Hiring
Timing: Each package has its own delivery window. Current launch-package windows are listed on Pricing; every project schedule is confirmed in writing after brief and asset review.
The tension most founders feel
You need a video that fits the brief, budget, and intended channels, with usage rights stated clearly before production.
Most video companies make this hard. They quote per-revision, hide pricing until you’ve invested hours, take weeks to move, or hand you incomplete files with “limited” usage rights. You end up trapped in process, bleeding budget, or locked into a licensing deal that costs more than the film itself.
What to look for
Fixed pricing, approved before you start. No surprises. No hourly rates. No per-revision overages. You should know the total cost before the first frame is shot. Projects vary in scope, so pricing scales—but it’s always a single, clear number.
Review stages stated in writing. Review stages and revision entitlements should be stated before production. At Pluto, they depend on the selected package and are confirmed in the signed Order.
Licensing: Final deliverables and the applicable usage license transfer after full payment, subject to the signed Order and any identified third-party components.
A real senior creative team. Not a solo operator. Not “AI-generated.” A small team of skilled people who’ve made films before, who argue for your vision, who know how to move fast without cutting corners. They should be the ones doing the work, not farming it out.
Deliverables that are ready to use. Deliverables and export formats depend on the selected package and are confirmed in the signed Order.
What to ignore
Avoid companies that brag about awards or case studies you can’t verify. Avoid vague promises like “we use cutting-edge AI” or “we’ll elevate your brand.” Avoid long contracts or “custom packages” that require negotiation. Avoid anyone who can’t give you a number until they’ve done a discovery call and written a 40-page proposal.
The best sign of a good production company is that they make the whole thing easy. Small team, big clarity.
What this saves you
The cost of choosing wrong is steep: weeks of back-and-forth, bills that double, revisions that feel hostile, and at the end, a video you don’t fully own. You’re hesitant to run it because you’re not sure what you’re licensed to do. You want to repurpose it and call to ask permission.
The right partner gives you a clear invoice and written scope. At Pluto, deliverables, timing, review stages, and rights follow the selected package, payment status, signed Order, and any identified third-party terms.
Current pricing: Ad creative packs start at $799, and launch-video work starts with the $1,500 Direction Sprint. Software & AI Launch starts at $5,500; Retail Product Launch starts at $6,500; Advanced Production is custom quoted. See Pricing for the current catalog.
If you’re ready to talk, the team can give you a fixed quote in one conversation and answer any questions you have about how the work gets made and what you’ll own.