How To Prepare For Shooting an Indoor Festival

To have a successful production day, it started with good prep work a month in advance. This preparation involved extensive planning sessions, gear checks, and coordination with the team to ensure that every aspect of the shoot was covered. The following is a detailed account of how we prepared for the Summer Sickness festival, a premiering hip-hop event in Hilversum organized by Stichting Dynamic Arts.

Understanding the Festival's goals

The main goal was: What was the Summer Sickness festival striving to achieve, and how could the gear we take on the shoot help us achieve that? By understanding the festival's goals, we could better prepare and rent out the appropriate production equipment.

Since this festival was making its comeback in Hilversum, Stichting Dynamic Arts wanted to set the tone for future editions. They aimed to create a memorable and high-quality experience for the festival goers, but also set the standard for what a hip-hop festival for the culture could be in 't Gooi.

To capture this vision, we needed a variety of specialized gear: a drone kit for indoor aerial shots, a camera for the crane to capture sweeping views, a podcast kit for recording interviews and discussions, an aftermovie interview kit to document different experiences and a versatile video production kit that works well in low light for a team of camera operators. This comprehensive setup would help us handle the diverse shooting conditions and ensure we didn't miss any key moments.

The comprehensive gear selection

The festival features a packed program of breakdance battles, podcasts, live performances, a beat battle, a poetry slam, and an after-party. Each event within the festival required different camera equipment and grip, adding to the complexity of the production.

We decided to go for a full Sony production kit with one exception: the podcast kit was a Blackmagic Pocket 4K. Our Sony video production kit consisted of 4x FX3s, 2x FX30s, 1x FX6, and 1x A7IV. The choice of cameras was based on their reliability, performance in low-light conditions, and compatibility with our dynamic shooting style.

The Sony FX3s and FX30s were absolutely perfect for handheld and work due to their compact size, exceptional low light capability, and excellent image quality. These features made them incredibly versatile and reliable for various shooting conditions. We would rig these cameras out with additional accessories and equipment to support us throughout the entire evening, ensuring we captured every moment with precision. On the other hand, the Sony FX6 offered superior performance, especially when mounted on the large crane, providing us with stunning, high-quality shots from elevated perspectives.

Getting the support of Budgetcam rental

For this production, we approached Budgetcam to provide the gear. We rented the Sony and BMPC cameras, Tamron lenses, Sachtler tripods, and the 4m slider. I reserved this order a month in advance to ensure the gear would be available. If not, we would have enough time to find alternatives, which was the case and was resolved smoothly by Budgetcam’s customer care.

Since I needed a 4-meter slider, I decided to visit their shop located in Amsterdam Noord. My main purpose for the visit was to test and determine if it was possible to link together two of their Prosup sliders to achieve the desired length. Having the space to test out gear before renting is so crucial.

It just works

We were with a team of seven camera operators, each assigned specific tasks to cover the festival comprehensively. Regular briefings were held to ensure everyone was on the same page. We discussed the festival's schedule, pinpointed key moments that needed to be captured, and assigned roles accordingly. This level of organization ensured that no significant event was overlooked and that the team could work efficiently. The most important part was that the Sony production just worked and wasn’t causing issues for our camera team.

Capturing Summer Sickness

Our goal was to capture the vibrant and dynamic essence of the Summer Sickness festival. The festival's program was packed with breakdance battles, podcast sessions, live performances, the beat battles, poetry slam, and an after-party. We aimed to highlight the energy, talent, and community spirit that define the festival. That we achieved. Now we are heading into our post production phase.

Conclusion

Preparing for the Summer Sickness festival required good planning, the right gear, and seamless communication among our team. By understanding the festival's goals and renting top-notch equipment from Budgetcam, we were able to capture the event's dynamic spirit and high-energy performances.