We worked with Small HD on a campaign film back in 2019, before our world's changed forever. Here’s a little Project Breakdown of how it went!
Our brief:
Small HD is a monitor manufacturer that produce a range of different preview monitors, for freelancers through to professional cinematic crews. Having such a large product range of monitors can be confusing for customers. So Small HD approached us with the task of creating a video that could show the similarities of their ‘Focus Family’ monitors. Although there is a large price increase across the different monitors in that series, they want to show their audience who each monitor would be suitable for and the compatibility across the range. With this in mind Even created a concept to tell this story. We booked the talent, scouted filming locations, shot, edited, and delivered the final project.
The first thing we did was to start mapping out the different personas and creators that would be using the different monitors.
We broke it down into:
- The Freelancer
- The Two-man Band
- The Production Company
We then unpacked the locations, gear and features.
THE FREELANCER
Story overview
The video starts with a young filmmaker (18-25) up at first light. He’s carrying a GH5 with a hotshoe-mounted Focus 5”. We will pull between wide shots and close ups, cutting to close-ups of the screen in action showcasing him using the monitors clean, simple UI.
Location
Either a cornfield or a nice countrtyside landscape
Crew
Just the young man by himself
Featured monitor
Focus 5”
Camera
GH5
Transition
Pan whip transition L->R
THE TWO-MAN BAND
Story overview
We pan into a white studio setting, where we quickly establish that there is a fashion video being shot. We see two filmmakers operating a C200 on a dolly track, slowly tracking in as a model is sat in postiton having final touches made by a stylist on set.
Once the scene is established, we intercut between lifestyle shots of the model & the Focus 7” being used during shooting.
On the final shot of the monitor we then transition into our final location.
Location
White walled studio, with colourama on rollers. Full lighting set up.
Crew
A team of 2 + hair & make-up person & model.
Featured monitor
Focus 7”
Camera
C200 on dolly track.
Transition
Transitions around monitor from front to back.
THE PRODUCTION COMPANY
Story overview
We now find ourselves on the scene of a sports commercial. The crew has scaled up. There is a male basketball player shooting some hoops on a basketball court.
We have a DOP operating a RED with a Focus 7” TX, we then pull back to see a focus puller on a 5” RX monitor. Finally pulling back until we see the director watching it on a static 7” Director monitor with built in terradek. There are a lot more bodies on set: sound crew, other runners, etc. Again, within this scene we can show the multitude of
functionality on the screens and how the universal UI is helpful for all parties.
Location
Basketball court / under cliffs / Daytime
Crew
Big crew of DOP, Focus Puller, Director, Producer, Audio Team + Runners
Featured Monitors
7” with TX
5” with RX
7” Director’s monitor
Camera
RED w/ Cine Primes rigged on a gimbal & Easy Rig.
Filming
Once we’d locked in all of the talent and locations, we then filmed each of the set-ups across half day filming periods. Being flexible around weather, talent and locations.
Here’s a little bit on why we love using the small HD Focus Family Monitors with some nice BTS from the shoot days.
Play Video
Here’s the final campaign video
