Pandemic & New Talent Survey - Qadree Holmes

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  2. Pandemic & New Talent Survey - Qadree Holmes

Survey, Part 1. The Pandemic

1) Tell us about the production of a project during the pandemic. What was the project? Identify the production company/director, VFX studio, nature/genre of the job, other primary production/post companies involved and location of the shoot. If the project is in the ad arena, please identify the client and agency.

2) Did the project reflect your talent and resources being viewed and used differently by clients in light of the pandemic (i.e., VFX and/or animation being turned to more prominently and in new ways with restrictions on live action; changes in what is being asked of a director, etc.)?

3) During Pre-Production: How has the pandemic impacted developing creative and collaborating within your own team and other contributors (including clients and agencies if this is an ad project)? How was the concept and/or your approach to the job developed to ensure it would be feasible to accomplish in terms of production?

4) During production and post: In addition to new precautions taken, can you tell us how the director and crew worked together during production and also what changed during the post process?

5) What were the lessons learned/biggest takeaways from this experience and/or what would you do differently for the next project? Any advice for others?

Survey, Part 2. New Talent

1) What advice do you have for new directors?

2) What advice can you offer to up-and-coming producers?

3) Learning is an ongoing process even for the most seasoned producer. Would you share a recent lesson learned on the job; it can relate to people, workflow/technology, etc.

4) Is your company currently looking for new talent and/or do you have an official mentoring or diversity program?

5) Perhaps as a source of inspiration to new talent, what recent project are you particularly proud of and why? You can include a direct link to it.

Qadree Holmes
Founder/Executive Producer
Quriosity

Survey, Part 1. The Pandemic

1) Quriosity shot a project on location in Nashville for Edelman with director David Gil for a pharmaceutical brand.

2) Absolutely the project pushed our muscle as the nature of virtual and remote shooting continues to evolve. The crews are becoming more accustomed and the clients are also getting used to the virtual workflow. If I compare the first virtual shoot we did to this now. It would be night and day. We got it down and it can be done.

3) We made smart decisions to utilize long lenses in advance of the shoot. We discussed only having one talent or talent that had quarantined together. We discussed remaining outside vs inside the home. So our input definitely helped shape the creative. We made sure our zoom calls were effective. David worked alongside our agency partner to ensure our storyboards matched the intricate details they wanted us to capture.

4) We scheduled our days allowing for technological challenges. We also made sure that we were fully COVID compliant to create a safe space for all of our crew and our talent. We broke our crew into zone and made sure that we utilized hand sanitation stations and COVID safety officers enforcing a safe space agenda.

5) Make sure you are transparent with your clients. They understand the constraints in our current environment. Over communication is always key, but it can be done and in the end everyone will leave feeling that they’ve accomplished their goals-client, agency and the director.

Survey, Part 2. Emerging filmmaking talent

1) Learn to pitch director’s treatments via video platforms. I think the days of presenting via the phone are gone. Invest in zoom presentation skills.

2) Virtual organization is key to a successful COVID shoot. Solid client communication within the zoom or text is key. Create a winning environment to have a winning team. There is no room for anyone on the team not pulling their weight. Even more now having skilled labor is crucial.

3) Always have back up internet in our current environment.

4) Yes for sure. Minority Owned. Always Diverse.

5) Loved this piece we did. Hyper creative and fun. It was directed by Quriosity director Mike Maes during the pandemic.


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