Video Documentation

The studio records performances, installations and exhibitions with attention to their artistic choices. The service covers planning, capture and preparation of the recordings, including the technical information and permissions associated with their use.

Planning around the piece

The studio reviews the work with the production team and agrees what the recording needs to show. Its structure, movement and use of space inform the choice of coverage.

Camera positions, sound recording and the capture schedule are planned around the production and the conditions of the venue. The intended uses of the recording help determine the level of detail required.

Respecting the work’s visual language

Framing keeps the relationships between performers, scenery and space understandable. Actions and transitions are given time to unfold, preserving the pace of the piece and allowing viewers to follow its structure.

Exposure and colour treatment are guided by the lighting design, with attention to contrasts, subtle changes and the overall appearance of the work.

For installations and exhibitions, the recording documents the arrangement of elements and how the work is encountered from different positions within the space.

Preparing the recordings for preservation

Capture formats, backup arrangements and preservation requirements are planned before recording begins. The studio applies the relevant IASA preservation guidance and checks file integrity as material is copied and transferred.

Preservation masters are kept separate from copies prepared for viewing, study or promotion. Technical metadata and records of processing accompany the material, so its origins and subsequent changes remain traceable.

Documenting permissions and use

The permissions required for the proposed uses are identified during planning, and the relevant documentation gathered alongside the recording process.

Permissions remain linked to the material they cover. Restrictions and outstanding clearances are recorded so that clients, archives and future users can understand the conditions attached to each recording.