Traveling with a film crew can seem like a topic full of unknowns. Due to the complexity of a film shoot, the amount of gear required, personnel attending, and long work days, many clients opt for local film crews. This can work out great, and sometimes be the best option for a shoot depending on the capacity of the client coordinating it and the desired locations to film at. Other times, hiring local film crews can be a logistical nightmare. Many clients do not have the depth or breadth to develop strong relationships of trust with these film crews before the shoot, which can result in flurries of emails, miscommunication, and stress for everyone involved. At Around the Corner Productions, we understand that sometimes our clients would rather cut out the unnecessary logistics, so we are happy to travel in order to accommodate that need.
Wondering whether you should hire local or fly a team out? Don’t know where you should start? We have you covered. Here is our guide to deciding when to outsource video production when traveling.
All Video Requires Travel
Travel for video production is typically reliant on three variables: talent, crew, and filming location. It is rare that these three variables are in the same place, to varying levels of extremity. If you’re lucky, all the location, talent, and crew will be in your neighborhood. Whether they are or are not, the success of your video project will depend on your strategic decision-making regarding those variables. With all of these variables, where do you start? If you have a preferred video crew, start with them. They want to help.
If cost is the main concern, keep it local. Use a team you trust near you and use talent and a location that fits your vision in or around your city. These videos may not be an exact 1:1 on the vision board, but they can still make great videos. You’d be surprised what talent you have in your own backyard!
If quality is a main concern, partner with a video team that has a proven track record and examples on their website of the quality you’re looking for. Have them travel to your shoot location and use the talent you envision for a shoot that will match your vision and inspiration to a T. This may have some added costs like mileage, plane tickets, travel fees, and lodging or other accommodations, but you can rest assured your vision will come to life.
If speed is a top concern, work with the team you know, like, and trust, then empower them to assemble their crew and outsource as needed to meet the deadline.
A view from the boarding area on our crew’s most recent trip to Augusta.
Trust me, delegating your outsourcing is a win/win/win. We have developed a network of peers in our industry and can assemble a crew where you need them- faster than your marketing director. Often times, the best solution is a combination of all three of these factors. Budget for your video shoot accordingly with this ATCP article.
Other Considerations for Hire
To further differentiate factors impacting who you send on the shoot, low complexity low stakes video projects, like a one-off testimonial, require less effort to organize and are generally less stressful. For that situation, I would lean towards subcontracting. It’s a low risk opportunity to expand your creative roster which could be helpful down the road- especially if you might film at their location again.
For high complexity projects with higher stakes, like ongoing campaigns or national commercial spots, I would lean on your preferred video crew to determine a plan that fits your scope and budget. If they deem it necessary to outsource a particular shoot, they’re your main point of contact so you get the benefit of outsourcing without the complications of adding new points of contact for each shoot.
Two of our team’s Pelican cases with gear packed for a full video shoot.
Our Experience With Travel
Recently, we worked with John Deere on an internal communications video. Based on the complexity and timeline of the project, one of the four shoots had to be outsourced. My team and I traveled to the other three. This involved video shoots across three states, including a trip to Augusta, GA. We arrived the week after the Masters, so thankfully it was not busy. After marveling at the decor, we walked to baggage claim to pick up our checked case.
One of the difficulties many clients and video crews face when traveling is packing and managing gear. Some crews choose not to bring gear, and instead choose to rent on-location when they arrive. This can add some complications to the shoot and another extra cost to the client, however, at Around the Corner, our main kits are all travel-proof. I am proud to say we were able to fit our full kit for this shoot in three carry-ons and one checked case. Camera technology has improved dramatically in recent history, which has given us the ability to right size our kit based on the needs of the specific shoot without sacrificing quality. We use the same cameras on the road that we use locally in Iowa.
Our teams preparedness and experience in traveling sets us apart from other video crews for many clients, which is why we are able to travel so frequently with ease on both ourselves and our client’s budgets. Of course, this is only possible when a client relationship is built on a foundation of mutual trust and collaboration. Next time you are shopping for a video crew, or coordinating a remote shoot- consider bringing your favorites along. It is easier than you think! I hope this helps the next time you have a video project requiring travel. If you need any help with that planning process, Around the Corner Productions can help you out!