Hitting the Road

As a copywriter and project coordinator here at DDA, I spend most of my time from Monday to Thursday at my desk in the upstairs writers area, answering and writing emails to clients, or typing away on search engine optimized content, video scripts, or brochure and print content. So when one of the clients I’ve been coordinating needed an on-site video shoot earlier this week in New York City, I was excited to be chosen as part of the crew.

I’ve seen the incredible video production that our crew downstairs has churned out since I arrived here at DDA, and it has always impressed me (and our clients!). So I was excited to play a role in the production (and to spend a bright, sunny day on the Upper East Side).

Jake, one of our expert video specialists, took care of most of the technical aspects, and I tried to help out as much as possible. First we surveyed the room that was reserved for patient and doctor interviews. Jake went to work setting up lights, adjusting curtains, and even sliding a lamp a few inches to the left so it was positioned just right in the background. I got to live out my Hollywood dreams by standing off to the side and holding a boom microphone in just the right position to pick up the sound, but not bang the interview subjects on the head. Jake dealt with the occasional passing truck or bus, and created some great interview footage for us to use.

Then we took a trip around the hospital. This is where I did all the heavy lifting (and by that, I mean actual heavy lifting). I carefully carried the enormous bag of lights and equipment through the tight hospital corridors, while Jake surveyed the scene for “B Roll” footage, such as doctors looking at charts, nurses hustling through the halls, etc. Of course, we had to be extra careful to not include unwilling patients in the scenes, which Jake did very expertly. I followed along and made sure any staff members who may appear in the video signed the proper release form.

When it was all over, we made the traffic-plagued drive home with plenty of great footage that should help us create a video in exactly the style the client is looking for. And I got the chance to see first-hand the kind of work that goes into the video production we do here at DDA. Now, I get to play a role in the post-production process, helping Jake and the video vrew decide which shots go where, how to place the different segments, and what kind of graphics and text to use.

It’s a change from my everyday task list, which keeps things fresh and different. But with all the different capabilities offered here at DDA, fresh and different is part of the everyday routine.

Entry by: Steve