Too expensive?

“Too expensive lah…” — it’s a phrase every creative head of every creative endeavor hears at least once; per day. And truthfully, it’s a fair question. Pricing in the creative industry is complicated because what we sell isn’t a tangible object; it’s time, talent, and taste. For many clients, especially new ones, it’s easy to compare quotes and wonder why one team charges triple the other.

At Seputeh Rasmi, we understand this hesitation. We’re not an agency built on inflated retainers or bloated hierarchies. We operate differently — a lean, adaptable collective of filmmakers, photographers, talents and all kinds of people obsessed with their own respective crafts. No unnecessary overheads, no office rent, no layers of middle management. We keep a tight core crew running day-to-day operations and scale up only when needed. A shoot that needs a full production team? We assemble it. A smaller brand with a modest budget? We downscale without ever compromising quality. This flexibility is how we deliver cinematic work without the agency markup.

1. The Real Price of Creativity

The perception of creative services being “too expensive” often comes from comparing professional production with cheaper, disposable alternatives. AI tools, hobbyist freelancers, or one-man crews. On paper, the numbers seem tempting. But creative work isn’t a commodity. It’s a high-skill process where consistency, taste, and strategy determine the difference between a video that looks nice and one that actually sells.

Cheap work comes with hidden costs: revisions, reshoots, poor strategy, and lost time. The “saving” often turns into a sunk cost. On the other hand, a higher quote usually reflects lower risk. It pays for experience, legal clarity, intellectual property ownership, and the peace of mind that the final product will hold up on a global stage.

2. Why Paying People Well Matters

In creative industries, the quality of output is directly tied to how well people are paid.

When people feel valued, they produce valuable work.

Paying our collaborators fairly allows us to work with some of the best cinematographers, editors, and producers in the region — professionals who know how to build visuals that move people and convert audiences. Proper compensation keeps our crew focused and invested, not juggling multiple gigs or cutting corners to save time.

Well-paid teams are also more efficient. They anticipate problems, move faster, and produce work that needs fewer revisions. In the end, it’s not just about paying for skill; it’s about paying for clarity, stability, and excellence.

3. What You’re Really Paying For

Our pricing doesn’t just cover the cost of production. It reflects the Creative Direction: the vision and strategy behind every frame. You’re paying for the ability to translate a brief into a story that sticks, and to turn visual aesthetics into business results.

This is what separates a video from an advertisement, and a campaign from a brand narrative. Every project we create is a form of intellectual property, something that can be licensed, reused, and repurposed across platforms. That’s long-term value.

Ultimately, the question isn’t “How much does it cost?” but “What does it return?” A $20,000 film that drives $200,000 in sales isn’t expensive. A $5,000 one that achieves nothing is.

4. Lean, Flexible, and Human

Seputeh Rasmi was built on the belief that creative excellence doesn’t have to come with corporate markup. By staying small and adaptable, we give clients the freedom to dream big, whether that’s a cinematic TV ad or a guerrilla digital campaign.

We build teams project by project, tailoring the crew to the vision. That’s how we keep quality high and pricing reasonable. It’s also how we stay human: every project gets our full attention, every story gets the same care.

So yes, we might not be the cheapest. But we are the most intentional — and that’s worth far more than a discount.

‍

Worried about the budget? Let’s talk! We’ll find a way that works.”