Location filming is always trickier than in the controlled environment of the studio, but when you add in factors such as obstructions, weather and access it can really restrict your shooting time and ability.
“Never underestimate a British summer”
What is steep ground? Sounds like a simple question, but one we ask ourselves a lot as members of a Mountain Rescue Team. What might not be considered steep ground by a search party walking up to a casualty, suddenly becomes so when it has subsequently rained, been walked by 30 other people and the task in hand is to carry a laden stretcher back down again.
A bit of rain and lots of boots transformed this
path from an easy route into a real hazard
A sudden rainstorm in a wooded area or open field, coupled with lots of tech’s boots and heavy equipment can quickly turn what was a natural easy path into a slick, muddy slide which is unpleasant at best, dangerous at worst – especially if it is on a sloping hillside. But it’s not impossible – as a specialist outdoor safety provider we clear paths, cut steps and install handlines to make a potential hazard into a safe and useable means of access.
Edge protection is also something to consider – you’re lining up a frame and concentrating on getting that beautiful shot and then all of a sudden you are on your back, sliding down a steep bank. Or worse, over the edge of a rocky outcrop. You don’t want that! You need someone who can look after your crew and equipment keeping them in their correct place, and not getting in the way of your filming.
With a can-do attitude, we work with you from pre-production discussions and tech recce to identify the hazards present in a location. We produce a full risk assessment for the location shoot, alongside a method statement detailing how we will manage those hazards for you to mitigate that risk. That’s what we do.
If you have location shoots in your schedule in an outdoor environment, please give us a call for an informal chat to see if we can help you get the shots you want….safely!
