After years of producing authentic brand stories for corporations across Vietnam, here’s what we’ve learned about what makes a great partnership—and what to look for when you want to capture something real.
What Marketing and Communications Teams Should Know Before Hiring a Documentary Production Crew
As a Vietnam-based production studio, our foundation is in documentary photography and filmmaking — a background that continues to shape how we approach everycommercial project. It’s an approach built on curiosity, patience, and authenticity — less about staging and more about observing.
On a recent shoot for a major footwear producer in Vietnam, our team spent several days filming inside their factories and offices, capturing interviews with the CEO, department heads, and everyday workers. The goal wasn’t to script anything; it was to let their company’s values naturally come through in the way people interacted, led, and collaborated.
That experience reinforced how documentary-style storytelling can be one of the most effective ways for a brand to communicate its culture. But it also showed how much depends on finding the right production team — one that understands both storytelling and sensitivity.
The Advantages of a Documentary Approach
A corporate documentary offers a powerful alternative to the traditional, heavily scripted commercial. It humanizes your company by showing the people behind it — their voices, their energy, their real stories. When audiences see honest interactions, they connect emotionally, and that builds trust in your brand.
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s truth. And that’s what viewers remember.
What to Look for in a Production Team
- Storytellers who listen before they film.
A genuine corporate documentary begins with listening. The right crew will take time to understand your company’s story, mission, and purpose before ever pressing record. This early collaboration ensures the final piece feels authentic to your culture, not generic or rehearsed. - A background in documentary filmmaking.
Experience matters. Teams with documentary or journalism backgrounds know how to read moments, anticipate action, and adapt on the fly. They’re comfortable working in real environments where things don’t always go as planned — and that’s where the most honest moments happen. - True collaboration with your marketing and communications team.
Your video team should feel like an extension of your internal communications department. Before filming begins, they should help refine messaging, interview structures, and logistics. On our recent shoot, extensive pre-production calls helped align the client’s key messages with our natural storytelling style — making the process seamless for everyone involved. - A small, professional, and respectful crew.
In corporate or industrial environments, a smaller crew creates a calmer, less intimidating atmosphere. It helps employees act naturally on camera and reduces disruption to daily work. A respectful, experienced crew can get powerful footage without ever being intrusive. - The right use of equipment.
You don’t need a huge set or dozens of lights to make something cinematic. Skilled cinematographers can use compact, professional cameras and available light to create an honest, elegant look. Big gear can often make a scene feel staged — and in documentary storytelling, that’s the opposite of what you want. - Efficiency and respect for time.
Corporate teams, especially executives, have packed schedules. A well-prepared production team will handle scouting, testing, and technical setups ahead of time so interview days run smoothly. On our footwear project, we tested lighting and backgrounds in advance — the CEO appreciated how efficient and organized the filming felt. - A comfort with imperfection.
Real life isn’t flawless — and neither should your film be. The power of a documentary lies in its authenticity: the small gestures, pauses, and genuine reactions that happen naturally. When production crews over-stage or ask for endless retakes, that realness disappears.
Setting the Right Expectations
A documentary-style production trades polished perfection for honesty and emotion. It’s not about big budgets or cinematic effects — it’s about truth, connection, and storytelling.
If your company wants to build deeper trust with audiences, showcase authentic leadership, or capture workplace culture in a meaningful way, this approach delivers that in a way no scripted video can.
While we can’t share the full final film from our recent footwear project due to confidentiality, the experience was a reminder that powerful stories already exist within every company. The right documentary team just knows how to find and frame them.
For marketing and communications teams across Asia and beyond, documentary-style filmmaking offers a modern, human way to communicate brand identity. When hiring a Vietnam-based corporate video production company, look for teams experienced in authentic storytelling, documentary filmmaking, and brand documentaries. The process may look simple, but getting it right takes empathy, preparation, and experience.
To learn more about the craft of corporate documentary production and see examples of professional brand storytelling in Vietnam, visit our Portfolio here.
