Anniversary event video
Joy of Sound (JoS), an inclusive arts group, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a special day for volunteers, service users and support staff. I was commissioned to film the anniversary event at Waterloo Living Space, which also provided a great outdoor space.
Brief
I was given a schedule outlining the day’s activities and key timings. Initially, JoS asked me to provide a quote for filming the anniversary event.
The Mayor of Lambeth was a special guest, so documenting his visit was important.
Challenges
As I was filming on my own, I set up a second tripod-mounted camera early to capture the music workshop from an additional angle.
More than 100 participants attended from across London. The indoor music workshop attracted a large crowd, so I used a monopod with my main camera. This allowed me to move around easily while capturing a wide variety of shots.
I also suggested filming pieces to camera with trustees, service users and support staff. To capture clear speech in a noisy environment, I used a radio microphone with a lavalier microphone alongside a boom mic. One of the JoS volunteers helped me by holding and positioning the boom mic.
The service users have a wide range of communication needs, so filming and recording their voices required additional time and careful consideration. I took a flexible approach to ensure that participants could contribute comfortably.
As JoS is run entirely by volunteers and has no paid staff, communication and feedback can take longer than with a larger organisation. Understanding how the organisation works and allowing time for its needs were therefore important parts of the project.
Video editing
After filming, I identified several possible edits, each with a different emphasis and potential use for JoS. I provided the team with a selection of deliverable options and, following their feedback, quoted for the agreed edit.
After completing the edit, I needed additional permissions to protect service users’ privacy. I removed one participant from the film who could not be featured.
Result
I delivered the agreed anniversary highlights film in 16:9 landscape format for the JoS website. I also created a 9:16 vertical reel for the JoS Instagram.
Both versions included subtitles, text overlays, and an end board with a call to action, giving JoS content it could use across its website and social media.
I provide freelance videography for individuals, organisations, charities and events across London.
