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Event Video Production and Conference Filming

Your event is over by six o'clock, and the film is what's left for everyone who couldn't come. One day of filming can give you a highlight film of two or three minutes, clean recordings of each session and short cuts for social and for speakers to share, all planned before the day so the crew is in the right place. The keynote that got the room laughing and the panel where somebody finally said what everyone was thinking can then reach people who weren't there.

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A thirty minute conversation with the team. No obligation.

We film conferences, product launches, awards nights and company days, and then we edit them into films people will actually watch afterwards.

What does event filming give you that photos don't?

If you want people at next year's event, show them this year's. A thirty second clip of a full room reacting to an announcement shows what it was like, which photographs can't, and it's what you're trying to sell to the people who weren't there. We cut it at the same time as the highlight film, so it costs no extra filming.

It also gives you the content itself. A conference is a day of people saying useful things on a stage, and with clean recordings of each session that becomes material for your website and your training library for a year afterwards.

Dojo, Trade show film. A video made for Dojo to promote their offering at trade shows and large functions. The brief was to make the piece using legacy footage from other films we'd shot combined with stock footage to make it informative, exciting and fun. — DojoTrade show filmA video made for Dojo to promote their offering at trade shows and large functions. The brief was to make the piece using legacy footage from other films we'd shot combined with stock footage to make it informative, exciting and fun.

Event videography: what we deliver

Most event briefs ask for some mix of the same four things, and we plan them before the day because they change how we film.

The highlight film is two or three minutes that carries the feel of the day, built from the best moments and short interviews with speakers and guests. It's the one you send to everybody who couldn't make it. Session recordings are clean, full-length cuts of each talk with the slides dropped in where they matter, for anyone who wants the substance rather than the atmosphere.

Social cuts are short vertical and square edits of the strongest moments, made at the same time as the highlight film, so they cost no extra filming. Speaker clips are single, self-contained answers or extracts that a speaker or sponsor can share on their own channels.

How the day works

Before the event we go through the running order with you and agree a shot list, so we know which moments matter and where the crew needs to be. We'll also talk to the venue's AV team about taking a sound feed from their desk, because a talk with bad audio is a talk nobody finishes.

On the day the crew is small. We direct and film, and for a full conference there's a second camera operator so one camera can stay on the stage while the other moves through the room. We use compact kit and no big lighting rigs, and we stay out of sightlines. Nobody should come away from your event remembering the film crew.

Interviews happen in the gaps, at a quiet spot we've found in advance. They're short and unscripted, and we'll check with people before we point a camera at them.

Dojo, Summer conference. Dojo's summer conference, filmed to help with staff retention and recruitment. — DojoSummer conferenceDojo's summer conference, filmed to help with staff retention and recruitment.

The edit

You'll know the date of the first cut before the event happens. We edit the highlight film first, because it's worth more the week after than the month after, and the session recordings follow once you've signed it off. Every film is graded and the sound is mixed, so the room sounds like a room and the speaker sounds like they're next to you.

Planning ahead

If the date is already in the diary, the best time to call is now. Tell us the date and the venue and we'll say honestly what's possible in the time you have, from a full plan with a few weeks' notice to a last-minute request, which is sometimes possible.

FAQ

What do you get from event filming?

Usually a highlight film of two or three minutes, full-length recordings of each session, short social cuts and speaker clips. We agree the mix before the day because it changes how we film.

How far ahead should you book an event videographer?

A few weeks' notice is best, so there's time to see the venue and the running order. Last-minute requests are sometimes possible, but the films are better when the outputs are agreed first.

How quickly is an event video edited?

Fast, because a highlight film is worth more the week after than the month after. We agree the first-cut date before the event, and session recordings follow once the highlight film is signed off.

Will a film crew disrupt the event?

No, and nobody should come away remembering the film crew. It's a small crew with compact kit and no big lighting rigs, we stay out of sightlines, and we agree the shot list with you beforehand so we know where the crew needs to be and where it doesn't.

Event films are one of our video production services, and they work well alongside two others. A launch event often needs a promotional video to play on the night, and the footage from the day can feed weeks of social media video. We've filmed at a Dojo conference, covering the event for Dojo to use afterwards, and made Dojo a film to play on its trade show stands. Charities use event films too, and video production for charities explains how we approach that work.

Tell us the date, the venue and who couldn't come last time. We'll agree the films you need before the day, and a first-cut date before the event.

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Work in this area

St Joseph's College, Christmas carol concert online. An online Christmas Carol Concert for St Joseph's college filmed and edited by the team at First Last Film. — St Joseph's CollegeChristmas carol concert onlineAn online Christmas Carol Concert for St Joseph's college filmed and edited by the team at First Last Film.

The Balanced Leader, Book launch series. First Last Film produced a series of films based on a discussion between the two authors. We filmed the chat on three cameras and produced a huge amount of content for the online promotion. — The Balanced LeaderBook launch seriesFirst Last Film produced a series of films based on a discussion between the two authors. We filmed the chat on three cameras and produced a huge amount of content for the online promotion.

All the work. Films like these often sit alongside promotional videos.

Three things people ask

What does it cost?: Most production companies won't tell you until you've had a call. What things cost
How long does it take?: Four to six weeks from brief to delivery, for most projects. How we work

This is one of the ways we work, and the whole range is on the video production services page. People reading about event films often go on to promotional videos and social media video. You can see the approach at work in the Dojo case study, and for a sector where an event is the one day the whole story is in one room, read video production for charities. Guides that go with it: types of corporate video and a Christmas message to employees.

About 4 minutes to read.

Tell us the problem.

We'll tell you honestly which kind of film would solve it, or whether a film is the answer at all. Thirty minutes with one of our team.

Tell us about your film See what things cost