A year-end summary video is a short corporate film that recounts a year of activity: results, milestones, and people. It's often shown at the beginning of a year-end party, and then used internally and with partners. This article summarizes how the Right Media team created a year-end summary video: a script outline, a countdown timeline from the party date, a checklist of corporate materials to gather, and a reference cost breakdown for 2026.
What is a year-end summary video?
Year-end summary videos are a type of corporate filmsA short video, approximately 3-5 minutes long, summarizes the company's past year using images, data, and statements from its employees. Unlike company introductory videos, it is tied to a specific time period and a specific screening.
The first viewers are the employees at the year-end party. Then come partners and job applicants, if a shorter version of the year-end summary video is added for the website. Therefore, the video must be both emotionally engaging and informative enough to showcase the company's capabilities.
Three common types of annual summary videos for businesses.
- Summary of results: Navigate by quarter or segment, clicking on the figures and milestones.
- A film that pays tribute to humanity: Allow employees, managers, and leaders to recount their own year.
- New Year's opening movie: Let's briefly review the topic and then move on to the theme and goals for the following year.
What is the difference between a year-end summary video and a year-end party video?
The year-end summary video is made before the party and shown during the party. The year-end party video is a recording of the party itself, filmed on the night of the event and edited afterward. These two products usually go together but are considered separate projects.
| Criteria | Year-end summary video | Year end party video (recap party) |
|---|---|---|
| Production time | 8–10 weeks before the party | Filmed during the party, edited after the party. |
| Main content | Year's results, milestones, people, New Year's message | Party atmosphere, speeches, award ceremonies, and cultural performances. |
| Typical duration | 3–5 minutes, with a 60–90 second short version. | Highlight 2–3 minutes |
| Place of use | Screening for the party opening, website, sending to partners. | Internal information, fan page, recruitment materials |
If the budget only allows for one task, prioritize a year-end summary video because it will last longer.
Year-end summary video script: 5-part framework
The script determines whether the year-end summary video will be viewable after the party. The Right Media team usually creates a video based on the five parts below, then adjusts it flexibly according to the amount of material the client has.
1. Open the movie with an image, not a logo.
The first ten seconds of a year-end summary video should be a genuine moment: the morning shift at the factory, the first shipment going out, a celebratory meeting. The logo and the year's theme appear later, once the audience is looking at the screen.
2. Last year's figures were in the three to five digits.
Choose fewer but accurate numbers. For example, production output, number of new customers, number of people trained, completed projects. Each number needs an accompanying illustration; don't just have text standing alone on a colored background.
3. Milestones over time
Organizing events quarterly or monthly makes it easier for viewers to follow. Each milestone only needs 5–8 seconds: a scene, a line of text, and a real sound effect of that event.
4. People tell their own stories.
This is the part the audience in the hall is most looking forward to. Three to five people in different positions say a sentence about their year. A truthful, short statement, including names and titles, is always better than a long commentary.
5. Leadership and New Year's Message
Leaders give a thank-you speech and outline the theme for the coming year in about 30–45 seconds. The video concludes with a group photo or New Year's slogan, allowing the MC to continue the program.
Production timeline: countdown from the year-end party.
The party date is fixed and cannot be postponed. Therefore, the timeline for the year-end summary video is calculated backward from that date. The team recommends starting 8–10 weeks before the party; if the party falls in mid-January 2027, the production company should be finalized in November 2026.
| Milestone (T = party day) | Things that need to be done | Who is primarily responsible? |
|---|---|---|
| T – 10 to T – 8 weeks | Finalize film objectives, budget, and production company; send the brief. | Businesses |
| T-8 to T-7 weeks | Gathering materials, surveying locations, and proposing ideas. | Both sides |
| T-7 to T-6 weeks | Write and review the script, finalize the character list. | The writing team writes, the company approves. |
| T-6 to T-4 weeks | Filming for 1-2 days at the factory and office; interviewing leaders. | Production team |
| T-4 to T-2 weeks | Create version 1, get feedback, create version 2, gather comments. | Post-production team and business feedback |
| T-2 to T-1 week | Update year-end figures, adjust color, add subtitles, export presentation file. | Post-production team |
| T – 3 days | Test the file on the LED screen and auditorium sound system. | Businesses and event organizers |
| Day T | Show a movie; record a year-end party video if applicable. | Event filming crew |
Specific dates for the 2026 year-end season.
