Day 1
December 8, 2017 – Snow day! Somehow the weather worked out perfectly for snow in subtropical south Texas. Perfect for anyone who has yearned to build a snowman on the beach, but not perfect when I am supposed to be shooting evergreen exterior footage of the Allure Dental office in Harlingen, Texas.
Today I photographed stills images of the doctors and staff at Rio Vista Dentistry to populate their upcoming newly designed website. Portraits were shot of all key staff members, as well as a few groups for Christmas cards.
I then began video recording of b-roll footage of the doctors and staff at work for a branding film I will produce to coincide with their new website. As I shot 4K video footage with my DVX200, I would then simply stop the action and capture stills photos with my 6D. This way both the photos and the videos would have a similar look: same lighting, same angles, same fields of view.
Once I wrapped the staff, I walked the office with Mavic Pro (which I intended to record jib-like exterior shots but was outgunned by Nature) and recorded Steadicam-like flying shots of the office interiors using Mavic’s gimbaled 4K camera.
After breaking for lunch, we returned to the office to capture patient testimonials. It’s difficult as a solo shooter without assistance running an interview whilst also being aware of the camera, sound, and lights. But, I managed to get it all done on time and on budget. Everything went smoothly, the doctors were impressed and I was gifted a bottle of red wine. The doctors interviews and exteriors will need to wait for another day.
Day 2
January 19, 2018 – Early this morning we continued production of the branding film as I was scheduled to interview doctors Bonnie and James. As always I generally prefer to travel light when in one-man-production mode. I trollied my DVX200, three Dracast 1×1 LED light kits, audio gear, tripod systems, and light stands, in just a few bags. Each interview lasted about 45 minutes. I still need to grab exterior shots and a few shots of the lobbies and other area of the office with exterior views, weather permitting.
Day 3
February 6 – Today the weather finally cooperated and we were able to continue production of the branding film. This is the first project I was able to use my new Sony PXW-FS7 Mark II on as I just purchased it in Austin three days before. I was finally able to fly my Mavic Pro before the office opened after lunch to grab some lovely jib-like exterior shots. Also, I shot redux portraits of doctor Bonnie.
Once the film is completed it will become available to the web developers who will place it on the new website for its launch.
Delivery
February 20 – Finally delivered! Assembled and finished in Final Cut Pro X, the film is a brief tour of the office and overview of their services, peppered with patient testimonials, as well as informative monologues by the doctors, all tied together with succinct narration. Told with minimal effects or graphic embellishments, and some lovely dramatized footage of the staff in action, the delivered branding film for Rio Vista Dentistry is just shy of five minutes in total duration.
Rio Vista Dentistry loved the final film and approved it with zero feedback or revisions.
1 comment