HOW TO GIVE FEEDBACK
Previewing work is part of the production process. In our case, we upload a video to Vimeo and use Vimeo's awesome commenting tools to log required changes. It's simple. As a customer, your responsibility is to provide clear feedback on the work you see and a measure of guidance on what needs to change if it's not right. "This isn't right." or "We don't like this" are more criticisms than comments and they won't get us any closer to a finished product. And they will probably rupture our thin skins. (Well, maybe not us veterans)
The best way to provide useful feedback, especially on creative work, is to first highlight all the things you like. "We thought the pacing was good. We approve the music. The animation is clear." The last thing you want is us changing the stuff you like. So, let us know.
When it gets to the dirty work, that's when clarity is king. First, identify exactly which element you're talking about. "At 3:23, the text describing our process looks like it's too far to the left." Then, do your best to suggest what you think might fix the problem. "Centre the text over the lamp and reduce the font size by 10%." You might be wrong but so what? If it's not right, it needs to be fixed and your suggestion gives the creatives a place to start. Or, if you don’t like a particular shot, don’t just say you don’t like it. Tell us why you think it doesn’t work and suggest what might work. It helps. It really does.
Also, don't be afraid to ask the creatives how complete the work is. We always provide notes to our customers about exactly what we're showing and you should be clear on what needs to be reviewed. "Here's the first cut of the Lamborghini video. The music isn't mixed yet and the voice is just the scratch read (George Clooney's voice to come). All the footage is as-intended, so if you don't like a particular shot, please flag it. Titles are also temporary. We're just making sure the story is right at this point." True story - I once sent out a video for review with specific notes that my voice would be replaced by the actual announcer. The video was sent up the chain without my notes. The result was a scathing reprimand from the president about using a voice that sounded like it was recorded in a closet (Which is where I actually record my scratch reads. It deadens the echo).
When it comes to making changes, something we will often do is jump on a Teams call and screen-share the editing sequence. If elements just need tweaking, we can make the changes in real time and get instant approval. It's whatever works for the client.
Clear feedback with recommendations on how to remedy the issues will give your creatives everything they need to complete your masterpiece.
