extra scene, shot or idea can tip a project out of reach.
AI Video Production: Freedom From Constraints
With AI video production, almost anything is possible.
Instead of being limited by physical shoots, AI enables virtual scenes, synthetic actors and generative environments.
At BearJam, we use AI tools to create entire sequences that would otherwise require multiple filming days, sets or VFX. Need a character in a futuristic city one moment and a rainforest the next? No problem. Want to localise your campaign for ten markets without reshoots? Done.
AI opens creative freedom, but it also introduces new cost factors, and understanding these helps you budget smartly.
What Drives the Cost of AI Video Production
AI production removes many traditional costs, but it’s not “cheap and instant.”
While a single AI model can give you a quick clip at low cost, crafting a brand-ready film requires multiple iterations and human skill to guide and refine the result.
Here’s what affects cost:
|
Factor |
What It Means |
|
Number of Shots and Scenes |
Each scene requires prompting, generation, review and refinement. More complexity means more time. |
|
Control and Consistency |
Maintaining consistent characters, lighting and product detail across scenes demands precision and iteration. |
|
Custom Avatars or Characters |
Bespoke avatars or synthetic talent matching your team or brand identity add production time. |
|
Creative Ambition |
Complex visual storytelling, cinematic composition or stylised looks often require combining multiple AI tools. |
|
Hybrid Elements |
Sometimes we still film live-action plates or product shots, then enhance with AI. This adds crew and post costs. |
|
Post-Production Craft |
Even AI videos need editing, pacing, colour grade and sound mix to feel cohesive and premium. |
Because AI output is unpredictable, it often needs refinement, cleanup and compositing to reach broadcast-ready quality. Our team frequently fixes small artefacts, improves timing, or enhances realism through colour, grade and motion work, all of which add time and polish.
AI Video Production Costs: What to Expect
At BearJam, we price AI video projects transparently.
Basic AI productions: £3,000 to £10,000
Ideal for shorter pieces, minimal scenes, standard avatars and limited complexity.
Complex or high-control productions: £10,000 to £25,000+
These involve bespoke characters, precise control over scenes, multiple tools used together, and higher creative ambition.
By comparison, an equivalent live-action production could easily reach £20,000 to £50,000+, depending on cast, locations and post.
AI video isn’t always inexpensive, but it is dramatically more cost-effective for what you can achieve, and it puts creative power back in your hands.
Our Process: Where AI Meets Human Craft
BearJam’s workflow blends strategic thinking, creative direction and technical precision.
Brief and Concept – We define goals, audience, tone and format.
Script and Visual Plan – We map the narrative, tone and visual world.
AI Generation and Tool Stacking – We combine the best AI tools: text-to-video, image generation, voice, animation, motion and more to get the desired look.
Iteration and Refinement – Because AI output can be unpredictable, we iterate, fine-tune and composite until the result meets your creative ambition.
Traditional Post-Production – We edit, colour grade, mix audio, license music and polish the final cut.
Delivery and Localisation – We deliver multiple formats and languages quickly, scaling your content with minimal extra cost.
We’ve also developed workflows that combine AI-generated and live-action content, filming key moments and extending worlds, backgrounds or effects with AI. It’s the best of both worlds: authentic human performance and limitless visual possibility.
Why Choose BearJam for AI Video Production
We’re not just using AI tools; we’re redefining how to use them creatively, safely and effectively.
Expertise: We’re an award-winning London Production Company with over a decade of experience crafting standout branded content.
Innovation: We continually explore and test new AI models and combinations to deliver world-class results.
Quality Control: Every film is edited, graded and mixed by our human team to ensure brand consistency and emotional impact.
Hybrid Approach: We can integrate AI seamlessly with live-action shoots when needed.
Transparency: We clearly outline what drives cost and how to get the best value from your budget.
In short, we make AI video production feel easy, fast and professional without compromising creativity.
Check out our latest AI project with SD Works1
Let’s Talk About Your Next Video
Whether you need a hero brand film, a series of social cutdowns or a multi-language corporate piece, we’ll show you how AI video can deliver more for less.
Contact us today or explore our AI Video Production page to learn more.
Let’s turn your most ambitious ideas into powerful, cost-effective content with BearJam.