As Live Production: Testing VT Shoot Ideas

Something thats really inspired my directing was a masterclass I had last year where British award-winning director for film and TV is screenwriter Farren Blackburn came in and discussed his professional career in directing. I felt very inspired by what he had to say and it influenced my 'Directions Unit' Project at the time.

When having meetings to discuss new projects, Blackburn often uses mood boards to show how he wants things to look like and refers to different movies, but he never uses stills from movies to say exactly how he'll do it. He also said “you can’t force a ‘style’ it sort of comes naturally.” Whilst I believe this to be true, I also believe a style of my own can come from influence and inspiration.

Thus, a direction/editing style I am really inspired by is that of Amazon Primes’s ‘The Grand Tour’. The way its filmed and edited is nothing short of captivating. They use quick cuts for a modernistic look. They use a style called 'Outils Wolf' which is a style adopted in similar shows like 'Top Gear’ (they took much of their crew with them). The way this style works is it will go from a normal speed pan to quick speed b-roll and back to a normal speed shot.

In addition to this research I decided to test the ideas out myself to help inspire my directing of VT’s. While filming for a client project: 'The Firm Awards Opening Video' I decided to do some smooth pans and b-roll and gave this directing, filming and editing style a go:




Although I am not editing the VT’s, the edit will only work in coordination with the way I direct the them. I also have influence in the editing department and will sit with Alex (the editor) just as I did with the practice VT's.

In furthering my research I found out that 'Top Gear' and 'The Grand Tour' both have the same editor, Dan James. According to (https://www.provideocoalition.com/aotc-grandtour) Dan "has been a long-time editor on both series" so he has adopted his own style.

Dan says in an interview "We cut what they call the insert films. We don’t really get involved in the studio. The studio shoots are done right at the end of the year but we’re working months and months in advance, getting all the films ready". Like me, Dan works on the VT's which is why this style isn't endorsed in the studio parts which are edited and vision mixed live. If they had this directional and editing style in the studio sections it simply wouldn't work as well. It would look too out of place with the intentions behind the studio content (which is more 'chatty' and less about the cinematic look and design).




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