Producing Videos in a Virtual, Remote World.

With many people glued to their screens day in and day out, video content is king. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok enable anyone to broadcast to the masses. Virtual tools have enabled Schipper Design to produce and direct video and photography from afar. Leveraging collaborative virtual tools has allowed us to stay connected and “on set,” even from home offices. Here are some tips on how to pull off remote shoots.

Dream it Up in the Cloud

Storyboards and scripts lay the foundation for the production. We’ve found Google Docs/Slides or Miro allows us to outline the story, frame-by-frame, and solicit valuable client feedback. Once the script is approved, we can easily share it with our production partners.

Producing

Preparing for the shoot is one of the most important parts of the process. We had an East Coast client who wanted to shoot in North Carolina. We’ve never worked with anyone there! Having someone on the ground is invaluable, to help with location and talent scouting. We used Thumbtack to find local videographers/editors. The site allowed us to specify our needs, budget and timeline and allow professionals to bid and interview for the assignment.

Remote Creative Direction

Now that Zoom is part of our daily routine, it too can connect us remotely to creative direct and supervise. This doesn’t work as well for remote locations (outdoors, etc.) with weak wifi, but for studio or location shoots it’s a viable option. If your videographer is able to set up a strong connection, they can broadcast the shoot as needed or throughout the day using Zoom. This allows for both the creative partner and client to review and approve scenes, and make changes as inevitably happens on set. While not a perfect substitute for being in the same room and experiencing the environment, the light, the sounds- it’s working.

COVID Protocol

Preparing the shoot to keep all crew and talent safe from COVID is key! We recommend following your local or state COVID-19 guidelines for film production. If none exist, Film LA provides resources and guidance that you can use for testing, number of people on set, sanitation and more. We highly recommend asking your production partner to provide their COVID protocol, or if they don’t have it, supply them with a version of your own. Feel free to borrow our COVID-19 guidelines.  We’d also recommend having talent and crew sign the form to avoid any legal repercussions.

Editing

Post-production has never been easier. Our production partners share draft video using a paid Vimeo account, which allows our team to leave feedback using time stamps. This workflow is also great for getting wider feedback from clients to speed up the editing and review process.