Live performance recording

Filming a performance that won’t be repeated

A play, a concert, a dance performance: the evening happens only once, and the film must be complete upon release. We therefore prepare each recording as if it were a single-take shoot. This involves scouting the venue, reviewing the lighting plan, positioning the cameras according to the staging, and having a Plan B for every potential issue that might arise.

On set, the set-up remains unobtrusive. The cameras are positioned out of the audience’s view, with no additional lighting, and we work with the stage managers rather than alongside them. The audience is there to watch the show, not the filming.

One, two or four cameras

A simple, fixed wide-angle shot is sufficient for a working archive or a grant application. For a film intended for broadcast, we set up a multi-camera rig: a wide-angle reference shot, one or two close-ups operated by a cameraman, and sometimes a camera at the back of the stage or in the fly loft. The number of cameras is decided in consultation with you, depending on the budget and the intended use of the film.

Sound is recorded at the mixing desk where the venue allows, supplemented by ambient sound. During editing, we synchronise the picture and sound, then select the shots based on the dramatic structure rather than cutting to the beat.

What you receive

A edited video of the performance, exported in the agreed format (high-definition file for broadcast, lighter version for the web). On request, short clips for social media and a teaser. The usual turnaround time is thirty days after the event, often less for a simple archive copy.

We film throughout the canton of Vaud and in French-speaking Switzerland: municipal theatres, function rooms, open-air festivals and churches for concerts. The studio is based in Chavornay, between Yverdon-les-Bains and Lausanne.