Going live in London

Whilst we often work in rural locations we do sometimes head to “the smoke”. This was one of these ocassions where we were asked to facilitate a live video transmission to a national broadcaster.

The brief for this job was sketchy to say the least. To commemerate an international event we were part of a crew, working alongside the presidents office to arrange and transmit a flashmob in London, live to an eveninhg show. Our footage was pool so it was being used by a number of broadcasters in this country. Organising a flashmob by tower bridge is tricky without permission, we had none, organising it on a day when Extinction Rebellion had taken over London to protest, and security was high was even trickier!

The trick behind this shoot was twofold, not get arrested and fly under the radar. So being London I dressed like a tourist and took a small, yet professional, camcorder. The LiveU unit was on a strap tucked under my “London” t-shirt.

As soon as security arrived I realised it worked, I was being left well alone. ITN had got wind of the flashmob and a crew had arrived. They fortunately took all the heat and my transmission and the performers afterwards milling about by the bridge went out live, all in all a big success.