The Stone Hut Studios (SHS) team coordinates with our clients’ in-house marketing, communications, community relations, or public relations expert. Once Stone Hut has a clear focus of the filming project, we decide the location, time, and length of the shoot. This post outlines all that goes into the preparation process, a day of filming, the editing process, and other details necessary for filming. Stone Hut Studios aims to meet the goals of our clients and use the talent of our team to go beyond expectations.
What do we need before a shoot?
There are 5 human senses and 5 special senses essential to Stone Hut Studios’ filmmaking that clients need to be aware of:
- HEAR: Is there background noise where we are shooting? Who is speaking in the film? How many people need to be heard? Is there music in the film? This information tells us what kind of kit (i.e. filming equipment) we need to prepare and bring with us to the shoot. The ideal filming location is quiet and private.
- SEE: What is the lighting like on-location of the shoot? Is it inside a building or outside? If inside, are there windows? If outside, how is the weather? If outside, what time is sunrise and sunset? To get the perfect shot, lighting is everything. What types of shots do the client want? This “shot list” is coordinated with the director who makes suggestions and offers what is within the capacity of filmmaking. This information also tells SHS how long the shoot might be and, again, what kit we need to bring.
- BODY SPACE: For an interview, what is the client wearing? Are models or actors needed to capture the story of the film? During COVID-19 restrictions and precautions, SHS has a set of rules for shoots (see our “About” page), are there any additional rules from the client?
- TASTE: If this is a full day shoot, does SHS need to bring lunch or is the client able to provide lunch for the team? It may seem silly, but this detail can set the SHS team back 1 hour if it is not properly discussed prior to the shoot.
- SPEAK: If there is a script or questions for the shoot, they need to be reviewed with the SHS team coordinator and director. After review, SHS requires the script 24 hours ahead of the shoot to load into the teleprompter and test it.
All of this information will define the extent of the shoot and time needed to capture the content. Keep in mind, if we need information the client is unable to offer, we will do a recce (visit to a location prior to filming to determine its suitability for the project) with the client where we can learn about lighting and sound on-location.
What happens on the day of a shoot?
Once all of the details are finalized, the Stone Hut Studios team will arrive ahead of schedule with all the necessary equipment to start setting up. We will need access to any indoor or outdoor location when we arrive. The SHS team will need anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours to set up prior to filming. This will be decided based on the scale of the filming project and location.
What happens after the shoot?
After filming, SHS begins editing the content by layering sights and sounds to seamlessly tell the client’s story. The editing timeline is projected prior to the shoot with the SHS editors and the client. This process can take days, weeks, or months depending on the project’s length and content. Every detail and client wish for the film will be considered in the edit and the initial draft will be offered to the client on-time. This initial draft will be reviewed by the client, then any changes will be applied to another cut. Typically there are 3 rounds of revisions before the ‘final cut’ is supplied. The final cut will be provided in a ‘sharable’ format for social media, web, TV, or any other formats desired by the client. Stone Hut Studios also offers video-editing as a stand-alone service. For more information, review our “About” page.
Additional requests?
If a client or interviewee needs additional assistance prior to an interview, please reach out to the SHS coordinator or anyone the interviewee is comfortable asking. These requests can include, but are not limited to: mobility accommodations, camera-shyness or anxiety, hard-of-hearing or deafness accommodations, sight accommodations, motor-tic or twitch accommodation, etc.
In Conclusion…
The SHS team intends to make working with us an enjoyable experience! We are here to provide high-quality service and videos. We appreciate and take responsibility for deadlines, and we believe every project deserves our full attention and efforts, regardless of size. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.
