Most people know Anideos as an animated explainer video company, and they aren’t exactly wrong about it. It took us some time to get a hang of live-action video production but we’ve produced some vibrant and head-turning work.
Quite frankly, we absolutely love doing live-action explainers. So, when the pandemic took us by shock at the start of 2020, we felt kind of handicapped (and sad). The COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt and suddenly it all came crashing down.
We realized pulling ourselves together is the only option. Since live-action animation was a big part of our toolbox, we couldn’t just stop creating them.
Safely navigating live-action video production during the pandemic was hard but we made it to the other side by having a plan in place. We know there are other video production houses in the same boat as us, so we thought penning down how we adopted a different approach might help.
Here’s what can be done to shoot while keeping everyone safe.
Page Contents
1. Planning Ahead
With COVID-19 in the picture, we had to be extra cautious of deadlines, so we landed on ways to finish work more efficiently. Unpredictability had been the only constant and our team didn’t let it get the best of us.
We prepared ourselves for any unannounced changes and last-minute plans. For almost all our clients, we laid the groundwork while being at a distance. To go about it practically, video production houses can get done with as many pre-visualization and post-production phases as possible—all from a safe distance.
You can get done with the following before stepping foot in the studio:
- Create style frames
- Identify the music
- Film rough versions of key shots
If there’s more you can get done with, do it. Don’t procrastinate. It’s the first rule to surviving a pandemic.
2. Minimal Crews
The best live-action explainer videos don’t come by too often and there’s a lot going on BTS. What viewers see on their screen is an actor or two—what we creators see is a whole crew.
And that’s what we’re gonna let go of now. Despite the strict on set protocols (we’re assuming you’ve them), you have to make do with 5 or 10 people at most.
Before starting out, you need to bring everyone on the same page. So, once you’ve extracted your own rules and regulations out of other relevant resources, share with each and every member on the location.
It’s important to note that filming during the pandemic can cause an increase in positive cases so only essential crew members should be called to the set.
You have to smartly choose a minimal staff with seasoned pros—competent enough to fill in other roles if needed.
Read More : Coronavirus Prevention Tips: 5 Things you Must Know about COVID-19
3. Ongoing Improvements
You shouldn’t feel satisfied too early. Once the camera stops rolling and you call it a wrap, consider sending out an anonymous survey to all the people who joined you on set. Ask them about their experience and know their views on your safety protocols.
Creating live action explainer videos means you have to shoulder quite a few responsibilities. And while you’re busy doing all that and more, responses from the people will let you see everything through their eyes.
It’s best to know what’s spiralling through the participants’ heads if you want to keep delivering products that are loved by everyone.
Of course, you can’t rule out the fact that the entire procedure will be a bit slower than normal. So, don’t be too hard on yourself—you’re still learning to navigate live-action video production during a life-changing crisis.
If you have any more questions on our approach to live-action animation services, drop us a line. We’re still safely producing live-action videos so a friendly discussion might set a few things straight for you.
Conclusion:
The COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a halt and suddenly it all came crashing down. Since live-action animation was a big part of our toolbox, we couldn’t just stop creating them. Here’s what can be done to shoot while keeping everyone safe. Filming a live-action explainer video during a pandemic can cause an increase in positive cases so only essential crew members should be called to the set.
You have to smartly choose a minimal staff with seasoned pros with skills that can fill other roles if needed. Once the camera stops rolling and you call it a wrap, consider sending out an anonymous survey to all the people who joined you on set. Ask them about their experience and know their views on your safety protocols.
