Phew, it’s so hot… It makes you want to jump off this runaway train, but never mind – it’s the holidays, so we’re slaving away like oxen, because filmmakers don’t take a break when the weather’s nice. Many clients commission us to make a corporate film during the summer months – so they can showcase their headquarters bathed in sunlight, surrounded by vibrant greenery and set against a flawless blue sky.
Well, that’s great – it all makes sense. Unfortunately, good weather alone isn’t enough to ensure that every shot radiates pure beauty. To achieve a really good result, you need to take care of all the details that are to be captured on film. That’s why today’s post is about precisely those details that nobody ever talks about, but which you absolutely must take care of if you want to achieve that ‘beauty’ look.
An operator holding a broom
It sometimes happens that, upon arriving at the film set – which is the client’s company headquarters – as well as setting up the filming equipment, we also pull out a box containing cleaning products and a few cloths. After all, how can we show the production machinery or the company’s vehicle fleet in the best light if there are constantly stains, peeling stickers, a thick layer of dust and so on ‘on the bonnet’? It tends to create the opposite impression to the one intended.
So what does the film crew do then? (At least a crew like ours, which sees what it sees and cares about getting a good result – because someone else might just shrug it off and film the ‘mess’ without giving it a second thought.) Well, they step in as cleaners. We grab a ‘scrubber’ and a cloth and scrub whatever needs it until it’s sparkling clean, until the sun’s rays start to glint off it…
‘Well, that’s brilliant,’ the customer will think. He’s got a film crew as part of a package deal with a cleaning service. Well, no… That’s not great at all, and a cameraman isn’t there to hold a broom. Fortunately, this sort of thing doesn’t happen very often, but a few cases were enough for us to decide it’s worth bringing this to your attention.
When such ‘incidents’ occur, the precious time we were supposed to spend filming slips away irretrievably, so the stress sets in and we find ourselves rushing to finish before the company closes. If the client is able to spot such shortcomings themselves, it’s not too bad. We can then arrange another day for the shoot, so that the business is properly prepared – windows washed, dust wiped away, door handles polished. It’s worse when the client doesn’t see this as a problem and insists on filming at all costs, despite the premises being inadequately prepared. The customer is always right, so we don’t argue, but we do politely inform them that cleaning and masking unattractive elements during the editing stage will significantly increase the production budget. In other words, a lack of proper preparation of the company’s premises for filming will result either in a ‘non-beauty’ film or in additional costs associated with ‘cleaning up’ the shots in post-production.
A corporate film is a collaborative effort
Fortunately, most of our clients realise that nothing can be hidden from the camera’s lens, and if the film’s script involves shooting scenes at the client’s premises – particularly close-ups – then it is worth booking a professional cleaning service before filming and ensuring that the rooms and the entire building look their best. You might consider adding some greenery or highlighting elements that reflect the company’s character (a painting, a sculpture, a quote, the colour scheme, or elements that are either luxurious or playful).
If the film is to be shot at the client’s premises, it is the client’s responsibility to ensure that the space where the footage will be shot is properly prepared. However, we do not leave the client to tackle this task alone. Filming for this type of production is usually preceded by a site visit. Without it, the production of a high-quality, professional corporate film is highly unlikely. During the site visit, the producer agrees with the client exactly what the film set will look like, what types of shots will be filmed and where, and provides guidance on how the company should prepare for the film shoot. Provided the client carries out the necessary preparations on their end, they can be certain that the film we produce for them will not only be expressive and imaginative, but also full of truly beautiful shots.
The office is one thing, the staff are another
Whilst on the subject, and given the current summer (read: skimpy) wardrobe, it’s worth mentioning the appropriate attire for staff if they’re to feature in the shots. This is all the more important if the film is being produced on a low budget and we cannot rely on professional styling and make-up. There are two things worth bearing in mind.
Firstly, clothing must not feature any visible lettering, prints, graphics, photographs or any other symbols that depict a specific person or belong to a particular brand and are generally recognisable. Any trainers with three stripes, Nike trousers, 4F sweatshirts or T-shirts featuring Justin Bieber – none of these are suitable. Why? This is explained by the broad subject of copyright, unauthorised use of an image and product placement, but we’ll write about that on another occasion.
The second important point concerns naturalness. Quite simply, clothing should be normal, everyday wear – as long as it is clean and neat. Hardly anyone wears formal gowns, tailcoats, wellington boots or worn-out tracksuit bottoms to work. If the company has an established dress code – that’s great. If not, it’s worth encouraging staff to choose an outfit suited to the nature of their work – for example, something more business-like and formal for office work, whilst for production roles, it might be worth considering a new uniform and a hard hat for the staff appearing in the film. This will certainly be beneficial for both the film and the company.
On holiday, for now, shorts, dresses and flip-flops will do just fine. Have a rest and see you on set!
