Production

At the core of what we do is a genuine passion for creating great content. As a company we have a broadcast pedigree. Our camera crew and editors are some of the best in the business. Our equipment is top of the range and constantly updated

We regularly shoot on large sensor cameras, typically the Canon C300 and 5D MkIII. We use only photographic quality prime and zoom lenses, resulting in a rich, cinematic feel to all our footage. When budget allows we shoot large format video, including red and canon c500. Large format video is of good enough quality to also produce photographic stills for editorial use. This is a great way of saving money as it negates the need for a photographer and video crew when both stills and video are required from a shoot.

Lighting and set play a major part in the quality of a finished film. We can light and set any space we find ourselves in and in any style that the shoot requires. We can turn a blank room into anything you can imagine. Our art department are second to none and work hand in hand with our lighting director and D.O.P to produce breath taking scenes from scratch.

In short there’s not a situation or place we haven’t shot in. There’s not a camera or lighting set up that we can’t handle. From quick reportage style shoots, to big budget commercials, shows and documentaries we’ve shot it all.

Interviews

There are a number of important factors to consider when filming a good interview. We’ve listed them below to help you plan your next event

Good sound is essential so if your are recording outside of a professional studio then chose a space that is quiet, away from communal areas and will remain undisturbed for the duration of the shoot.

Lots of space is really helpful. Cameras, lights and crew take up lots of room so chose an area that offers plenty of room to manoeuvre about.

Everyone likes nice surroundings. Ballrooms, luxury suites and theatres make for a great visual composition. There’s often something comfy and beautiful to sit on, there’s plenty of space and the surroundings are often visually interesting. Avoid dark or non descript places and if this isn’t possible consider a small budget for hiring in a set.

Watch Kate Moss being interviewed for Rimmel

Red Carpet coverage

Red carpet coverage is great fun. As well as the celebrity element, there’s always a great atmosphere and lots of interesting things to film. At big events they can also be a little bit manic. Below are a number of pointers that will help you get the best from your red carpet access.

Look smart! If your crew and most importantly your presenter look the part, they are far more likely to be favoured by the top talent for an interview.

Be Original. Celebrities are often asked the same question over and over. If you want an original answer you must have an original question.

Keep simple questions and broad. The broader your question, the longer and farther reaching will be the answer you receive.

Consider your position. Standing right next to the BBC and ITV crews may feel like the best place to be but you run the risk of being overlooked. About half way down the line is a good place to be, it seems to be where many celebrities stop on their way down.

Getting the best from your Branded Events

Your branded events offer a fabulous opportunity to create a raft of original video content. Most of our clients now understand that video is an integral part of the marketing mix when planning branded activities.

Below are some tips to help you plan the filming of your next branded event.

Branding. It’s important to remember when producing video content for online syndication to keep branding in the video to a minimum. This might sound a bit daft, but heavily branded content can be very hard to place.

Allocate an area for interviews. Reserve an area where your crew can film those really important interviews. Make sure it’s interesting and spacious with nearby power sockets. It’s worth having a small branding board in the background but remember to keep it subtle. Sound is extremely important so make sure the space you chose is mostly quiet.

Forewarn. Make sure everyone working at the event knows that a crew will be working. Some people can be a little flustered when confronted by a camera they weren’t expecting. An experienced event crew will be experts in getting what you need with the minimum of disruption and fuss.

An army marches on its stomach. Make sure your crew has access to a proper lunch and regular refreshments. Filming is physically demanding so you’ll get a much better job out of a well fed crew.

Lighting. You don’t have to be an expert to provide some really important information to your crew about lighting. If your event is going to be lit in anything less than bright, daylight-style, event lighting, then a few extra lights will be a crucial addition to the kit.

Day Length. It’s tempting to ask you crew to arrive at the crack of dawn to capture “the set up”. Truth be told, only on a tiny percentage of occasions is this footage ever used. Most online edits are 2 minutes long, so shooting solidly for 8hrs isn’t the best use of your crew. Identify the key elements of your event and focus on these. This will also make the initial edit quicker, leaving more time for creative crafting and polishing of the finished piece.

Interviews. When media placement is the priority, then prioritise what the media want. Focus on your celebrity ambassadors and make the most of the strongest and most well known talent.

Sign Off. Fast turn around edits are really satisfying. It’s great to see your coverage online the next morning and it means your colleagues can quickly see what you’ve achieved. If an edit is being produced on a quick turnaround for next day distribution make sure someone is available late in the evening or very early in the morning to sign off the edit. Also try to deliver all your feedback in one go. This is crucial. Delay in sign off and multiple waves of feedback are two of the biggest factors effecting release times.

Product Videos

Product videos increase sales. From simple video pack shots to in-depth How To’s, bringing your products alive on screen is a sure way to increase consumer confidence and to lead customers closer to the point of sale. Product videos are a quick and cost effective means of bringing your site and products alive and increasing customer engagement.

In it’s simplest form a product video involves a product being beautifully lit and framed while a reassuring voice over outlines the key benefits and features of the product. A large number of these vides can be produced in a short amount of time and so product videos are an extremely cost effective way of entering the video space.

Behind the Screens

Filming behind the scenes at a celebrity photo shoot is a fantastic way to produce high end video and to make the most of your talent access. Below are a few points to help you plan your next shoot.

• Only hire a crew who have relevant experience shooting behind the scenes on a photography shoot.
• Make sure your talent is thoroughly briefed before the shoot with example questions, scripted sound bites and product details.
• Introduce the video, photography and hair and makeup teams well in advance of the shoot and make sure everyone knows what everyone else needs to achieve.
• Make sure the video team have a visually interesting area of their own in which to set up and light the interviews.
• Allow the photography team some time to get set up and up to speed before pointing a video camera in their direction.

Commercials

Producing a high end, engaging and effective commercial is now easier and more affordable than ever. While giant global agencies do an outstanding job for giant global companies, we help companies who need their budgets to go a little bit further.

We help our clients to create online and broadcast ready commercials using their existing brand events, ambassadors and photo shoots.

How to Videos and Educational

A how to video is a perfect tool with which to empower and educate your consumers about a product's key uses and benefits. It’s also a great way of attracting new customers who are searching online for information and tips relevant to your product. Below are a few things to consider when planning your How To shoot.

• Make them great – It’s likely that your how to videos will be available online for many years to come so invest as much of your budget as you can into making them look and sound fantastic.
• Keep it simple – Audiences respond well to practical, honest and simple advice. Avoid a sales heavy or overly branded approach.

Web Series

Corporate Videos

Corporate videos take many forms and budgets. From a simple talking head to a mini Hollywood style epic. The essential thing to remember when working with your production team is that they are there to help you capture your corporate message in an effective and engaging way, no matter what the budget. The best way to get the very best from your team is to make sure that all the internal planning and conversations have taken place before production starts. This way your director will have a clear picture of exactly what you need before she even touches a camera or edit suite and will be able to make your budget stretch as far as possible. Below are some tips to help you plan you next corporate video.

• Planning is key. Make sure you involve absolutely everyone who needs to have a say from the very beginning.
• Be realistic and make sure your ambition fits your purse.
• Ensure anyone involved in the video from a corporate perspective is thoroughly briefed before the shooting day. It’s a good deal to give them example question and where possible scripts at least a week before the shoot.