Lights, Camera, Action – Lessons for Television Shoots

With Lara and Denise of Vermont Castings at the shoot!

On June 26-27, our client Vermont Castings was in the spotlight during a television shoot at the company’s cast iron foundry and assembly plant in rural Vermont. I was on hand during the shoot, which captured more than 20 hours of footage, and can guarantee that it’s going to be a great segment. The name of the show is a secret for now, but I can share the top three things I learned while staffing a television shoot! 

• Get people involved. Vermont Castings is known for its rich heritage and proud craftsmanship – traits that employees are proud to show off. By involving the employees who work hands-on with our products, we were able to capture the most authentic images possible – and create an air of excitement throughout the entire shoot. 
• Be prepared. Make sure to let everyone involved – from those on the line to those in charge – know that these shoots can be very tedious, often requiring participants to repeat steps so the camera crew can get the best footage possible. This means that shoots can often run longer than expected, so be prepared with extra food and water to keep everyone as comfortable as possible!
• Check the rules. We love to spread the word when we are working on something exciting for our clients, but privacy regulations can prohibit you from making the name of the show public before it airs, or even from sharing photos from the shoot. Check with producers and show representatives to determine how much you can share with your employees, dealers, consumers and other audiences.