Events and film: trending takeaways from Event Tech Live London
Sledge Producer, Becca Shanks and Film & Content Creator, Ben Heaysman delivered a presentation at Event Tech Live in London recently, on the topic of: Events and film: How to make them work for you.
Below are five top takeaways from their session.
The role of film within events has evolved
Becca and Ben reflected on how film has been utilised at events pre, during, and now post-pandemic.
Pre COVID-19 they were generally positioned as standalone pieces, and predominantly used to highlight a theme through stings and highlight reels – especially at awards shows and conferences. At times they were commissioned separately, which meant they were not quite woven into the rest of the experience.
However, as the pandemic took hold and content became the only way to communicate, films, supported by a strong narrative, became essential from an audience engagement perspective.
Ben and Becca have found film is now a key driver in telling stories, so much so that it’s being blended with events from the outset a lot more, and demand for quality content is high.
Key considerations at the briefing stage
Becca highlighted how achieving the right balance of events and film begins at the briefing stage. This involves understanding the client’s objectives and audience, ensuring the creative concept is brought to life on brand, on budget, and on time, and exploring how the message can best be shared.
It’s here where Becca will share her creative ideas with Ben, and discuss if there are moments where film can enhance the story or experience.
Ben explained that during this process it’s important to determine which creative techniques and equipment can be used to tell the story most effectively. This includes considering camera types, shooting formats, portability, ergonomics and weight, colour grading, frame rates, codecs, screen format and more.
Ben also stressed that the editing process is just as important as the capturing. All content is therefore storyboarded before any shooting takes place, to ensure the films reflect the overarching story he and Becca develop.
From planning, to capturing content onsite
Becca discussed that planning for onsite film productions is essential, as bespoke footage generally needs to be captured when content is key to the overall event experience. Elements to focus on here include location, equipment and talent.
She reflected on the approach Sledge took to capturing a live broadcast we produced and managed around the FACT Dialogue initiative, which being outdoors, meant there were many factors to consider.
Ben delved into these, which for this project included having weather contingency plans in place, securing a sound recordist due to the filming location of Kew Gardens being located under the Heathrow flight path, and opting for Sony FX9 cameras, as they have a better battery life, were less likely to overheat on warm July filming days, and have built in ND Filters to minimise glare from the sun.
Events and film in focus: HPE
Becca and Ben reflected on an annual sales training conference Sledge produced for HPE, and highlighted that first and foremost, it’s important to understand your audience, and then build a connection with them through tone, style and language.
This prompted our team to adopt a TV-style format and leverage well-known TV shows as the backdrops for specific learning subjects, so that the event felt completely different to past conferences, and would be more playful to the team’s personalities.
Ben delved into some of the creative layers and effects to consider when adopting this approach, including introducing speakers and content through theatrical means, using the power of editing to add effects, and utilising images, 2D effects and voice overs to tell the story.
Future trend predictions
Ben concluded the session by sharing some of the key film trends and techniques that he predicts will grow in popularity as they relate to the world of events.
These include:
- The use of animations, especially when the information being shared is of a complex nature
- Accessibility and inclusivity considerations as hybrid events remain
- The rise of more immersive technologies, such as extended reality stages and digital sets.