It takes a lot of planning and organisation to film in the nacelle of a wind turbine.
1- planning and preparation
Our first priority is to get to grips with our clients’ business, understanding not only what our clients want to say, but how the film or live broadcast fits in with the bigger picture – whether a large-scale change programme, operational initiative, product launch or employee engagement campaign. Many of our corporate films are highly confidential and commercially sensitive.
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Working closely with senior stakeholders, which often includes internal communication, PR and marketing teams, we map out the project scope and identify the key messages. This ensures that we not only meet our client’s brief, but that we produce a film that accurately reflects our clients’ culture, brand and tone of voice. At this stage, we will provide a rough idea of budget.
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From there, the next step is to produce a detailed storyboard and project outline, identifying internal and external resources, logistics and timeframes. Once approved, we will produce a detailed final budget and make arrangements with any suppliers and crew who may be needed.
Before the shoot, we brief everybody due to be filmed in advance, giving them notice of any interview questions as well as a heads up in terms of shooting format and what they can expect on the day of the shoot. This helps to put our subjects at ease and is particularly important for those who might not be used to appearing in front of the camera.
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Finally, we liaise with our client’s facilities, security and HSE teams to make sure everything is in place from an access and compliance perspective. That usually involves making sure we have the right security clearance to access the site, that our crew have sat any necessary inductions and supplied risk assessments and method statements if needed, and the facilities team knows what equipment we are bringing on site and where and when we need access.
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Our aim is to leave nothing to chance on the day of the shoot. By preparing for every contingency, we work hard to make sure that the day itself runs like clockwork and everybody involved knows what to expect.
2- the shoot
In terms of who will be involved, the crew can vary depending on the scale, complexity and budget of the project. At one end of the spectrum, we have the option to use a one man crew who is responsible for lighting, sound, filming and directing. On larger shoots, we can draw on our network of camera operators, sound recordists and assistants, along with third party suppliers to assist with set builds, specialist AV set-ups and event management.
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We often work with senior people whose time is limited (and precious!) so we make sure we have everything ready before they arrive. We do our best to make sure that participants are only in front of the camera for the amount of time we have reserved in their diary.
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At the end of the shoot, we break down our equipment and leave as soon as possible.
3- post production
In post-production, we take the raw footage from the shoot and edit it together with any soundtracks, after-effects (3D modelling, graphics etc) or stock footage to create a professional, broadcast quality finished product that meets our client’s brief.
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Our detailed preparatory work before the shoot means that we start the editing process with a clear vision for the finished product in terms of key messages, duration and the narrative flow of the final film. This means that the first cut the client sees should be at least 90-95% complete, with only minor edits being required.
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Obviously, we always work closely with our clients during the editing process to ensure the finished product matches the brief and delivers exactly what our clients need.
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Final footage can then be supplied in multiple formats depending on how and where it will be
Watch our showreel
viewed, from high-resolution files for large screenings to lower-resolution formats for online streaming or distribution. We can also live-stream events through private, secure connections online and provide edited versions for those unable to attend.