DMSM Promotional Video Case Study

To arm the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy with video collateral to attract the brightest scientific and academic minds. The content had to showcase the world-leading facilities and technology platforms available in Cambridge, to academics and for commercial use to business at the forefront of technological breakthrough.

Production

In our first video project with the Department, we opted for a wide screen aspect ratio in post-production, 25.1:1, to accentuate the cinematic feel of the feature. This accompanied our approach in production, where we filmed with a planned, slow, continuous action to produce smooth sequences that truly illustrated the story.

All of our projects with DMSM included multiple talking heads, with an extra level of care taken to ensure on-screen talent nailed their key messages, with and without a teleprompter which was critical in developing the narrative with authenticity.

A second camera operator was enlisted for interviews and was essential in capturing b-roll in small windows on tight shoot schedules. For b-roll, camera A focused on wide and moving shots, supported by the second camera operator who gathered close ups. This maximised the footage captured with each member of on-screen talent.

It was imperative the real feel of the world leading facilities came across in all video deliverables. Talking heads were therefore filmed in labs, which presented production challenges for recording audio effectively, with filming taking place close to noisy machines that could not be switched off.

Microphones were therefore placed close to each interviewee’s throat, with gain set to a minimum -to minus 12 attenuation on lav mics.  And in post-production extra attention was applied to ensure audio was as clean as possible.

Deliverables/Outcome

A promotional feature (05:30 minutes) on behalf of Royce at Cambridge, DMSM and the Henry Royce Institute, to showcase the state-of-the-art PVDCF technology platform available in Cambridge, for commercial use and academics alike.

A series of short promotional mini videos (1:30 – 2:30 minutes) demonstrating the capabilities of the Department’s Physical Vapour Deposition and Characterisation Facilities, 3D Bioelectronics Suite and Battery Suite.

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