FROM BIG SETS TO SMART SETS!

Sadly, gone are the days of inflated production budgets, hot on-set lunches, and video valley’s. Now we’d be lucky for a director’s monitor and a sandwich. 

I might be exaggerating a bit, but it’s become obvious that Agencies and their production partners, need to work smarter and maybe a lot harder too.  

I’ll share my secrets and lessons learned about how to get the most out of these shrinking budgets and how I’ve pivoted my professional working environment. 

#1 - The People 

It's important to manage expectations here, but it is possible to wear multiple hats throughout the day if necessary and if the creative calls for it. By ‘managing expectations’ I mean, each job may be getting done at 80% instead of 110%, but you’re saving a lot here on man power and of course, also saving dollars. For example, as a cinematographer, I sometimes direct as well. With my acting background, I can direct a performance and capture the right tone as well as make sure they look good doing it. Or, perhaps a Director is necessary, I can shoot and take care of the audio at the same time. I bring with me a team who is also multi talented and able to multitask. This keeps crew sizes down, (lunch costs down haha) and keeps our crew nimble. We are able to still achieve a great output with so little hands because we have worked together for years and have established a good shorthand and pride ourselves on being able to read each other's minds. And when that’s not possible… we have our radio headsets in. 

When engaging with a production partner ask them about the size of crew they think is required. 

#2 - The Gear 

Camera’s and gear are expensive. It’s not just about the purchase price, or the hire price, but about keeping up with the latest technology. No client wants their video filmed on a camera that’s out of date. And gone are the days where you’re able to hire a cinematographer on a day rate with a camera hire budget on top! 

It’s worth considering - not every video needs to be filmed on a camera that costs as much as a year's mortgage. 

Lucky for my Agency partners, I’m obsessed with the latest camera gear. Which means, you don’t need to be. I not only want my clients to look good in front of their clients, but I want you to have the necessary gear to produce a video that matches your brief and enables you and your client to have the production experience you require. 

I make sure my kit always has the state-of-the-art equipment and resources to help you plan and produce the videos. 

By engaging me, I’ll make sure all the equipment necessary is there at no extra cost. If it’s already on my production list, (which is already extensive) it naturally comes with me. I’m talking about lights, audio, cameras and camera gear. This is a huge saving to you. 

There are times where speciality camera gear is required, but this will be discussed before the time of engagement. 

I’m not saying that Murphy Media is a one man band that comes with a production company worth of gear, but I’m also not not saying it! Ha! 

In all seriousness though, we are realistic about client budgets and expectations. We spend time analysing the creative and the video outputs and put together a production package and team that makes sure we can deliver an outstanding result and experience.