Behind the Crown is where I pull back the curtain. No highlight reel. Just how the work actually gets made.
People see the finished frame. They don't always see the day it took to get there. So let's walk through a real shoot, one that was an experience. Let's talk about Game Over.
Game Over was my final project for film school. There was a version of it before that, and it was further developed from there.
The First Ten Minutes
That day, I was working with familiar talent, and they were professionals. So we spent the first ten minutes going over the whole shot list.
We made sure every shot was doable that day. We pre-arranged things before we set up for the shots. And we figured out the order we were going to film in.
No camera rolling yet. Just the plan, checked together, before anything else happened.
The Hardest Moment: Directing My Brother
The hardest moment that day, for me, was having to direct my brother.
My brother has been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years now. Directing someone with that much experience could have been a little intimidating. Oh my God, yes.
Twenty years in the industry on one side. Me, the film student, calling the shots on the other.
But it's something I took with me. And now I'm able to direct better.
Where I Feel Most Present
For the most part, we're shooting scenes that are blocked off. They're limited by the actual space and by the things you can do for that particular shot. Everything has to fit in the parameters, if you will.
That's why I find that shooting B-roll is the best part of any video job. You can just be free with your camera and capture things relevant to that subject. No marks to hit. Just you, the camera, and whatever the moment is offering.
And I love that sometimes a whole story can be told from B-roll alone, with clever editing. The scenes give you the structure. The B-roll is where the camera gets to breathe.
The Frame That Stays With Me
The frame that stays with me to this day is the beautiful establishing shot that our female lead, Domonique Williams, did.
It was a shot I knew I wanted in there. And it came out beautifully.
What a Day on Set Really Looks Like
So that's a day on set, behind the crown. A shot list checked before anything rolls. A hard moment that made me a better director. Freedom in the B-roll. And one shot I knew I wanted that came out beautifully.
None of it happens by accident. It's preparation, respect for the people in front of the lens, and staying open to the moments in between.
Let's Build Your Next Shoot
If you've got a project and want to see what a day on set could look like for you, let's talk. Crown Jewel Visualz offers a free 20-minute discovery call. Pick a time at crownjewelvisualz.com.