Filming Young People in the studio

Capturing great content & making memories: Let’s talk about working with children and young people in a studio environment.

Shooting in a studio is an experience familiar to many filmmakers. Some projects are best made having total control over the environment – lighting, sound, you name it! But what happens when you introduce children and young people into the equation? Today, we’ll be exploring how we record films in studios with younger talent, especially for those who might not be familiar with being on set.

The Urbancroft Films team works on large and small scale studio productions, including the nationwide music initiative BBC Get Singing where over 80 people formed the cast and crew. A production of this size could potentially be overwhelming for contributors, particularly when they are children. Our team works hard to create a positive environment to capture great content and an enjoyable experience for everyone involved!

Some of our key elements for success are: planning, structure, communication, building trust, and energy.

Communication

Communication isn’t only important between departments, but for every person who enters the space in order to keep things running smoothly.

For a lot of young people, this might be their first time on a film set. It’s always important for us to share expectations and information so they know what is required of them on the day.

No matter what is going on behind the scenes, communication towards young people is always kept positive and energetic. This way, they can focus on enjoying the experience.

Energy

Once we start rolling, the energy of the room is continuously being captured on camera. It’s important to keep a balance of focus and excitement in the studio.

It’s always good for us to pay attention to how the physical environment is affecting those on set: bright lights in a dark room, holding positions for a prolonged amount of time, and even having to smile for the camera can be exhausting for young people not used to being in a studio.

Our objective is always to keep things fun and exciting for young people. The way people feel will always show up on camera, and we know that the care we have for our contributors’ wellbeing is palpable on screen.

Building Trust

The wellbeing of our cast and crew is Urbancroft Films’ first priority. In addition to the necessary safeguarding requirements, we try to go above and beyond when it comes to making sure young people are comfortable in the studio and trust our team.

We want contributors to be as comfortable and confident as possible in front of the camera. No matter the type of content or their level of experience, we pride ourselves in being able to help young people come out of their shell and feel natural in the space – all while having an unforgettable experience.

Thanks for reading!

Interested in working with us? We offer full end-to-end, award-winning video production services across the UK and beyond. For anyone, anywhere, and for any purpose.