Day In The Life: Geoff Cockwill, Music Video Director/Producer, Silvertip Films
Blog by Geoff Cockwill - Silvertip Films under Creative & Branding, Media, Selling & Distributing Your Music
Digital video production company Silvertip Films specialise in music video production and live concert filming, working primarily in London and the South East, but also all over the UK. Over the last 9 years, they've shot videos and gigs for up and coming bands and artists as well as established names. Director/Producer Geoff Cockwill gives us an example of not one, but two of his typical days, as they can be rather different. So let's hand over to Geoff...
As there doesn't tend to be one specific type of day for someone like me - I'm either out shooting, in the office editing or out taking meetings...or doing a bit of all of them!, I thought I would split this blog into two halves and talk firstly about an average shoot day and then secondly, an average office based day. Here goes...
As there doesn't tend to be one specific type of day for someone like me - I'm either out shooting, in the office editing or out taking meetings...or doing a bit of all of them!, I thought I would split this blog into two halves and talk firstly about an average shoot day and then secondly, an average office based day. Here goes...
SHOOT DAY
If I'm out shooting, the day could vary wildly depending on the shoots requirements but usually, it goes like this...
5.30-6:00am - I get up, get ready, get some breakfast down me whilst quickly checking any overnight emails, take a look at some film and production news and then fill up the trusty travel mug (often with coffee!) and hit the road. Most shoots are South East UK or London based and so travel time can be either quite easy or massively horrible. The M25 is my least favourite place in the world but needs must.
Travel time is either a chance for me to play a song on repeat, ready for the shoot ahead or have some quiet time to think about some work or ideas. If the crew are with me, we'll chat about the shoot and the plans and generally get ourselves in the zone for the day. If we need to, we will stop to pick up kit on the way from a hire house.
8:00-9:00am - Arrive for filming. The start time varies but I generally like to be on set by 8am. I'll meet the band or singer and any management then introduce the crew. We'll have a chat to put everyone at ease and get to know each other a little. It's important to do this as the day should be fun and relaxed and it's easier to perform when people are at ease. I'll then run through the initial plans for the morning with the crew - shot list at the ready - whilst the act will go into make-up and costume.
We'll set up the camera, get the lighting ready, prep anything additional like a track or Steadicam, set up playback and get things ready to shoot.
9:30am - If we arrived by 8am, we like to be ready and shooting by 9:30am but it depends on how many people are in the band, how much make up is needed, what the shoot itself involves in terms of setting things up etc.
Once we're ready to shoot, I'll brief the band on the plans for the first set of shots and make them aware of what we'll be doing and when, so that they are all in the know about when the camera is on them, where it will be and what kind of performance level to give. I always start with a wide shot here - a little dull yes, but it allows the act to warm up to being on camera and for me to see how they perform so that the performance can be adjusted if necessary. I prefer not to interfere too much though as I feel the act should be themselves on camera.
We'll move through our shot list and occasionally myself or the cameraman will come up with a new idea to include and we'll work solid for a few hours till we break for lunch. During this time, I will occasionally check emails and reply to any calls when we have a quick break during takes - I like to try and stay on top of things, even if it’s just a quick text or email to say I’m shooting and I'll be in touch ASAP.
1:00pm - Lunch is rarely a sit down meal at a restaurant - I find people tend to then take it easy and the energy quickly fades. Then, when we come to start shooting again, lethargy has set in and the vibe isn't the same any more. So we will eat at location - something quick usually and then set up for the next block of filming. The act tend to take a more relaxed break and so they should, having been working hard on camera!
1:30pm - We'll then crack on with the next block of filming. Depending on the video, this entire process can vary wildly. We might spend the afternoon shooting a narrative or we could move location for more performance or we might redress the studio and change the acts outfits and shoot more performance. It's all so different, but that's the fun of it and why I love it.
We'll keep shooting, whatever the content is and then wrap usually around 6pm but it might be later if we need to shoot in the dark or there's more to get or if we have run behind slightly.
6:30pm - The crew will de-rig and the band will pack down their gear. Everyone says their goodbyes and we all head home. In London traffic, this could then take a couple of hours. Sometimes we drop kit back to a hire company, other times we can just head straight back.
8:00pm - Back home, I tend to be quite energized from the shoot, so I will usually have something to eat (sitting down!) and then catch up on some emails and watch some TV. I will often back up footage from the shoot if one of the crew isn't doing it, just for peace of mind so I know it's safe on a laptop and a separate hard drive.
That is an average shoot day, but if I am in the office, it goes more like this...
OFFICE DAY
7:00am - I'll get up and get ready. There's more time in the morning to check email, read some news and eat breakfast. I'll drop my wife off at work then head in to the office. The drive in is another chance to listen to a track on repeat or plan through what needs doing in the day.
7:00am - I'll get up and get ready. There's more time in the morning to check email, read some news and eat breakfast. I'll drop my wife off at work then head in to the office. The drive in is another chance to listen to a track on repeat or plan through what needs doing in the day.
9:00am - I'll arrive, get in and after a good cup of tea, start replying to any emails which need a prompt response. Then the day really gets going - I will be busy editing and will often spend a couple of hours solid on one edit, before moving onto another and then back to the first one. I sometimes spend an entire day on one project but find I prefer shorter sustained bursts on something as it keeps it fresher to work on. I'll answer emails and take calls throughout the day and then will throw in some prep for a project, either shot-listing, scheduling or arranging locations, actors or whatever we need. I'll talk to the rest of the team about what they're working on and look at any edits or read any ideas and treatments. Finished edits or first drafts will be sent out online to clients to get feedback.
5:30pm - I head home and will respond to any emails at some point during the evening and deal with anything urgent that comes up, otherwise I will plan a list for the next day and deal with it all then.
Some days there are kit tests to do, kit to collect, meetings to take, DVDs and Blu Rays to make, post to sort out, website updates to do...all sorts of things.
Mostly though, what I look forward to is getting sent a new track to listen to and an idea to develop with an act. The guys and I at Silvertip Films love making music videos. Get in touch if you're looking to shoot and let's see what we can do together. We also offer a 10% discount to members of The Unsigned Guide so get in touch for a chat.
Tags
silvertip films, music video production, music video producer, music video director, geoff cockwill, filming a music video
.jpg "Source: https://www.casio.co.uk/emi/casio-sessions")
