In 2007 I was contracted by Automatic Data Processing’s North America Major Accounts Division in New Jersey to produce a series of client testimonials across western and upstate New York. These testimonials were placed on DVD’s which I authored and were used by ADP sales representatives as 24-hour sales drop-off tools. I was told by their project manager, they liked the testimonials so much they would highlight them at their national conventions.
As a part of the client testimonial production I hired a second camera operator and traveled with ADP’s marketing manager across upstate New York from Buffalo to Albany and as far south as Corning, NY. We traveled with two cameras, two directors chairs, a light kit and a backdrop with stand. ADP developed the questions and had me conduct the 45-minute interviews. We were running and gunning fitting in three locations or businesses each day throughout our week-long travels. Here is a sample of one interview..
ADP later contracted with me to produce another series of client testimonils for their Southeast Division. This trip turned out to be an interesting story. One I have told many media students about.
The trip began flying out from Detroit the night before the interview to Huntersville, North Carolina. I made a last minute decision to take one of my cameras as carry-on. The rest of my equipment, second camera, tripods, backdrop and lighting were checked-in. When we landed in Charlotte, NC. we found out our checked luggage had never made it. We stayed up most of the night calling the airlines and waiting for word that our luggage had arrived, but it never did.
When we awoke the next morning we decided to give it one more go and call the airlines, still no luggage. Our shoot was in an hour. I was happy I at least brought one camera as carry-on. We arrived at the clients location and took a tour, shooting b-roll along the way. When it came time for the interview we still had no news of our other gear so I suggested we film outside where we’d have plenty of natural light. We set the camera on a table and raised it up with a few thick books to get it to the right level for the interview.
About half-way through the 45 minute interview I received a call from the airline reporting our equipment had arrived, the voice on the phone asked, “where would you like it delivered?” I answered, “Keep it there. We will be at the aiport in two hours to fly back home.” After completing the shoot at the clients location we drove away realizing how lucky we were that we thought to bring one camera with us as carry-on. To this day we still talk about that shoot as we learned a valuable lesson and it became one of my favorite shoots. Here it is.