There are so many reasons that you may want a live performance filmed: As a promotional tool on
social media, for a showreel, as a way to share the experience with friends and family who can’t
attend, as a way to interest venues, as evidence that funding grants are being spent constructively, as
a way of promoting your follow up show and maybe just as a gift to say thank you to the actors,
musicians and technicians involved.
When filming a theatre performance, I try to make the audience forget they are watching a film of
the play and simply enjoy the play as though they were watching it live. However, this doesn’t mean
I only film everything in wide shots. I believe that when we watch a play, we react like a camera
and focus on small details as well as being aware of the bigger picture and the overall staging of the
show.
When I film a band performing live, I try to make the filmed images have a more self-conscious meaning of their own,
whilst still feeling like the experience of being there.
For example, I sometimes use quick-pans, hand-held home movie style shots, black and white shots, shots from
the stage, shots of the audience and sometimes I mix different formats – like VHS and high
definition.