Here's a breakdown of the workflow and challenges overcome to craft a compelling 10-minute commercial:

The production journey behind the commercial for the Kreuzberger Kinderstiftung was a meticulous process, blending organization, creativity, and technical expertise.

Pre-production:

Research and Planning: Before diving into filming, extensive research was conducted to understand the mission, values, and impact of the Kreuzberger Kinderstiftung. This laid the groundwork for crafting a narrative that effectively communicated the organization's message.

Scheduling and Logistics: Coordinating interviews and filming locations for a two-day shoot, along with the additional day for the Stiftung's festival, required careful planning to ensure smooth execution.

A person wearing headphones holds a video camera on a tripod, recording a scene.

Production:

Filming Interviews: Conducting interviews with at least 30 individuals involved with the Stiftung was a key component of capturing authentic storytelling. Each interviewee provided unique insights and perspectives that enriched the narrative.

An elderly man in a beige blazer sits outdoors in front of a brick building, with groups of people socializing in the grassy area.

Behind The Scenes

Outdoor interview setup with one person being filmed. The person sits on a chair facing an interviewer holding a clipboard, surrounded by trees and grassy area. Various filming equipment like microphones, lights, and cameras are visible.
Black and white photo of a garden scene with a historic brick building and modern structure. People are gathered under trees, and film equipment is set up on the lawn.

Drone Shots and B-Roll: Incorporating aerial drone shots and capturing B-roll footage helped to visually enhance the storytelling and provide context to the Stiftung's work.

Cityscape with a river, buildings, and trees, under a clear sky.
Outdoor gathering with people, tents, and balloons on grass

Post-production

Editing Process: With a wealth of footage gathered from interviews, drone shots, and B-roll, the post-production process involved meticulous sorting, selecting, and editing to weave together a cohesive narrative.

Color Grading Page

Video editing software timeline with multiple video tracks labeled V1 to V14, containing various clips and an adjustment clip. Marks and a red playhead are visible, indicating the current position in the timeline.
Brick house with a patio, surrounded by grass and trees, outdoor furniture, festive bunting across the yard, and a modern extension on the right.
Digital audio workstation screen with multiple audio tracks and waveforms displayed, showing sound file names, and editing features like solo and mute options.

Color Grading:

Despite recording in 10-bit 4K, achieving consistent and visually appealing footage required skilled color grading to enhance the overall look and feel of the commercial. In post-production, I used VFX to enhance scenes and replaced dull skies with more vibrant ones, elevating the overall visual impact of the footage.

Color wheel in a circular gradient displaying a spectrum from red to purple.

BEFORE

A person sitting on a lawn in front of a brick building, with two people talking near tables in the background.

AFTER

Person sitting on grass with a brick building and trees in the background, people standing and talking nearby.
Aerial view of a city landscape featuring a river lined with green trees, residential apartments, and urban skyline with tall buildings in the background.

Sky Replacement

Aerial view of a cityscape with residential buildings, lush green trees, and a river with bridges. The skyline shows various towers and high-rise structures under a clear blue sky.

DaVinci Resolve Color Page

DaVinci Resolve logo with a colorful gradient in a triangular shape.
Davinci Resolve color grading interface showing a video clip of an elderly man sitting outside near a brick building. Various color correction and effects nodes are visible on the right, and color adjustment wheels are at the bottom.

Sound Design: The music and sound design played a crucial role in evoking emotion and engaging the audience. Careful selection of music tracks and attention to sound quality ensured a captivating viewing experience.

In post-production, I also focused on sound design, leveraging multiple microphones used during interviews and the festival. I captured clean inputs from the festival MC mixer and ambient sounds to enrich the audio experience of the film. This meticulous approach ensured that the sound quality was top-notch and contributed to the immersive storytelling of the commercial.

To further immerse the audience, the film was made available in 5.1 surround sound, providing an enhanced auditory experience that complemented the visual storytelling.

Dolby Digital 5.1 logo, black text on white background.

Throughout the process, I embraced the responsibility of wearing multiple hats, from editor to colorist to sound designer. It was a labor of love, driven by a desire to create something truly impactful for the Kreuzberger Kinderstiftung. And in the end, seeing the completed commercial stand as a testament to my dedication and creativity was immensely gratifying.