For this project, I would go for a modern, cinematic look that’s polished but still grounded in authenticity. The goal is to make it feel high-quality and commercial without over-lighting or losing that natural sense of atmosphere. The visual style should feel immersive, clean, and allow the beat-driven sound and fast editing to shine. I understand that we want our images to highlight efficiency, world-wide connectivity, modern work atmospheres, and diverse personalities. Each shot should capture the energy and pace of global collaboration while staying true to the individuality of our characters and the environments they work in.
For day scenes, I’ll use controlled artificial sunlight, aiming for a natural feel that still lets us keep consistent lighting across takes. Where possible and applicable in our shooting schedule we can also try to use the sunlight.
At night, we’ll keep it fairly simple and realistic, focusing on practical lights and subtle exterior touches - if windows are involved. This lets us capture depth while making sure each scene feels honest to its environment. Lighting faces artificially here and there is still essential—ensuring everyone looks good but still feels real within their setting.
To achieve the right balance, I’d work closely with an experienced gaffer who knows when a setup needs just the right amount of lighting, or even none at all, to stay efficient and effective. I have a lot of experience in this approach, and working hand-in-hand with the gaffer means we’ll find the best lighting solutions for each unique setup, whether it’s a full production scene or a quicker shot.
We’ll use a mix of a quick, flexible lighting kit—including diffusion frames, cutters, floppys, reflective materials, and compact lights as well as a bigger lighting kit for artificial sunlight and more demanding setups. The smaller setup will allow us to shape and control light on the fly, adapting as we move between scenes and setups without sacrificing quality, while the bigger setup will allow us to create certain light effects or times of day to our needs and to achieve the qualitative look we are aiming for.
To keep visuals engaging, I would like to incorporate POV and special rig shots for unique perspectives. This includes:
Combining these dynamic angles with controlled dolly and crane moves will allow us to shift seamlessly between energetic and quieter moments, creating a cohesive, commercial look that brings out the story and giving us plenty of options to show interesting angles and perspectives - especially for capturing the sources of our various sounds.
Camera Package and Flexibility
For this approach, I recommend a two-part camera package:
Using Sony cameras across the board could give us continuity. We could go with the Sony Venice for high-end shots, and smaller Sony models like the FX3 for rigged and on the fly shots to maintain a consistent look. The Rialto paired with the Venice can give us more flexibility for tight spaces and rigging needs, and the high-ISO mode in all Sony cameras is perfect for low-light scenes. Additionally, a drone will be key for capturing essential aerials, like the establishing shot of the team on-site.
A smart, flexible shooting schedule will be key here. Where applicable we could prep larger setups ahead of time with a second unit or parallel to capturing quick shots in a smaller unit (close-ups, cutaways, or B-roll) to keep things moving. I would plan around natural light when we can, which will help with efficiency while maintaining quality. Certain scenes/locations like the office(s), the airplane etc allow for multiple shots and scenes being captured there. We should also at least think about having a 2nd unit for certain shots if our shooting schedule will end up being too tight otherwise.
My approach would balance high production value with flexibility and efficiency. I’m experienced in managing complex sets on tight schedules. I am also used to work with service productions abroad, giving me the needed experience to work fast and efficient. Having worked with Oliver before ensures a smooth communication and workflow between us as Director and DOP and also with production. Our latest collaboration for McDonald’s was well received and recognized. With the right camera package, lighting strategy, and a smart schedule, I’m confident we can capture a beautiful immersive film that has the right visual tone to tell this great story.