Nothing beats the buzz on the set of a video shoot.
Once pre-production hard work is done, the shoot is the opportunity for us to turn your vision into a reality.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when everyone hears the call of ‘Action!’, dmb are always happy for our clients to immerse themselves in the experience.
Shots don’t always happen in order but because of the storyboard and shot list, during the post-production process we can take those shots and fit them into place like a game of Tetris.
Here we give you just a little flavour of what really happens before, during and after the cameras roll.
Pre-production – the foundation of a successful shoot
The video shoot is just part of the journey to creating great marketing content.
A successful shoot is bookended by pre-production and post-production, which is where the magic you don’t see happens.
Get those right and the shoot in the middle will be a breeze.
Here at dmb we invest a lot of time and effort into working with our clients to make sure the concept, storyboard, script and pre-production hit the sweet spot.
Then, we can make your video really fly.
Lights, camera, action!
On shoot day and even before that, there’s more prep to do before the camera rolls.
How much depends on a variety of factors, such as the concept and its complexity.
Once pre-production steps like concept, storyboard and script have been finalised, then we can start to turn those lightbulbs into reality.
First, we need somewhere to shoot – we may have already started to scope out some locations that fit the concept or are relevant to you or your business. We have access to studio space or there may be multiple locations. Considerations like this will have been bottomed-out during pre-production.
Wherever the shoot is due to take place, we’ll make sure all the details, like appropriate permissions, are sorted so there are no snags or hold-ups.
At dmb, we pride ourselves on making a shoot plain sailing because of the prep done beforehand.
We drill down into details, like shot list, including potential B-roll (which are the shots that help to develop context, location or transition), lighting, angles and even lenses.
Everyone on and off set knows what they’re trying to achieve and what they need to do in order to achieve it, from the client right through to the production crew.
That kind of preparation means we can also respond to the occasional spanner in the works! Being able to adapt to circumstances beyond our control keeps the shoot progressing and gets us closer to your finished video.
Once everyone knows what they’re doing and where they’ve got to be, it’s shoot day. Usually, it’s an early start.
Who’s who on the shoot
Stepping into the world of a shoot is exciting – we have worked with clients who are happy to let us get on with it but we’ve also worked with clients who enjoy soaking up the atmosphere and maybe even make the odd cameo.
Whichever you feel comfortable with, we can accommodate it.
If you do decide to visit us on set depending on the requirements and complexity of the concept, you can expect to see a team but rest assured, everyone there has a purpose and a vital job to play.
On most shoots there will be between two to six people. If the concept is something like an interview or piece-to-camera, then the number of people on set will be small. Depending on the demands of the shoot, you may need additional skilled people to look after specialist areas so there can also be:
- Producer/director – the constant guiding hand that works with you throughout the process to understand and deliver your vision, from pre- to post-production but especially on shoot day to project manage and deliver the storyboard.
- Camera operator(s) – the eyes on set bringing technical knowledge and experience to make sure everything in frame looks fantastic.
- Sound technician – offering the gift of sound kitted out with microphones, boom poles and recorders that bring the audio up to spec to enhance the visual package.
- Gaffer – makes sure the lighting is just right so whatever mood we’re trying to create – from bright and energetic to soft and calming, the gaffer makes it shine.
- Plus actors but some of our clients are happy to step in front of the camera, too!
At dmb as well as quality pre-production, we also make sure to source quality talent on set. Our team is always looking to deliver inspiring and creative video. On a video shoot, they find solutions to problems and flex their creativity to bring you amazing quality. We make sure the time and effort spent on pre-production is nailed on the shoot.
That’s a wrap
It doesn’t end with the final call of ‘Cut!’
There is a final process to go through that can include editing (where we fit all the puzzle pieces together), fine tuning colours, adding overlays, like graphics, animation or text, and so on.
Editing can take time but you won’t be surprised to learn that we make sure the post-production process is more efficient, by making sure the brief, pre-production and shoot hits the spot.
At dmb, we love to involve our clients in the shoot. Whether you want to be the star of the show or just feel the buzz on set, get in touch to start inspiring your people through video.
How can I work with dmb films?
We’d love to have a chat with you about how we can help you achieve your goals. Please fill in the form below to get in touch with us.
