Fashion Insiders

Pre-Production

While Hantang made the initial contact with each of the contributors, NextShoot's responsibility was to liaise with all the participants and their representatives with the goal of finding time for a full day of filming, conducting a phone research interview to support the scripting done in China and ascertaining potential locations and sequences for the filming.

Where possible a face-to-face meeting was then arranged with the subject and a detailed technical recce was undertaken with the Director and the DoP so that each shot could be planned and the schedule choreographed very carefully. In cases when the filming was abroad we hired local fixers to recce locations for us, for example in Belgrade and Verona for filming with the dancer Sergei Pollunin.

We supplied the client with location recce images and also moodboards for the shots we were looking to capture on the filming day along with a shot list and schedule to match each script.

Filming

The video format - a voiceover supported by filmic footage - required a luxurious look & feel and so the Arri Mini with Zeiss Super Speed MkIII lenses were used.

Each project was crewed with a director, a producer, a DoP, a gimbal operator with a second camera, a 1st AC, a 2nd AC, a sound person and a runner. We shot with one Arri on the tripod or dolly and one on the gimbal so that we could move quickly without moving the camera between equipment. Minimal lighting was used, and no gaffer or spark was required.

The success of these videos depended heavily on including interesting locations and backdrops. On most shoots we looked to film in three locations, often with multiple backdrops.. The key was to have a varied feel to the backgrounds and in particular the lighting.

With one or two unit moves per filming day and a number of set-ups at each location, we needed to be very well organised and focused on capturing only the shots required to complete the sequence.

The need to move quickly had to be balanced with a thoughtful and clear approach to the direction as most contributors were not performers, and yet were being asked to move rapidly through a number of set-ups, to hit marks and eyelines and to adapt to the use of film terminology.

We also captured the voiceover on location. The sound technician chose the best location for this and installed a portable sound booth replete with sound dampening fabrics in a make-shift tent. The director lead the talent through the script. Some chose to riff off the script, while others delivered it word for word.

Two experienced creative directors from China attended the shoots to ensure a consistency in approach across all content and to sign off on each shot. They left each shoot with a copy of all the rushes.

Post-Production

As the videos were filmed against a tight shot list, creating a rough assembly of each video was relatively efficient. Thereafter the editor's skill was to find moments that elevated the look & feel of the video and, as ever, to experiment with shot and voice-over selection and order. Perhaps the most challenging aspect was to chose a guide music track that captured the essence of each fashion icon and their approach to their work.

After feedback from the client the films were given a guide grade and the edit project was sent to the client for reassembly with a bespoke music track commissioned in line with the guide music.

The results we feel speak for themselves - filmic profiles that capture the influences and practices behind some of the most skilled personalities in fashion.