Top tips for making shapes to convey a key message like numbers (of years in business), shapes like circles to replicate a partner programme name or shapes of objects like a hammer for a tool hire company. But it’s not always quite as easy as it looks…
Here are a few tips to make the co-ordination a bit easier.
Consider:
- How many people you have for each element of the shape, i.e., if you are creating numbers rather than a single shape.
- The calculation of approx. 2 feet per person can be useful. The more people, the bolder the number can be. It just needs enough space and ideally a surface where the group will stand out clearly. Also, allow room for people to move away at the appropriate point.
- How you can mark out the shape as an outline on the ground. What is the surface the people will be standing on, and can you mark out the number temporarily for the individuals to line up against?
- Making the number, taking photos, and then getting people to disperse (note: if we reverse the footage, people will appear to move backward).
- It definitely helps to rehearse this a couple of times before filming in earnest.
- Who will co-ordinate the shape on the ground and the movement of staff?
- Unlike still images, it is difficult (if not impossible) to edit moving elements of a video, so co-ordination is key.
- This sort of project is highly weather dependent — are there other photographic opportunities if the weather doesn’t cooperate on the day?
- If this is taking place in a public space, hotel, or conference area, the pilot needs explicit consent from the landowner. The landowner may need to consider other guests, staff, or visitors in granting permission.