We had the pleasure of shooting a three part series at the Victoria Health Centre. The goal was to find creative ways to give new patients the information they need to prepare for surgery, so they feel better informed before their appointments and procedures.
The shoot stretched across three electric days, fuelled by collaboration, creativity and plenty of gratitude.
Day one: setting the stage
We started at the home of Erin Pitman's father in law, who played the role of a patient preparing for an upcoming surgery. We filmed him taking a pre assessment phone call, filling out a questionnaire and packing the items he had been asked to bring.
Kate Devlin produced and assisted with hair and makeup, and Shea Rodee was our key gaffer.
Days two and three: the Victoria Health Centre
Our call was 4 a.m. at the Victoria Health Centre. We had a one hour window from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. to capture the golden hour, with Josh Stickles-Lohnes directing and shooting as DOP. Getting it right took clear communication, strategic planning and creative input from the whole team.
The biggest challenge was wrapping an hour before surgeries began. Moving between locations inside the hospital demanded careful time management, and we ran into some audio issues along the way. Our sound operator, Nick Power-Grimm, handled them efficiently.
The days called for precision, adaptability and creativity, and we held our quality high inside a tight timeframe. It was a demanding shoot and a rewarding one.
Expressing gratitude
Our biggest win was the people. Volunteers, talent and our production crew all played their parts well, and each of them has our sincere thanks.
A special thank you goes to Erin Pitman, our collaborating creative director. Her leadership and meticulous scheduling are what brought all of this together.
