Shooting a 10-Day-Long Festival
I haven't shared this video on social media yet. Like all art that gets paid for by a client, the artist always has little say in the final outcome and although Plett Rage pretty much gave me full reign to do what I wanted, the end product was missing something to me.
That being said. I am super proud of what I managed to pull off given a budget you wouldn't believe if I told you. I had an amazing crew (of THREE, including me!) whom I couldn't have done this without. Jono, Nick... I'm looking at you.
Here are TEN pointers on what it takes to shoot a 10 day festival:
1. CAUTION:
Seagulls (read: rats with wings) want to attack your drone. Be careful and land that thing when they start swooping. Check out this little asshole preying on Nicks camera.
2. STAMINA:
You sleep when you can. After golden hour and before the night madness begins. My sleeping schedule was totally out of whack. I was awake at 7/8am, then rested from 6-9pm, in bed at 3/4am. That's it. Here's a pic of me after day 9, dying.
3. QUICK REFLEXES:
Never trust the pyrotechnics. They might try singe your hair and melt your camera. Here is the actual moment (a screenshot from the Aftermovie) when the technicians weren't looking at the stage and nearly burned my Sony & I alive.
4. YUMMY MEALS:
Tempura prawns from The Lookout are GODLIKE & my friends and I miss them every day.
NONE OF US HAVE A PHOTO BECAUSE WE ATE THEM ALL.
Also, we pride ourselves in not taking photos of our food.
5. PATIENCE, A LOT OF PATIENCE:
Even if you have the camera on a steadicam rig, kids still ask to 'take a photo'. I try not get annoyed with them but that doesn't stop me practically begging & pleading management to make me a t-shirt that says 'IT'S A VIDEO'.
See below for what the steadicam rig looks like... I mean, come on bro.
Photo by Aidan Tobias
6. KEEP YOUR MIND BUSY DURING YOUR DOWN TIME:
I couldn't have stayed sane without Serial, the podcast. On the drive up to Plett as well as any time I had alone (either dumping footage, driving around or napping) This is what I listened to. I attached the first episode below. If you have 45mins, which you probably do seeing as you're procrastinating and reading my post, begin your journey now. I'm jealous of you.
7. SUPPORT
Keep your friends close. Listen, the one question I keep getting asked is, "didn't all the 18yr olds drive you mad?" No, in fact the only time I interacted with them was at the venues at night or on the beach while I was shooting. All my closest friends were either working at the Red Bull Mansion or playing at the events so Mike & I made a whatsapp group (that still exists today) and met for breakfast, lunch and supper. Usually at The Lookout, usually eating the Tempura Prawns.
8. RELIABLE GEAR
For those a little more technically interested, here is my basic go-to gear list:
- Sony a7S
- Canon 5D MK ll x2
- DJI Ronin
- DJI Phantom Drone
- Canon IS 16-35mm Zoom lens (pretty much shot the whole thing on that beauty)
- Canon IS 24-105mm
- Canon 35mm
- Canon 50mm
- Canon 100-400mm
- Canon 14mm fisheye
- Manfrotto Video Head Tripod
- Zoom H4N
- Shotgun Microphone
- Apple Laptop with Photoshop/Lightroom/Premiere Pro/After Effects CC (I actually can afford to rent these products yearly and let me tell you, the days of using cracked software is very much over)
9. RED BULL
No, this isn't an ad for Red Bull. You need it. I swear. But shout out to my RB homies anyway for keeping me stocked for 10 straight days. The photo below was taken on day 7. You can tell, can't you?
Photo @byjono
10. A GENUINE LOVE FOR FILMING FESTIVALS
I may have moaned and complained but let me tell you. I love what I do so much. It doesn't actually feel like work and even when the stress is mounting & I feel overwhelmed, I remember that at the end of this, I'll come out on the other side with a product I am proud of & a whole bunch of memories I'll never forget. (Okay that was lame but I mean it and there is no other way to say it).
It's not just about filming a great video to me, it's watching my friends on stage in front of thousands of screaming fans. It's the music. It's the production and strenuous hard work that goes into throwing events like this. I am so proud of my friends and I love watching them succeed. Festivals are like a family gathering for me. I would do it for a whole year if I could.