Christmas Rush

So there we are, on our freelancers night out, halfway through a round of shots, two nights before Christmas, and my iPhone strums and jiggles like a busker in my pocket.  I like being out on the annual freelance crew Christmas do – it feels like they’ve just returned from a tour of duty, and start sharing tales of battles on the road and difficult directors (surely they don’t mean me…). 

It’s a marketing lady whom I haven’t spoken to before (best behaviour Jim…) from one of our well respected and long established clients, calling from California. The boss wants a video.  But it needs to be shot before New Years day, in four countries across two continents, and ready one week into January. So much for a Christmas break – but I’m not ungrateful, in fact it’s very welcome.  I take the brief, and go back to the group.  “So – who’s got a space between Christmas and New Year…”

Within fifteen minutes I’d booked crews and directors both sides of the Atlantic (talk about right time right place!), and scheduled in the edit time.  I swear she thought she wasn’t going to hear from me until New Year.  More than a little amazed, she agreed to the schedule and we said we’d sort out the paperwork the following day (when I’d slept off the shooters…thank God for timezones).

The film was one I’m actually very proud of.  The client was very pleased (possibly not expecting something as stylish and funny on such a short lead time) and I personally loved it.  I also got to see Warsaw’s Christmas lights which I strongly recommend.  So there you go.  All good.  Happy New Year.

Take a look at the film here