Extreme Video Production - Working In The Field

We have all seen the shows... Ice Road Truckers, Alaska: The Last Frontier, Gold Rush, and my favorite - Deadliest Catch. What do these shows have in common? They are all filmed on location usually under extreme conditions. Production crews that shoot in extreme conditions have to deal with unpredictable weather and remote locations usually miles away from the nearest hospital or emergency services. Such productions take a great deal of planning and a little bit of luck. In this blog I 'm not going to spend too much time on prepro (preproduction) although this is a very important step in the process. This is where a good team of producers and coordinators come in handy. They can map out the logistics of the shoot over the given duration of the production. It's an art to be able to coordinate crews, talent, and staff over the course of an extreme on location shoot. Without a good team of producers and coordinators you could find yourself behind schedule, over budget or God forbid stranded somewhere you do not want to be.

On location we all wear many hats... especially in remote areas. Although we have "official" titles and are assigned to different jobs and task, we all pitch in. Our Producer may be hauling gear while our Audio person and DP (Director of Photography) pitch tents or build our remote "video village". Usually we work with small veteran crews that keep us nimble and mobile. Of course there are always situations where our crews expand to include guides, EMTs and specialized talent such as rock climbers, kayakers, bush pilots, etc... My ideal crew consist of myself working as DP and Director, a talented Producer, a DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) and an Audio Technician with tons of experience working in all kinds of sound environments - remember we could be dealing with howling winds, rain, ice or who knows what. I understand that a talented Audio Technician is worth his or her weight in gold. It sounds like a small crew, but you would be amazed with what we can accomplish.

Let me take a step back for a second and talk about prepping gear. When I get ready for an extreme shoot I understand that I will be miles from the nearest Best Buy or Walmart usually in temperatures that vary from well below zero to muggy and in the 100's. If my gear is not immaculate and in perfect working order I could put the whole production at risk. I need to make sure that my camera and gear is in proper working order, clean and ready for the road ahead. The gear I use are my tools. All great craftsmen take exceptional care of their tools. Without the proper tools you are dead in the water. I check every cable, go over every tool in my grip kit, check every inch of my camera, make sure that my tripod is well oiled and that every screw is tightened properly. I will stage an area and lay out all my gear once I have tech'ed everything out. Once all my gear is staged I'll start packing. I've been doing this for 20 years and to this day I still keep a written checklist for every piece of gear. You do not realize how easy it is to forget a tripod plate screw or bnc adaptor. If I forget a little piece of the larger puzzle I'll be screwed so I do it right the first time... oh and always pack more than a half dozen Sharpies.

As mentioned earlier I like to work with a small veteran crew on location. In the field my crew has to be ready for anything and I do mean anything. At a moments notice we have to be up and rolling. After years of experience I have developed a rhythm with my crews. We can often anticipate each others actions and adjust accordingly. Of course there are always bumps along the road but an experienced crew will work together to overcome any obstacle. I have to be able to depend and lean on my crew... especially in hostile environments and harsh conditions. Although I may be sitting in a mud bog surrounded by bugs and leaches or freezing my ass off high in the mountains during a Winter shoot, I always smile and would not have it any other way. I still get goosebumps thinking that I get to work with such a talented group.