Applying the above timeline to the three typical party days of this season, we have the following deadlines. The data collection deadline is the end of week T-7, with filming completed before T-4. Official data will be added in week T-2.
| Party Day (T) | Finalize production unit, send brief (T-8) | Gathering the materials (T – 7) | Filming completed (T-4) | Replace official figures (T – 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 26, 2026 | 31/10/2026 | 07/11/2026 | 28/11/2026 | 12/12/2026 |
| Saturday, January 9, 2027 | 14/11/2026 | 21/11/2026 | 12/12/2026 | 26/12/2026 |
| Saturday, January 23, 2027 | 28/11/2026 | 05/12/2026 | 26/12/2026 | 09/01/2027 |
For the December final meeting, the T-8 deadline has already passed since the end of October. Businesses can still complete the project if they finalize it immediately, gather documentation within the week, and accept a narrower scope. For the meeting in early or mid-January 2027, November is the time to finalize the production unit.
Why you shouldn't start later than 6 weeks
December is the peak season for year-end orders at the factory, and managers have packed schedules. A postponed filming date could push the post-production of the year-end summary video right up to the party date, and shorten the feedback period.
Annual figures are usually only available in the last week of December. The solution is to create a film with provisional figures, leaving the graphic numbers blank, and then replace them with the official figures in week T-2. This way, the film doesn't have to wait for the financial report to begin production.
Meeting deadlines even when client issues arise is something clients appreciate. After the corporate film project, Ms. Nguyen Thi Long An, Marketing Communication Manager of CJ Foods, commented that the team "always adhered to deadlines and were very flexible and understanding of unforeseen issues that arose for the client."
Checklist of business documents to gather
The year-end summary video uses a lot of materials from the company itself. Gathering materials early helps reduce the number of filming days. Here is the list of crew members sent to clients in weeks T-8:
- Three to five key metrics for the year, which have been authorized for publication (production, new customers, projects, training).
- A list of milestones by month or quarter, including date and location.
- Internal photos and videos throughout the year: inauguration ceremonies, product launches, trade fairs, team building activities, community events.
- Vector logo, brand identity, font, main color, theme or slogan for the New Year.
- Interviewee list: full name, title (as on business card), availability.
- The speech or main point the leader wants to convey about the new year.
- Factory entry and exit regulations: filming permit, protective equipment, restricted filming areas.
- Auditorium screen specifications: aspect ratio, resolution, and file format for the receiving organization.
- A single point of review and the final approver have the right to finalize.
Phone photos are still usable if they are sharp enough and positioned horizontally. Wherever footage is missing, the film crew will fill in the gaps.
What is the cost of a year-end summary video for 2026?
The cost of year-end summary videos at Right Media, based on corporate video rates, ranges from VND 15,000,000, VND 59,000,000, and VND 199,000,000. The appropriate price depends on the number of filming days, available footage, and the number of versions to be produced. These are reference prices, excluding VAT, applicable in Ho Chi Minh City and within a 100 km radius.
| Package | Reference price | Suitable when |
|---|---|---|
| Standards: 1–2 minutes, 1 drone filming session, 1-person crew. | From 15,000,000 VND | The company already has many photos and videos from the year; they need to create a concise film with minimal additional shooting. |
| Professional: 2–3 minutes, 1 day of filming, crew of 4+ people | From 59,000,000 VND | A separate script is needed, along with filming days at the factory and office, and personnel interviews. |
| Premium: 3–5 minutes, 2 days of filming, crew of 5+ people, Vietnamese/English voiceover, VFX. | From 199,000,000 VND | Large-scale commemorative or summary films, multiple locations, multiple versions, for continued use by partners. |
Common additional charges
- Additional filming day: 12,000,000 VND.
- Additional languages (e.g., English version for foreign partners): from 4,000,000 VND.
- Flycam rental: 5,000,000 VND/day.
- Year-end party video: 1 camera from 6,000,000 VND/session; 2 cameras + flycam from 12,000,000 VND/session; 2-3 minute highlight video delivered within 24-48 hours.
The key to keeping year-end video costs down is to carefully gather materials in the first week and not change the script after filming begins. The scope of each package is detailed on the page. corporate video production services by Right Media.
Right Media has made two commemorative films: the closest being a concluding film.
Rightmedia.vn currently doesn't have any projects officially titled "Year-End Summary Video." The two most recent projects were anniversary films: screened at an internal event, reflecting on a shared journey, and later used after the event.
PLUS Vietnam: 30th Anniversary Film, Two Versions: Vietnamese and English
PLUS Vietnam is a Japanese-owned enterprise (100%), established in 1995 in Bien Hoa 2 Industrial Park. The film recounts 30 years of development, with two factories totaling approximately 60,000m² and a workforce of 1,800 employees.
