When the Scottish Football Association contacted us a few months ago and said they wanted to make a series of powerful and inspiring videos, we jumped at the chance.
As soon as we met Paul McNeill, the subject of our first Football Saved My Life film, it was clear his video would be impactful and empowering – but the public’s reaction to his story has surpassed all expectations. With over 250k views on twitter and 150k on Facebook in the first 24 hours alone, his story has resonated with everyone who watches it.
Lighting
The look and feel of the film was very important to us and the SFA. We filmed the interview in a function suite at Hampden Park, so lighting it properly was a crucial aspect in obtaining the dramatic effect we wanted. We used a blue LED uplighter in the background, blacked out the room and set-up a few lights around Paul to cast shadows across his face.
Interview
The interview itself was filmed straight-to-camera. Talking down the lens can be a very difficult and intimidating experience and subjects can become rigid and unnatural. So, it was vital that we were able to put Paul at ease. To help Paul feel like he was talking to another person (rather than a camera) and make it more conversational, we set up a Skype conversation with Laura, our producer, who was positioned on the other side of the room. This Skype conversation was then shown to Paul via our autocue. So rather than Paul look directly into a camera lens, he’s actually talking to Laura.
B-roll
Illustrative b-roll was also a large feature in making the film so engaging and emotive. We spent time in pre-production consulting with the SFA on suitable locations which would make the film come alive for the viewer. It was important that all of the b-roll seemed natural and not too staged, so it was mainly filmed handheld or shoulder mounted to create a grounded feel and not be too obtrusive for Paul’s family, friends and teammates, who had kindly allowed us to film their training sessions.
We look forward to working with the SFA to make more empowering and inspiring films soon….watch this space.
If you have been affected by any of the issues featured in the film, contact Breathing Space. Call free on 0800 83 85 87 or visit: http://www.breathingspace.scot
If you want to get involved in football, you can find out more at: http://scotfa.co/participation
