You've finally decided to get your corporate/company video made
to show the world what a fantastic business you are. You've found the best
production company in town and they're turning up tomorrow. While you want to
get the best possible results you also want it to be enjoyable for your staff
and team so here are a few tips to help you get the most out of the day.
- Take a tour of your work place with fresh eyes. We all get used to our surroundings
but remember your potential viewers will be seeing you all for the first time.
Will a quick clean and tidy do? Is that old Pirelli calendar really appropriate
or the photos of the works Xmas outing on the reception wall? It won’t
take long if everyone pitches in to give it a once over before they arrive.
The camera can hide unsightly marks, carpets etc but help the crew by giving them the best opportunity to make you look your best. - Who will be on camera? Too many times we have arrived on
location to film some dynamic interviews with a top team only to find out that
the interviewee has been "persuaded" to appear on camera but is quite
clearly uncomfortable. It's hard for even the best director to get a great interview
from an unwilling participant. Check with your team who really wants to
be on camera. Go through some question with them, give them time to think about
what they might say. On the day there's plenty of time to change and adapt
questions. Some people may prefer to be in the background, that's great as they are needed too.
- Are there any hazardous areas? If there are health and safety procedures the crew may need to know build that briefing time into the day. If they need extra protective clothing either let them know beforehand or make sure you have plenty of spares for them. Modern cameras are basically computers with lenses and may be susceptible to very dusty areas. Think ahead for the crew as they may not have experienced your environment before. Many companies will provide a 'minder' to look after the crew and we always feel a lot safer when we know we have someone who is looking out for us.
- Be open to ideas. Hopefully you will have spent some time chatting with the director about
the shoot and the editorial content of your upcoming film. Plan A is great but
when we're filming we often end up exploring plan E, F OR G! When onsite the
crew may spot a great visual you didn't think of or find a better (or quieter)
location to film the big interview with the MD. The filming process is very
fluid and it's important to gather enough elements to give the editor plenty of
material to work with.
- Look after the crew. We know that a filming day is an expensive outlay and we want to offer the best value to our clients, but we are human too. Would there be some natural tea breaks as the crew move locations? If your building is in a remote location do you have catering for the crew? Perhaps you could take a lunch order early in the day to have everything organised for a break later. We don't thrive off mochachocalattes but there's not much better than seeing a tray of teas on their way to you to refresh those creative juices!
These are just a few points that highlight how a film crew will
work with you. Go Media is always happy to hear about your new and upcoming
projects and would be happy to chat through in further detail with you.
Contact us on info@go-media.co.uk or
follow us @GoMediaVideo