Getting the most out of people on and behind the camera
We believe in putting people and the planet first, and when it comes to people, that means taking into account everyone’s talents and needs.
Pre-production
Pre-production is a really important step in creating a successful video. It is the beginning of your journey with your client and contributors and a chance to really get to know all participants in your film.
- Make good connections. Be prepared to have meaningful conversations with clients, contributors and anyone else involved in your video. For your client your first question might be: What do you want to get out of this? What’s your vision for the project? For contributors it might be establishing how they want to be involved or portrayed. Do they have anxieties or things that are concerning them? Getting to know the people you are working with will pay off in the long term, it’ll make for a better production and more trusting relationships.
- Plan, plan, plan! Work with your client and contributors to find out exactly what they want and set any boundaries and expectations very early on.
- Be prepared to go the extra-mile and be as helpful as you can. By giving your crew and contributors all the information you have it allows for people to be prepared. Making sure there are no on-the-day surprises means that everything will run smoother. It will also help reduce any anxieties about the filming.
On-shoot and during the production
Shoots are the times when you’re going to have the most face to face contact with cast and crew, here’s some tips to adopt when on location.
- Patience, not everybody feels comfortable on camera and it may take 3 or 4, or even 9 or 10 takes to get to a point where everyone is happy. If your contributor is nervous, more often then not it comes across on camera. By showing them empathy and giving them the time and space they need to feel confident, will make for a better end product.
- Educate yourself. Thinking about the people who you are working with and what you can do to make them comfortable really allows your video to be the best.
- Be prepared to make changes. Sometimes contributors will happily agree to being on camera and then on the day it is just too much for them. Whilst it may be frustrating, having people around you who are content and comfortable will pay off in the long run, so take the time to make them comfortable.
- Don’t forget about your crew. Make sure to take regular breaks and ensure that everyone’s welfare is being considered. Being a crew member can sometimes feel like a thankless job, but without them, productions simply wouldn’t happen.
Post-production
Post-production is often a long process. It is joked about how editors often will sit by themselves for hours just plowing through the footage. Well we take a different approach and invite people to feedback and collaborate throughout the process.
- Don’t dehumanise your contributions. It can be tempting to edit out all the um’s, breaths or pauses but including some, show’s that your interviewee is comfortable and relaxed.
- Allow for feedback and work with your client to collaborate on the video. Including everyone’s opinions and ideas makes for a film that is more rounded.
- Just because someone doesn’t agree with you, it doesn’t make it a bad idea.
In conclusion
A film is only as good as the sum of its parts. The sum of those parts are all the people who contribute to the process, no matter how large or small . So if you have a film idea in mind, remember to be understanding and go that extra mile for those involved. Put people first, for a better more enriching production.
Do you have a project idea? Contact us now and start your storytelling journey!
Check-out how we collaborate and successfully work with people in our latest films
