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Viral filming blueprint

Great filming is not simply about making something look cinematic.

16 principles6 min readTraining film

Examples from

The Jet Business

@thejetbusiness

Every shot should help keep the viewer engaged, communicate the story clearly and give the editor everything they need to create a strong final video.

In aviation, you already have access to visually powerful environments.

The examples here are from The Jet Business, a client whose films are on the showreel. Read them as a worked example: the principle is the same in your field, the specifics are yours.

Aircraft.
Cabins.
Cockpits.
Hangars.
FBOs.
Runways.
Aircraft deliveries.

Your job is to capture them properly.

On this page / 17

01Prepare before you film
02Pay attention to everything
03Keep the camera moving
04Compose every shot properly
05Use lighting to your advantage
06Test your audio
07Capture people speaking cleanly
08Direct with confidence
09Repeat the shot when necessary
10Capture multiple angles
11Capture B roll after the main content
12Vary your shots
13Stay loose
14Use your lenses with purpose
15Keep your equipment ready
16Film with the edit in mind
—The Tilted Needle filming standard

Prepare before you film

Before every shoot, know

01What you are filming
02Where you are filming
03Who needs to be involved
04What equipment you need
05Which videos you plan to capture
06What supporting footage each video requires

If you are filming inside a Gulfstream, visiting a Bombardier facility or documenting an aircraft delivery, think through the content opportunities before you arrive.

Preparation gives you structure. But always be ready to capture something unexpected.

Pay attention to everything

When filming, your job is to observe. Stay focused on what is happening through the camera.

Anticipate

01Who is about to speak
02Where someone is about to move
03What someone is about to point at
04When an aircraft door is about to open
05When the client is about to interact with someone
06When something visually interesting is about to happen

Some of the strongest moments cannot be recreated. You need to be ready for them.

Keep the camera moving

Movement creates visual stimulation. Avoid filming everything from one static position.

Use controlled movement such as

Slow floating shots
Walking alongside the subject
Following someone into an aircraft
Moving through the cabin
Tracking details
Slow pans
Reactionary camera movements during conversations

The movement should feel natural. Do not move the camera simply for the sake of moving it.

Compose every shot properly

Turn on the grid feature on your phone or camera.

Pay attention to

Eyeline
Headroom
Space around the subject
Symmetry
Background
Camera height
The position of the subject within the frame

When somebody is speaking directly to camera, aim for a clean frame from roughly the waist or chest upwards unless the concept requires something different.

The viewer should be looking at the subject, not being distracted by poor composition.

Use lighting to your advantage

Always understand where your strongest light source is coming from. Where possible, keep the main light in front of the subject rather than directly behind them.

This is particularly important when filming

Inside aircraft cabins
Inside hangars
At FBOs
On the tarmac
Beside large aircraft windows

Bright exterior light can easily make someone inside a cabin appear too dark. Always check the image before you start recording.

Test your audio

Poor audio can ruin otherwise strong footage.

Before filming

Call sheet

01Make sure microphones are connected
02Check they are recording
03Check microphone placement
04Make sure the microphone is not rubbing against clothing
05Monitor background noise
06Use wind protection outdoors where required
07Check the audio again throughout the shoot

Do not assume that because the microphone worked at the beginning it is still working an hour later.

If you are standing beside an aircraft, inside a busy hangar or filming outdoors at an airport, audio becomes even more important.

Capture people speaking cleanly

If someone is speaking, prioritise getting a clear shot of them.

Focus on

Good lighting
Clean composition
Correct eyeline
Clear audio
A steady image

Do not constantly chase B roll while an important conversation is happening. Capture the dialogue properly first. You can collect supporting footage afterwards.

Direct with confidence

If someone is appearing on camera, do not expect them to automatically know what you need. Tell them clearly.

You may need to

01Change where they stand
02Ask them to repeat a line
03Simplify what they are saying
04Increase their energy
05Slow them down
06Move them into better lighting
07Ask them to demonstrate something again
08Change their position relative to the aircraft
09Show them exactly how you want something delivered

Even highly experienced founders, pilots, brokers or executives may not be experienced on camera. Your job is to help them look their best.

Repeat the shot when necessary

If something is wrong, film it again.

This could include

A mistake in speech
A stutter
A voice crack
Poor lighting
Bad framing
Background interference
Audio problems
Someone walking through the shot
An awkward camera movement

Do not accept weak footage simply because you feel uncomfortable asking someone to repeat something.

It is easier to repeat a line for thirty seconds during filming than discover the problem during editing.

Capture multiple angles

Do not give your editor one version of everything.

If you are filming someone walking towards a Gulfstream, consider capturing

01A wide establishing shot
02A closer side angle
03A shot from behind
04A shot walking in front of them
05A close up of their hand opening the aircraft door
06A shot from inside the aircraft as they enter

The more useful angles you have, the more visual variation can be created during the edit.

Three walkarounds, from the library

Count the angles in each.

Capture B roll after the main content

Once the main dialogue or action is complete, deliberately capture supporting footage.

For aviation, this could include

Aircraft exterior
Tail
Engines
Wings
Windows
Cockpit
Seats
Cabin details
Lighting controls
Tables
Galley
Luggage compartment
Crew preparation
Passenger boarding
Aircraft taxiing
Hangar activity
FBO environment
Close ups of interesting details

Ask yourself

What is being discussed in the video?

Then capture footage that allows the viewer to actually see it.

Vary your shots

Avoid capturing every piece of footage from the same distance.

Use a combination of

Wide shots
Medium shots
Close ups
Tracking shots
Panning shots
Low angles
High angles
Shots from behind the subject
Shots walking alongside the subject
Detail shots
Reactive camera movement

01
Wide shots
02
Medium shots
03
Close ups
04
Detail shots

A viewer should continuously receive new visual information.

Stay loose

Do not hold the camera with a stiff wrist. Your movements should feel controlled and fluid.

This is particularly important when

01Walking through an aircraft
02Following someone through a hangar
03Tracking a person boarding
04Moving around a cabin
05Reacting quickly during conversations

The camera should feel like it is naturally following the action.

Use your lenses with purpose

Different lenses create different results.

Use wider lenses when you need to show:

The full cabin
A confined interior
A large environment
Someone walking through an aircraft

Use tighter lenses for:

Details
Faces
Aircraft features
Hands
Controls
Materials
Small elements you want the audience to notice

WIDEThe full cabin

TIGHTDetails

Avoid unnecessary extreme zooms. Choose the lens based on what the viewer needs to see.

Keep your equipment ready

Before filming

Call sheet

01Clean your lens
02Check your battery
03Check storage
04Check microphones
05Check lighting
06Check your frame rate
07Check your resolution
08Make sure HDR settings are correct for your workflow

Keep your equipment ready throughout the shoot. Small technical mistakes can make otherwise valuable footage unusable.

Film with the edit in mind

Do not think of filming and editing as completely separate processes. While filming, think about how the final video will be cut together.

Ask

Where will the editor need B roll?
Where could we change angle?
What visual supports this sentence?
Do we have an establishing shot?
Do we have enough close ups?
Do we have footage to cover cuts in dialogue?
Do we have a strong opening visual?

The better the footage is planned, the stronger the edit can become.

The Tilted Needle filming standard

Before leaving a shoot, make sure you have

Call sheet

01Clean dialogue
02Clear audio
03Good lighting
04Strong composition
05Multiple angles
06Relevant B roll
07Close ups
08Wide shots
09Movement
10Opening visuals
11Enough footage to cover the entire story

The rule

Do not simply record what is happening.

Capture it in a way that gives the viewer a reason to keep watching.

Got the rule?