Asking a film producer about film industry

Andrew Barnes is a one-man band that runs Geagle Productions, a boutique video production company based in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs of Sydney Australia. He grew as a child on a farm in the town of just 500 people , he's now the owner of a successful production company and has more than 10 years of experience in the industry to his name. We spoke to Andrew to learn more about the ways he manages his business, and what advice that he can offer to startups that are new to the world of video production.

What made you decide to select this career path?

I have always been interested in the visual arts and more excited by advertising/promotional videos rather than films. I believe the growth of video on the internet was an important factor in making my choice. Resources and inspiration were readily available all day long and video companies near me seeing incredible work from across the globe was the main reason to decide to take the leap. It's definitely a labor of love, and I'm fortunate to have a job that pays for the costs. It's also a job which lets you improve your skills each time you start the next project. Every shoot you go on, you develop into a better shooter. I'd say as a single shooter, my communication with clients as well as abilities have greatly improved. The confidence to take part in meetings and shoots and fully be able to perform is something that has improved over time.

Would you be able to tell us how you typically conduct yourself in one of your corporate/commercial assignments?

I used to invest much of my time working on the storyboards and pre-production. I quickly realized that being a single operator, this wasn't working for me. Inability to consistently locate scout my location meant I was blind to storyboarding and I noticed that the images were drastically different as I started shooting. It was time-consuming.

Nowadays, I attempt to get an exact brief from my clients regarding what message they wish to convey since the majority part of what I do is commercial. I'll offer suggestions about how I would like to see the production progressing and the most effective outcomes. Once the production is locked in, particularly in the case of an interview piece, I like to discuss the question with the client and revise the piece to find the most effective responses. As a journalist working in news I learned to get the most effective responses from the best.

The footage on my card until the next shoot

If shoot day comes around, I prefer to be there early. As a sole operator, I need to spend a lot of time talking and video production services near me preparing while also setting up. I love making the person and the photographer comfortable prior to shooting. It always produces an improved final product. Commercial shoots have to be finished in a short time since the talent is often not in a position to work. This can cause issues, which is why I try to work as efficiently as I can, without getting diminished. After the shoot is completed, I'll dump the footage onto two drives and save the footage on my card until the next shoot. I'm afraid of losing footage! When I have all the footage, and know the best way to achieve the overall look and feel that I want to achieve I'll go to the music library that is available (check Filmstro's royalty-free music collection). It can be an extremely long process, but it's as important as the concept. A bad choice of music can make a bad video every days of the week. Once I have delivered the initial edit for the customer, I'm waiting for feedback and suggestions and ensure that I am in as much interaction to the customer as I can in order to create a end product they are pleased with.

Can you provide us with additional details regarding the gear you employ and the post-production process you employ?

I am always amazed each time I utilize this camera due to the high-quality images it offers. My first piece I made using this camera Ursa Mini was a tourism piece called Explore the Riches - which was accepted from Blackmagic and put on its gallery website as an element of their marketing. This is something I am very proud of. Geagle Productions now attracts national and international clients, something that is happening in a very brief amount of time. I also have an Phantom 4 drone and an Osmo that allow flexibility for my shooting.