At CGull Cinema Productions, we have been given the opportunity to produce content in the political sector for the Jordan B. Peterson Podcast and Daily Wire right here in Tulsa, OK. This is the second year in a row that we have had the pleasure of working with Dr. Peterson and The Daily Wire (a conservative media company based in Nashville, full of personal heroes of ours).
Our goal for this project (which lasted two days) was to create a live interview setup that would allow Dr. Peterson to host guests from different parts of the world via Zoom as well as in person. This year, we filmed two episodes for the podcast, with the first guest being Russell Brand in the UK via Zoom and the second guest being Mosab Hassan Yousef (an ex-Palestinian militant and author of the book, Son of Hamas) in person.
I received a call from Dr. Peterson’s team at The Daily Wire that they would like me to head up the Tulsa production, just three days before the shooting date. Given such a short pre-production window, I knew I had to work fast. I started by putting together a team that consisted of film production professionals that I have had the pleasure of working with on previous projects. Once my team was assembled, I put together a budget proposal and sent it off to Dr. Peterson’s people. Once it was approved, a production meeting was held among the producers at The Daily Wire and me and my team. We were ready to execute our plan over the next two days.
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We arrive at the Airbnb at 6:30 A.M. on April 19th and begin unloading the gear into the house. I scout the location and decide the best area to set up. Once I have made my choice, I confirm it with the team in Nashville. My team and I then began to get our cameras and lights set up as well as move furniture to where it looked the best for the shots. For this production, we used a Sony FX6 as the A cam/Zoom cam, and we paired it with a Sony A7S3 as our B cam. For lighting, we used primarily Apututre fixtures which included an Aputure 600D and an Aputure Nova P300C. My Director of Photography opted for a cove lighting setup to deliver a softer more pleasing look on Dr. Peterson’s face. I then set up a teleprompter on our A cam which would allow Dr. Peterson to see his guest over Zoom while also looking directly at the camera. Around that time, Dr. Peterson arrived, and he was able to sit in while we placed the mics and troubleshot any issues. At about that time, Russell Brand’s people in the UK were ready to begin, and they talked for a few hours. The process was similar for Mosab Yousef’s interview the next day except for that one being in person at a different location. After the interviews were over, Dr. Peterson’s security detail drove off, and we tore down all the equipment and loaded it out.
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I then took all the footage and processed the clips into an Apple Prores format that would easily be able to be edited on The Daily Wire’s end. I put all the footage on an external drive and shipped it to Nashville. I also created lower-resolution versions of the clips that could easily be sent via Wetransfer to be edited right away.
One of the biggest hurdles we had to overcome was Dr. Peterson’s Airpods not connecting well to the Zoom call despite intensive testing. This was a point of frustration especially for him as he kept losing his guest and getting taken out of the focused headspace he was in. As video professionals, we face having to work calmly and quickly while being under intense pressure on all sides to troubleshoot any issues that come up, but thank God for a team of highly skilled individuals who can offer different solutions. One of our grips, Matthew, figured that if he just moved the computer where the Airpods were routed closer to Dr. Peterson, the issue might subside. That worked indeed, and we were able to ensure the final product met our standards of quality and was something all parties involved were happy with.
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Aside from getting to work with a media company, we greatly admire, one of the highlights of the shoot was the feeling that comes with delivering excellent results despite the intense pressures and so many moving parts. It is also necessary to note the messages and stories we get to help be a part of getting across to millions of viewers.
The final product became a group of videos collectively garnering over 3 million views, an exceptional feat for CGull Cinema Productions to be able to be a part of.
Dr. Peterson is always so kind and appreciative every time we have the opportunity to work with him. He always makes a point to thank our team here in Tulsa, OK in his show, and we in turn are extremely thankful to have the opportunity to work with him. It’s always an incredible experience to be able to work with The Daily Wire, and knowing that they keep coming back to us whenever they are having a Tulsa-based event tells me that we have earned their trust to consistently deliver a video product to be proud of showcasing on their platforms.
These productions are always a great opportunity to demonstrate what we are capable of delivering while being in a high-pressure environment. From executing a plan to speedily and calmly delivering problem-solving solutions, we amaze ourselves with what we are truly capable of accomplishing at CGull Cinema Productions. We are always eager to take on new challenges and create visually stunning productions that capture the essence of those we serve. Whether it’s a corporate video, commercial, or film, we’re here to bring your vision to life.
If you're in Tulsa or the surrounding area and need cinematic video production services, don’t hesitate to reach out to CGull Cinema Productions. Let us help you tell your story with the cinematic flair it deserves.
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