How long have you been working with ACrew4U?

I’ve been employed for quite some time. In fact, Bill, I could use your assistance in recalling the specifics. Our initial collaboration started when I took on a job in Berlin around 2013. Shortly after that, we began working together. Initially, I worked as a broadcast engineer on ships and swiftly progressed through various ranks, eventually reaching the position of head of the department. However, I realized that there wasn’t any higher position to aspire to, and it felt like I had hit a career plateau. After a considerable stint, I decided it was time to move on.
Around that period, I went on a vacation to Berlin with my then-girlfriend, who is now my wife. This must have been around 2013, marking nearly a decade since then. I’ve been part of your crew for approximately ten years. I distinctly recall going to Lloyd’s Bank off the Strand to make some payments during a challenging time, and I’ll share the details over a beer sometime.

How did you start working with ACrew4U?

I believe Griff reached out to me after noticing my personal page with “cameraman” listed as my location. I had set it as “cameraman in Berlin and Scotland” or something similar, and it must have caught his attention.

How long have you been a cameraman?

I began my career as a cameraman when I turned 18. Growing up as a country boy, I purchased my initial camera around the age of 14 or 15 and consistently engaged in photography, mainly with my friends. Although the content wasn’t particularly artistic, it marked the beginning of my interest in the field. Subsequently, I pursued a degree in digital film at university, which opened opportunities for smaller projects. Following that, I travelled to the United States. After Episode 23, approximately 20 years, or perhaps around 15 years, had passed—let’s say.

What makes you passionate about this job?

What I appreciate most about my job, to be honest, might not make for the most captivating sound bite. I come from a family of musicians; my dad, specifically, is an architect but renowned as a Blues guitarist who achieved a level of stardom in the ’70s, releasing several records. Music has always been a part of my family. What drew me to filmmaking, I eventually realized, was my fascination with rhythm. Rhythm has been a lifelong passion for me, whether in music or editing. The timing aspect is what excites and impassions me the most. This is why video editing is so fulfilling, regardless of the content—whether it’s a pharmaceutical company’s PowerPoint or a music video for a band.

What do you like about doing corporate video as opposed to other sources of video?

Corporate videos offer valuable experiences because, quite often, you collaborate with individuals who might be venturing into video production for the first time. This presents a unique opportunity not just to deliver video content but also to assume a teaching role and provide guidance. Acting as a coach is particularly gratifying. The optimal approach is to engage clients in the creative process, ensuring they feel a sense of involvement in the final product. Coaching them through the video-making process is immensely satisfying, as it creates a feeling of collaborative achievement.

While the sentiment holds, it’s not universally applicable. Corporate clients typically bring a higher level of professionalism to the table, having operated within a professional setting. They are well-versed in guidelines, adhere to handbooks, and possess a thorough understanding of deadlines, deliverables, scheduling, and the meticulous breakdown of tasks into crucial components.

Is there anything particularly any aspects of things that make corporate video projects unique that you quite like compared to other types of project?

You have to look at things from a customer’s point of view. What do they need? How am I going to make this job work for them? There’s a lot of personalities and communication. And they have to feel comfortable. If you start wavering and you’re nervous, they’re going to get nervous. So you have to let them know that you know what you’re doing, offer them some good solutions. And I’m not up to try to charge them the most I can. I just want to do a good job. So I need to ask myself, which tools are best for them for that job and how can I try my best to make it work? You have to be honest and realistic. That’s the nice thing about a couple of Gray hairs. You can tell people “I’ve done this before. And I would suggest this…”.

Image: https://www.pexels.com/fr-fr/photo/photographie-architecturale-du-restaurant-flottant-39378/