TCIE Videography pt. 1

'The site was dusty, gritty, muddy, rocky and provided various obstacles that hindered shot composition. '

photos are taken with my K800i camera phone for archiving & training purposes.




What was meant to be a simple Videography session left us weary and exhausted by the end of the day. The Videography session for Tan Chong Industrial Equipment (TCIE) started mid morning but I was up at the crack of dawn to avoid the traffic congestion and to get some paperwork done before heading off to TCIE HQ in Gombak.

Our first scene was of an express bus ferrying tourists to an exotic locale. After an enjoyable breakfast with our client, we were told that the bus (huge by my standards) was meant to remain in the workshop for additional service so we headed off instead to a cement processing plant owned by YTL Group.




The site was dusty, gritty, muddy, rocky and provided various obstacles that hindered shot composition. As our subject was the cement mixers trundling in and out of the plant, we were exposed to the hot weather bordered by the colossal structure and cement mixers. The almost stark blue sky wasn't kind to offer enough clouds.




Back at TCIE HQ, we set up for the express bus scene. By this time, it was close to noon and the sun was relentless in searing us with its heat rays. While the Batu Caves (huge limestone caves) provided a photogenic setting, we had too much outdoor light and too little indoor (inside the bus) illumination to correctly expose the bus driver. No amount of redheads (800W lights) could compete with the sun and properly light the driver through the bus' tinted windscreen and compete so we opted to use our mobile video lights inside the bus.

Next in the agenda was a well deserved breather for all of us- lunch break!

To be continued...

Facelift for Public Bank's Corporate Video

When Public Bank achieved the rank of the Biggest Bank in terms of market capitalisation, we were happy for them. This event is even more significant to us since we are producing their Corporate Video from Script to Screen.

I remember Public Bank approaching us to undertake this project. We were apprehensive at first- their Corporate Video was colossal, a whooping 20 minutes in duration! During the quotation stage, we were shown the previous version of their Corporate Video. The verdict? To say it was below par is an understatement. For the 3rd largest bank in the country, their Corporate Video needed a lot of work!

We got the project and started work. With over 4 decades of history, the video footage collected over the years could fill a library! We worked on the Script, we worked on the Motion Graphics, we edited the volumes of video.

Our greatest challenge was giving it that crucial facelift. The previous video was indeed weak, its design was outdated by decades but Public Bank is a conservative bank. The change we intended to implement had to be subtle yet elegant, reflecting the bank's strength and foresight. So we toiled away trying to find that delicate balance. Our clients monitored us constantly, gently nudging us into their culture yet respecting our design decisions.

Each visit by our client to our studio prompted some amendment or other so much so that it was slowing our progress. On the eve of the presentation to the GM of the Public Affairs for the Group, the client decided to leave us alone to complete the remainder of our work. We were very nervous about the upcoming presentation. The GM is known to be distant and strict.

Today is a happy day for all of us at WolFang Digital because the few short weeks of working smart has finally paid off! Our client has approved the 1st version of our video with minor amendments! The comments from the GM was that our video has indeed achieved its mission in being contemporary and modern. He also said that it was 'Different and very good!"

I told our client, Nancy, when she called me to convey the good news that it was 'Music to our ears!' Now comes the alterations to the video before it can be presented to the Founder and Chairman! Told that he would be off Friday evening, we're looking to an early, really early start tomorrow so we can finish the video ASAP...

APM Corporate Video

This was one of our more interesting projects. It was also unique because we got to visit one of our country's largest automotive parts producing plant.

To describe the condition in the factories as 'hot' would be an understatement. Alloy were being melted into various shapes by giant robots with incredible speed and ease. We got first-hand experience watching how vehicle suspension, radiators and seats were produced.

Given the narrow nature of its walkway, we couldn't get enough equipment into the factory floor, which was just as well because safety was paramount. There were yellow boxes bordering each production process which we must not cross. Completed parts on the factory floor are not to be handled by hand, they are left to cool. Accidentally brushing my shoe on one produced as my sole melted upon contact.

On the other hand we get to witness seats being designed and tested. This was obviously a more delicate process and the rooms were fully air-conditioned. We also watched spray painting machines in sealed-off rooms apply consistent layers of paint onto plastic parts.

We had a fun and educational experience during the video production stage. Motion Graphics was a prevalent element in this video and various layouts were used to inject a high-tech flavor to the video.

Our post production team invested many hours with the 3D Animation and it shows- a reflection of the robots on the factory floor, cleverly piecing together the client's logo amidst sparks and heat waves.

Our clients were very happy with the result and are including our video into their marketing material both local and overseas. A job well done!