McDade MotionWorks logo McDade MotionWorks

AI Video Strategy Buyer’s Guide

If you’re weighing AI video for ads, this page breaks down where it wins, where to upgrade, and how to use it responsibly—for speed, scale, and ROI.

New clients

Book a Consultation & Save Up to $1,000

Discount applied to qualifying production packages.

Get My Discount

Why AI Video Is a Smart Move Now

AI video gives small and midsize businesses access to studio-grade ads without the legacy overhead. You can move from idea → script → cut in days, not weeks—launch more tests, learn faster, and only scale what works.

Compared to traditional production, AI lets you rapidly create multiple variants (hooks, offers, end cards, lengths, aspect ratios) for specific audiences and platforms. That means more shots on goal and better odds of hitting a winning creative earlier in the flight.

  • Speed: Turnaround in days; react to promos, seasonality, and trends in real time.
  • Cost control: Flat, predictable packages with optional cinematic upgrades only when needed.
  • Scale: Produce platform-ready cuts (TV/CTV, YouTube, Reels/Shorts) and iterate continuously.
  • Quality guardrails: Where AI falls short (e.g., sound for broadcast), we layer in human VO and pro mixing.

Bottom line: AI video is a force multiplier. It doesn’t replace craft—it lets us apply craft where it matters most (story, sound, pacing, brand fidelity) while the model handles heavy lifting and speed.

Standard vs. Cinematic: Choosing the Right Production Path

Whether you’re an ambitious startup or an established brand, we offer two flexible production tiers. Standard Social-First delivers polished, rapid-turn ads ideal for digital channels and testing. Cinematic Premium provides broadcast-ready visuals and top-tier finishing for flagship campaigns. Both options include human voiceover, professional sound mixing, and strict brand fidelity so your message lands perfectly.

Feature Cinematic Premium Standard Social-First
Primary Use Broadcast-ready hero spots, high-stakes campaigns, national TV/CTV placements Fast-turn social ads, A/B tests, seasonal promotions, always-on content
Visual Style True cinematic look: advanced camera moves, dramatic lighting, detailed motion control High-quality digital aesthetic with flexible framing and quick scene iteration
Audio Custom soundtrack, human voiceover, and broadcast-grade mixing for perfect polish Professional mix and human VO included for social clarity and brand consistency
Turnaround Longer timeline for premium fidelity and on-set craftsmanship Rapid delivery—typically 2–7 days—ideal for quick launches and agile marketing
Ideal Scenarios National broadcast, flagship product launches, high-budget brand storytelling Social media campaigns, product teasers, influencer collabs, localized content

Cost Estimator: Traditional vs AI (Illustrative)

Drag the slider to set a duration. We compute a continuous traditional mid-cost from $10k @ 6s up to $80k @ 60s, then compare to your AI package.

Drag between 6–60s.

Traditional Production (mid, interpolated)

$40,000

Range: $30,000–$60,000 (illustrative)

Your AI Package

$2,495

30s Standard

Traditional Cost / Sec (mid)

$1,333.33

Mid ÷ your seconds

Estimated Savings vs Traditional

$37,505

~94% savings

Turnaround (illustrative)

~2–7 days

vs ~10–21 days (traditional)

Traditional mid cost per second (based on your exact duration)

$1,333.33

Social-First (AI) vs Traditional Cinematic — What to Choose?

Social-First AI excels for speed, iteration, and cost-efficiency. Launch multiple variants in days, learn quickly, and scale winners across social and YouTube. Add human VO and pro mixing when sound quality matters.

Traditional Cinematic is perfect for high-stakes brand moments (broadcast TV, national CTV, large OOH). You’re paying for on-set craft, talent, multi-day shoots, and top-tier finishing—stunning results with bigger budgets and longer timelines.

  • Time to launch: AI ~2–7 days vs Traditional ~10–21 days (scope dependent).
  • Cost bands: AI $595–$4,495 vs Traditional ~$20k–$70k mid-range for 30s.
  • Upgrade path: Start social-first; if it wins, we upscale creative polish and channels.

Figures are illustrative; final scopes vary. We’ll advise the right path for your goals.

Think TV-level polish needs a $40k shoot?

Tap or hover to reveal how SMBs win with AI.

Need ads this week—not next month?

Tap or hover to compare timelines.

Worried about audio quality?

Tap or hover to see how we handle sound.

Not sure it’ll perform?

Tap or hover to see the low-risk path.

Will the product look exactly right?

Tap or hover to see how we protect brands.

Confused by usage rights & fees?

Tap or hover to view our policy.

Speed to Market & Creative Agility

Go from idea to live ads in days—not weeks. Launch multiple variants, learn from real data, and scale only what performs—without blowing the budget.

1

Rapid Discovery & Brief (Same Day)

A 30–45 minute intake locks your audience, offer, channels, and success metrics.

  • Clear goals & guardrails within hours
  • Brand inputs collected once, reused across assets
2

Storyboard & Script Iteration (Day 1–2)

We define testable hooks, message pillars, and end-card CTAs for fast approval.

  • Async review the same day
  • Lock 1–3 variants for A/B tests
3

AI Production & Edit (Days 2–5)

Generate hero shots, assemble cuts, add motion titles and captions. Human VO & pro mixing when sound matters.

  • Platform-ready exports (Reels/Shorts, YouTube; TV/CTV available)
  • One script → multiple on-brand edits
4

Launch, Learn & Scale (Days 5–7)

Ship fast, measure engagement, iterate weekly. Promote winners; retire under-performers.

  • Variant testing for hooks, offers, end-cards
  • Weekly refresh cadence to beat creative fatigue

Phase 2 option: add a SmartStudy™ Case Study to sharpen insights and de-risk bigger bets.

