Cannes Lions is the most intense week of the year for the global creative industry. For a video team, it is also one of the most demanding playing fields: everything moves fast, everything is decided on site, and the footage has to go out while the event is still in full swing. This year we were there, alongside NJ Photo Video Cannes, for a challenge that is simple to state and brutal to deliver: three videos in two days.
NJ Photo Video Cannes on the ground, BOW in post-production
NJ Photo Video Cannes is a well-established player at the major Cannes events. This duo of photographers and videographers entrusted us with the post-production: editing and colour grading. One person capturing on the ground for NJ Photo Video Cannes, and the studio behind the scenes turning the raw material into films ready to publish. Two complementary skill sets, one objective: deliver fast, and well.
A just-in-time pipeline
In practice, the studio’s work started the moment each capture ended: emptying the cards several times a day, structuring the rushes, selecting only the best moments, then starting the timeline to imagine, already, the story to tell.
The real challenge was the tempo. Every morning, we had to deliver the previous day’s video, bringing together in a single film the daytime footage and the footage from the evening that had only just ended. A just-in-time pipeline, where every hour of editing and grading counted to hit the next day’s release.
Three stands designed by 2LK, three films
The project revolved around the installations designed by 2LK, in charge of the design and build of several Cannes Lions stands and client experiences. Three spaces, three films: UTA Beach, Informa, the organiser of Cannes Lions, and the AI Sandbox by PMG. As many places where the image had to live up to the scenography.
All three films can be seen on the 2LK LinkedIn page.
The feedback says it all
The best thermometer is the reaction in the moment. Among the client’s feedback: “Bloody brilliant”, “bang on”, “love it”. Three reactions worth more than any demonstration: on this kind of mission, quality is not up for negotiation, even when time is short.
What makes the difference
Holding that pace is not improvised. It rests on tight organisation, a well-honed editing and grading pipeline, and the ability to decide quickly without getting it wrong. It is the DNA of a studio founded by an engineer turned director: structure upstream to stay calm when the tempo speeds up, and focus the energy where it counts, on the eye and the story.
Thank you to NJ Photo Video Cannes for the trust, and to 2LK for this exceptional playing field.
An event, a tight deadline, footage that has to go out fast?
That is exactly the kind of challenge we love to take on, on our own or as post-production reinforcement for a team already on site. Let’s talk.
Pas que du beau, du BOW.