As a full-service video production company, Key West Video travels and works across North America. In each destination, our shooters make a point of gathering location footage. Let’s be honest—an office in any location can look pretty generic. So it’s important to visually differentiate your business with things like company branding, b-roll, and graphics. Including locally-shot footage of the area helps give the video context and visual interest.
Location Footage—Client Uses
When we’re working in Vancouver, our DOP might record some shots of the North Shore Mountains or Canada Place. These can be used to set up a video and mentally transport the viewer to that location. If the video is being watched by an employee in Winnipeg, and the head office is in Vancouver, the shots have the added implication that this message is coming from the boss.
Storytelling is a big part of video and location footage can set the tone. Think of a movie that opens with a shot of the CNE. If you’ve been to the CNE, it’s easy to immediately imagine the scene: the crowd, the vendors, the rides, late summer in Toronto. Even if you’ve never been to the CNE, you can probably relate to a fair setting. A recognizable shot from one of our locations has the same purpose; it gives the viewer an idea of where we are and draws on the images and feelings related to that place.
Location footage can also be used as b-roll. If a client wants to talk about a new facility in their expanding business, footage of the new location works as a cover shot. Beauty shots are welcome in any video. Even interview footage can be enhanced by a cut-away to an outdoor scene when relevant.
Internal Uses
Stock footage is something we use regularly in post-production. If the script makes a reference to Russia or an interview refers specifically to the Eiffel Tower, that’s not footage we have on-hand. In cases like this, we employ stock footage for visuals. However, since our crew has spent time in the Halifax area, we have shots of notable landmarks like Peggy’s Cove. Now we have footage for any video that references the lighthouse. Shooting location footage means we’re always building our internal library of stock footage that benefits us and our clients.
Here are just a few of iconic Canadian landmarks in our library:
- Toronto—CN Tower, the downtown core
- Vancouver—North Shore Mountains, Science World, B.C. Place, English Bay
- Ottawa—Parliament Hill
- Halifax area—Peggy’s Cove
- Edmonton—Art Gallery of Alberta, Legislature Building
- Newfoundland—Signal Hill
- New Brunswick—Bay of Fundy, Hopewell Rocks
Location Footage Time-lapse
We love shooting time-lapse. It’s a great way to show volume, illustrate the passage of time, or give a feeling of urgency. In construction, it can show a lengthy process come together quickly. Time-elapse shot at conferences can give the audience a better feeling for what happens over the course of a day. Also, it looks pretty cool!
Shooting a time-lapse sequence on location can be used to represent more than just the area where it was shot. It can be used as a metaphor for the passage of time or a commentary on the fast pace of life. This short video includes several examples of how we use time-lapse.
Opportunity
Whenever our shooters have time, they take the camera out and shoot locally. Our DOP does a lot of driving from location to location and sometimes pulls over to get a great shot. He recently took a picture of the Grandview Park Cenotaph for Remembrance Day while in Vancouver and posted to our Instagram. Sometimes these shots are used in the video being produced. Other times, a shooter is just inspired to record something beautiful or unusual. Wherever it ends up, we always find a place to use location footage.
We Make Good-Looking Videos
Video production requires planning, and part of that planning is a shot list. We work with shooters that have a good eye and professional instincts for what looks good on camera. They always come back to the office with the shots we were expecting, but sometimes they also return with some unanticipated gems. Call Key West Video today for a free quote on your next video.
