All posts tagged Neil McKinnon Video Production

Posted:
March 8, 2022
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Bio Diversity

One of my favourite projects last year was working on two short films for Cambridge Filmworks the films are about Bio Diversity at the Universty of Cambridge. We Interviewed the Head Gardener of Cambridge University Steve Goghill.

The ‘Wild Flower Meadow’ was in full bloom, in front of Kings College’s iconic Chapel. The filming took place in July and coming after lockdown it was good to be out and about again.

Beautiful Poppies in full bloom

The Widflower Meadow

Thanks to the forward thinking of the Garden Committee, King’s College allowed wild flowers to bloom on one of its famous lawns. Harebells, buttercups, poppies and cornflowers were now blooming in front of the college’s historic chapel.

Steve Coghill said: “The thing about gardening in the 21st century is that you need to be able to justify what you are doing. Grass monocultures have their place in horticulture but biodiversity does too. And in a time of climate change and fear of loss of species it is becoming more important.

The University of Cambridge college, which dates back to 1441 had mown the lawn since the 1720s, had also taken down the ‘Keep off the grass’ signs.

Me filmimg in front of the Chapel

It was hoped that the project would attract a variety of new insects with temporary paths also constructed to allow visitors to get a close-up view of the array of beautiful bright wildflowers when blooming in the Spring sunshine. The wildflowers were harvested for hay once they had finished flowering, and the mown lawns were returned to their fomer glory. But the wild flowers will return next spring.

Bio Diversity

My second project was a more general look at how Steve Coghill and his team were using differenet methods. Using Bio Diversity featuring all the various gardens and allotments around the College.With contributions fromProfessor Michael Proctor Provist of Kings College and Dr Cicely Marshall. Please watch and enjoy these films. Shot on a Sony FS7, they were a real pleasure to be involved with.

Dr Cicely Marshall explaining the delights of the Wildflower Meadow

Posted:
September 2, 2014
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Doritos commercial video shoot at the world famous George Lucas Stage at Elstree Studios

With all the football fever going around this summer with this year’s Fifa World Cup in Brazil I was involved in a commercial video shoot at the world famous George Lucas Stage at Elstree Studios, to film an advert for Doritos. The shoot was based on a penalty shoot out competition by 8 teams with three players. This was a knock out competition until two teams made the final. In the final the teams had to beat England’s Joe Hart.

The Shoot was organized by Endemol using Electric Robin to produce the video. This was probably one of the biggest shoots that I have been involved in with with over 50 people in the camera crew alone including Jib operators, steadycam, sound and lighting. I filmed on the Canon C300 and my task was to focus on the goalkeeper and you will see that my shot was used a few times in the final video.

elstree photoThe World famous George Lucas Stage at Elstree Studios

The Shoot out brought teams of mates from across the country for the ultimate test of their penalty spot skills – but to make sure the pressure didn’t get too much, teams had have help from the legendary Mariachi Doritos.  Bringing their own Mexican flavour to the game, the band dished up a host of distractions t the keeper had to face as he attempts to save each shot.

Elstree photo 2Yours truly operating the Canon C300

Joe Hart, who  faced the two final teams in the ultimate Mexican style showdown, said: “I’m really excited to be working on the Doritos Penalty Shootout, it’s a great opportunity to get your mates together and throw your sombrero into the ring if you think you can put one past me. You might have the Mariachi Doritos on your side but be warned, I’ve been practising”

Elstree photo 3The Teams line up before the penalty shoot out

The two teams that reached the final  stared alongside Hart in the new Doritos TV commercial, which  aired across the UK on 24th May.  The winning team that scored the most goals  also received the ‘Ultimate Mates Football Trip’, traveling by private jet to some of Europe’s most exciting cities, receiving VIP treatment at exclusive clubs and hotels.

Posted:
April 24, 2014
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Green Screen Video Production

I have just finished a video production for BMI Healthcare using a portable green screen, 2 metres by 1.5 metres. I filmed 7 people against this, in a meeting room at a conference center in London, where all of the interviewees were all present on that day. Green screen is an effective way to shoot interviews and enabled me to put the people in front of a unifying background. Using a selection of soft lights I was able to create a smooth even light on the green screen which made keying very easy. A cameraman I work with many years ago gave me a great tip when lighting for green screen, and that was to use green gel on the lights that you are lighting the green screen with, I have always done so ever since. I also used two backlights, normally I only use one, to give the subject more separation. In the edit I had to drop the intensity of the graphic background down and also use a Gaussian blur to make the subject more prominent.

BMI Vision stillThe interviewee on Green screen

LOOP - for edit - graphics 4The Green screen Background

 The client was very please with the result and will be sending out copies to all 14,000 staff. Another example of how effective video is, when trying to communicate with many people in a large organisation