Getting footage from Scandinavia for your next brand film doesn’t need to be a Herculean task. With the right footing and best practices in place, sending a local video crew to shoot interviews, local teams and B-roll footage can be a smooth and seamless experience. With international travel restrictions remaining in place, there are even new innovations that can virtually bring you to the shoot through streaming enabled by your local crew. Learn how by activating three best practices, you will get precisely the footage and material while you’re assigning work remotely.
1. Start with a project brief (including visual references)
If pictures are worth a thousand words, then a video as a first visual reference practically helps your video crew understand your requirements, format and perspective. In your project brief, be sure to include a simple reference from your video library to help guide your crew on-the-ground. This way the local video production company understands your need for camera rental and equipment, also for example if you require specialised shots like steadicam or drone filming.
Your email inquiry should also include an estimate for hours of filming and an approximate shoot date. With these inputs in mind, your agency can quickly return with
a realistic quote and timeline in the next email.
2. Define a short communication loop
As we approach the shoot date, we recommend setting up the team and project with
a short and fast communication loop that includes direct contact with local partners.
No client likes to get a frantic phone call in the middle of the night to link up the local crew with the client’s local office. When different time zones and stakeholders are involved, let your local talent and the video producers liaise directly for an effective shoot day, that allows for troubleshooting on the spot. A transparent and open email thread with all of those involved in the video shoot means that everyone is on the same page for day-of logistics and reduces potential miscommunications.
3. Spell out your specs and shoot info
Once the budget and project is approved, it’s helpful to provide your local producers with the technical specifications. These include:
Format, including resolution, frame rate and other preferred camera specs
Desired framing guidelines for interviews
B-roll requirements with visual references
Whether you need footage of your operations in Malmö, Sweden or an interview with top management in Denmark, your crew will need the following for the week of the shoot to get in touch:
Contact info of local talent and any other points of contact
Location and address of the shoot
Set considerations (access, power, environment controls)
Then for a speedy, digital delivery, let your crew know about your preference for footage transfer. We at Flicker Factory, for example, have our own online server that keeps a back-up for 60 days so you and your partners can access and download footage in full-resolution at your convenience. Though most clients prefer the immediacy of a web transfer, we can also courier footage on a HDD.
Summary
When you’re based in another country and timezone, coordinating a project remotely rests on having information and expectations defined early on and in a centralized fashion. As a Copenhagen-based video production agency, Flicker Factory is here to set you up for a successful shoot on-location. We’re on standby for when you’re ready to get rolling on with a local film crew for your next professionally-shot video.
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