How to Film an Event So It Lasts
Phoenix has something happening all year round, from music festivals to conferences and everything in between. Every one of them shares the same problem: the night ends. The people who were there remember it for a while, and the people who weren't never really know what they missed.
A good film fixes that. It lets the people who were there feel it again, and it shows everyone else what the room was like. Here are the three films we make most often at events, and how to get each one right:
- The aftermovie: a short film of the best moments, cut to feel like being there.
- The live stream: the room, shared with people who couldn't make it.
- Attendee stories: short, honest interviews with the people who came.
The aftermovie: plan it like a story
The best aftermovies aren't a pile of highlights. They have a shape: the build-up, the doors opening, the peak and the morning after. We plan that shape before the event, so the crew knows which moments to chase and where to stand when they happen.
We've made aftermovies for Relentless Beats festivals like Decadence Arizona, which takes over Phoenix Raceway for two nights. The film lets fans relive it, and it shows everyone who missed it what they're in for next time. The full story is in our Decadence Arizona case study. Here's the film:
The live stream: share the ideas beyond the room
A live stream lets people join from anywhere. It works best for conferences and keynotes, where the ideas are worth sharing beyond the people in their seats. The craft is mostly in the prep: a clean audio feed from the house sound board, a backup internet connection and a camera plan that follows the speaker, not the slides.
Record the stream too. The best sessions can be watched for weeks afterward, and a clean recording can be cut into short clips of the strongest moments.
Attendee stories: let the people who went tell it
The most convincing voice at any event is the person who just walked out of it. Short interviews with attendees capture what the event meant in their own words. Keep them short, honest and unscripted: the best ones sound like a friend telling you about their weekend.
We find a quiet corner with good light, ask one or two open questions and let people talk. Here's what we plan for each film before the doors open:
| Film | Planned before the event | Captured on the day |
|---|---|---|
| Aftermovie | The story's shape and the moments to chase | The build-up, the peak and the crowd |
| Live stream | Audio feed, internet backup, camera positions | Every session, recorded as well as streamed |
| Attendee stories | The questions and a quiet, well-lit spot | Short, unscripted interviews |
If you're planning an event
A film is the part of your event that lasts. If you're planning one worth remembering, you can see more of our event work on our Live Events page, and if you'd like to talk it through, message us.
Cover photo: Mark Thompson on Unsplash.
