Here at Eastward, we got our start creating documentaries about the amazing stories of everyday people. But we very quickly began filming with celebrities and V.I.Ps (Very Important People) on V.I.Ps (Very Important Productions) - starting with the highest grossing female actress of all time (Google it, it may surprise you).
In all of these experiences, we took away lessons about how to approach VIP projects - both relating to the talent and the talent’s team - to get the best video possible. But no experience taught us more than the afternoon we spent with the (now) President of the United States - Joe Biden.
Through our longstanding creative partnership with Giffords, we were asked to create a video series featuring some of the biggest names in politics - Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigeg and many others. We created a mobile studio that we could pack into a min-van and head out on a moment’s notice - which, given their schedules, was often necessary. We drove to a hotel ballroom in Boston for Elizabeth Warren and waited patiently in a conference room in Detroit for Beto O’Rourke to finish the debate.
But as the project was wrapping, we got a call from our client - could you film with Vice President Joe Biden? Tomorrow? At his home in Delaware?
The answer, of course, was hell yes! (As if we had any other choice).
We assembled our team and drove to (address redacted) outside Wilmington, DE. And along the way, the stress of navigating around a VIP of this stature became apparent.
So…you will only have 45 minutes to set-up (we needed 2 hours).
So…you’ll only be allowed to ask three questions (we had a list of twelve).
So…you can only do it in his private office and you CANNOT break anything (gulp).
We arrived and were shown to Joe Biden’s private home office. We quickly made a plan on the back of a napkin (literally) about how to move equipment/people in and out of the space for a two camera set-up with lights, custom designed backdrops and sound. Thirty minutes later we were moving couches, pictures of Biden + Obama, and setting-up our tripods when we heard a voice from the doorway.
“Well, you all really make yourself at home.”
It was, of course, the 46th President of the United States.
We jokingly begged forgiveness and promised all would be returned to normal. We just needed another 20 minutes and we would be out of his hair.
“Ok, seems like a real pain in the ass.” He gave us a wink and left the room.
After we all took a collective breath, we finished our set-up in record time and were ready-to-go. President Biden re-entered the room with his team. He sat down for what was supposed to only be 10 minutes and spoke for 30. When we wrapped, he joked with us for another 15 minutes, asking if we wanted to have a drink before we left. We all laughed nervously but he said “I’m serious.” Then we packed up and didn’t break anything (we promise).
To this day, we are the only production team to ever set up a custom made studio in the home office of President Joe Biden. And the video we created was watched by 18 million people (yeah, we’re bragging a little).
So what did we learn from this that we apply to our future productions? A few things…
R-E-L-A-X: When filming with VIPs, you’re often victim to their schedule, and items change beyond your control. Keep focused on what you need to accomplish and make a plan to achieve it. Stress is contagious - don’t spread it!
You’ll Get What You Need: The talent’s team is often more restrictive and worried than the talent themselves. Strike a good rapport with the talent, and you’ll often be able to stretch more content than you’re offered. We were supposed to have 10 minutes, we got 30.
Create a Good Experience: A main part of the producer’s job is to make the process seamless, even though there might be some stress behind the scenes. We pride ourselves in keeping our crews confident and the set enjoyable.
So if your project involves a VIP - either a celebrity, politician, or maybe the CEO of a major company - we can work with your team to navigate a solution and make the project enjoyable for everyone.
Just ask the President 😉