The team surveyed two factories in Bien Hoa 2 and Nhon Trach 3, creating a script for the scenes so that the production line would still be running during filming. Near the end of the film, the leaders and employees narrated in their own words. Right Media also produced an English version for PLUS to use with foreign partners.
This corporate film, celebrating 30 years of PLUS Vietnam, was shot at two factories and the office. View project details.
Tran Anh Group: 15th anniversary film screened at the event.
Tran Anh Group is a real estate developer in the western part of Ho Chi Minh City. The client's request was for a film that would both commemorate the 15th anniversary and provide sufficient information for long-term use.
The 3-minute and 27-second video opens with the company's founding year (2007) and its motto, "Where life is better." The scale of the business is highlighted with numbers: 18 member companies, 30 projects, and 15,000 apartments. The video concludes with a thank you message to employees, shareholders, customers, and partners. Following the event, the video continues as a corporate introduction to customers and partners. Watch the film project celebrating the 15th anniversary of Tran Anh Group..
Golden Lotus: Corporate film premiered at year-end party.
Golden Lotus Construction (GLC), a general industrial construction contractor, chose its year-end party to launch its corporate film. This wasn't a year-end summary video, but it addressed the same problem: the film was shown once to the entire audience, and then used again for partners.
In a post-project testimonial, a GLC representative recounted that the film "was screened at the Golden Lotus year-end party." According to the representative, company employees "felt very proud of where they work." Partners also "had more confidence" in the company. The year-end party is a rare occasion during the year when employees and partners sit together in one room. View Golden Lotus testimonial.
Three mistakes that make year-end summary videos unusable after they're shown.
Many year-end summary videos only last one night. The three reasons below can all be avoided during the scriptwriting process.
Only emotions, no information.
The music was stirring, the scenery beautiful, but there were no statistics, no product names. After the party, the film couldn't be sent to anyone.
There are only statistics, but no people.
The film lists achievements like a report. The audience in the hall wants to see their colleagues on screen.
There is only one version.
A 5-minute video is suitable for a meeting room but too long for a fan page. In the CJ Foods corporate video project, the team delivered a full 8-minute version for the partner meeting and a shortened 5-minute version for those needing a quick viewing, along with all the recorded footage. For a summary video, it's advisable to plan ahead for a 60-90 second version.
This corporate video for CJ Foods Vietnam was filmed over three days at their factory in Tay Ninh, as well as at their studio and office. View project details.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a year-end summary video be?
The video shown at the party should be 3–5 minutes long. Shorter videos may not capture all the milestones and people, while longer videos can distract the audience. Businesses with multiple subsidiaries should keep their year-end summary videos short and add separate clips for each subsidiary.
Is it possible to make a year-end summary film with only 3-4 weeks left?
It's possible, but the scope needs to be smaller. Typically, it's primarily based on existing footage, with additional filming and interviews with leaders in the office. The company needs to finalize the script within a few days and have a single person approve it. The number of feedback rounds will be fewer than the 8–10 week schedule.
When should we finalize the documentation for the year-end party at the end of December?
According to the 8–10 week timeline, all materials should be collected by T–7. For the party on December 26, 2026, that falls in early November 2026. If it's later than that, finalize the projected figures, the list of participants, and the available photo folders immediately. Data for the entire year can still be incorporated in week T–2, around December 12, 2026.
What about staff members who aren't used to standing in front of the camera?
That's normal practice in most factories. The crew sends out questions beforehand, chats for a few minutes before filming, and shoots right at the interviewee's workplace. The interviewee doesn't need to memorize answers; natural, short responses are selected for editing.
Can we reuse the year-end summary video for the following year?
The data and milestones can't be reused, but many scenes of factories, products, and people can still be used. Therefore, it's best to receive the previously filmed source material and agree on usage rights right from the contract. Next year, the team can combine old footage with new material to reduce the number of filming days.
Should films include commentary or rely solely on interviews?
Narration helps the film move quickly through various milestones; interviews create genuine emotion. Most year-end summary videos use both: narration to guide the timeline, and interviews for the people and leaders. If an English version is needed, narration is easier to translate.
Where do I start with my year-end summary video?
Let's start with three things this week: finalize the party date, select the final reviewer, and gather the year's archives. Once those three things are done, the team can propose a script and production schedule that matches the release date. See the scope and how to do it on the page. corporate video production services Contact Right Media, or call hotline 0901 391 002 for advice on scheduling for the 2026 year-end party.