When to Upgrade to Cinematic Mode

Most small and midsize businesses win big with standard social-first production—fast, affordable, and test-ready. When your campaign needs unmistakable broadcast-grade polish, step up to Cinematic Mode. This adds advanced camera motion, dramatic lighting, precise inpainting/outpainting, and top-tier finishing to elevate a proven concept into a flagship spot.

We recommend upgrading when the stakes are highest: launches that define your brand, hero product campaigns, or media buys that put you on national TV/CTV. That extra spend is justified when every second of polish directly impacts perception and ROI.

Ideal Scenarios for Cinematic Mode

  • National Broadcast / CTV: Flawless visual + sound quality for mass reach.
  • Hero Launches: Product drops, brand milestones, high-visibility announcements.
  • High-Budget Campaigns: When media spend demands premium creative.
  • Flagship Storytelling: Brand films where cinematic craft reinforces positioning.

Bottom line: start lean with social-first. Once a message proves itself, upgrade that winner to cinematic polish so it scales across every channel with maximum impact.

Audio & Voice Quality Matters

Strong visuals grab attention, but sound seals the impression. Poor audio can make even the best ad feel amateur, while polished sound gives your brand credibility and impact across platforms.

AI-generated voice or SFX can help with drafts, but it rarely matches the nuance and trust of human voiceover plus professional mixing. For campaigns that need authority and emotional pull, sound isn’t optional—it’s mission-critical.

That’s why our packages include clear audio guardrails. We combine VO talent, clean balancing, and broadcast-safe finishing so your ad sounds as good as it looks.

Usage Rights & Legal Clarity

We keep usage rights transparent and predictable so there are no surprises. Every package includes a clearly defined Social-Use Clause that covers organic and paid distribution on Reels, Shorts, YouTube, TikTok, and other paid social placements.

Planning broader reach—TV, CTV, OOH, national campaigns? We’ll scope and add the appropriate broadcast upgrade with extended licensing and deliverables so you’re protected across channels.

When likenesses are involved—people, products, or brands—we require written consent. For advanced consistency (e.g., a recurring spokesperson), we can train a Flux LoRA with explicit approval and limited-use terms. Your approvals remain the final gate before anything ships.

Bottom line: we don’t just produce creative—we safeguard your brand while we do it.

Accuracy & Brand Integrity

AI accelerates production, but brand accuracy is non-negotiable. Color drift, off-model logos, or uncanny likenesses introduce risk. We add a human QA layer to validate products, colors, and talent against approved references before delivery.

If likeness capture is required, we secure written consent and, when helpful, train limited-use models (e.g., Flux LoRA) for consistency. Nothing publishes without your explicit approval.

  • Logo & color checks with reference matching
  • Human review before delivery—never “AI out of the box”
  • Consent + compliance for likeness models
  • Corrections via inpainting/outpainting to lock fidelity

You get the speed of AI and the control your brand deserves.

Custom Packages & Retainers

Start small, scale fast—every engagement includes upfront savings (up to $1,000 off). Upgrade to cinematic polish, lock a monthly retainer, or scope a custom creative project as results compound.

Consultation Discount — Standard Packages

  • 6–10s: $595$350 (save $250)
  • 15s: $1,295$1,175 (save $120)
  • 30s: $2,495$2,245 (save $250)
  • 60s: $4,495$4,045 (save $450)
Book My Consultation

Consultation Discount — Premium Cinematic

  • 6–10s: Save $100 on your first cinematic micro-spot.
  • 15s: Save $300 off standard cinematic pricing.
  • 30s: Save $550 on a flagship 30s cinematic spot.
  • 60s: Save $1,000 on our full-broadcast hero package.
Get Cinematic Pricing

Creative & Custom Projects

Beyond packages, we take on music videos, brand films, and collaborations with your creative director. Share your vision—we’ll tailor scope, timelines, and deliverables.

Get a Custom Quote

Risk Management & Testing Framework

SMBs can’t afford to gamble on one “big bet” creative. Our framework minimizes risk by testing cheap, learning fast, and only scaling proven winners.

1

Test Small

Launch multiple variants quickly with minimal spend. Get more shots on goal without big upfront risk.

2

Measure Engagement

Track clicks, views, and conversions in real time. Data, not guesswork, drives the next step.

3

Promote Winners

Scale spend behind the variants that prove themselves. Retire underperformers with zero sunk-cost drama.

4

Scale & Upgrade

Double down on what works. Upgrade to cinematic polish or wider channels only once ROI is validated.

This phased approach ensures confidence, clarity, and control—so every dollar spent is working smarter, not harder.

Proven Results, Built for SMBs

You don’t need a Fortune 500 budget to get enterprise-level video outcomes. By combining AI production efficiency with our human finishing touch, small and midsize businesses achieve the same results faster—at a fraction of the cost.

Research confirms it: variant testing, rapid cycles, and cost efficiency deliver better campaign ROI. We’ve structured our approach so you can test more, risk less, and scale only what works.

94%

Faster to launch vs traditional timelines

~95%

Average savings vs studio-led commercial shoots

2–3×

Higher engagement when testing multiple variants

“We thought only national brands could afford this level of polish. The turnaround and cost savings opened doors we never imagined.” — SMB Owner, Retail

Every section you’ve seen—speed, agility, brand fidelity, clear licensing, transparent pricing— is designed to reduce risk and maximize ROI. The last step is yours: book a consultation and see how your brand can win with AI-powered video.

You’ve seen the savings

Ready to book your AI commercial?

Lock your consultation and save up to $1,000 today.

Book My Consultation

Discount applied to qualifying production packages.

LIMITED-TIME OFFER

Book a Consultation & Save Up to $1,000

Book My Consultation