Written by Alex Harris

“We want a video that’s different, that helps people understand what we do, and it has to be maximum 90 seconds.”

Challenge accepted! 💪

Mobiel 21 needed a promo video that wasn’t your typical business promo video. One that matches more with their culture and that appeals better to their target audience. They’re a Leuven organisation that works to make city streets more liveable. “Meer straten op mensenmaat” is their motto. 

“Let’s make a one-shot video!” 😳  Filming in one long take by a single camera, usually following the main players and with things happening around them while they just keep walking.

You’ve seen the film 1917? Music videos like Massive Attack’s Unfinished Sympathy, or The Verve’s Bittersweet Symphony? One-shot. (Or made to look like it. 😉)

So our challenge was to keep everyone coordinated to play their part at the right time, while Els and Jan walked through the set. And remembered their lines.

The result is below. (In Dutch.)

What made it work? Sarah Martens’ fantastic directing skills, everyone’s patience to keep going take after take, the dry-run and script run-through beforehand, having the street closed-off on the filming day, local police getting a parked car removed… Teamwork!

We had a half-day to shoot, to get it all done, before the street was opened for traffic again. And we did it! 👊 The very last takes (indoors & outdoors) were the ones we used for the final video. 

So what do you think? Is their message clear? 🤔

Big thanks to all involved, including Glenn Godin, Dries Janssens, Merten De Kinderen, Elke Franchois, Sanne Vanderstraeten, everyone else and especially the kids!

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My bio: I’m Alex, specialised in portraits, business headshots and commercial photography. I put you, your company, your team in the picture in photos and video.

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