Filmmaking on the Move (MMM #20)
Greetings all,
Madeline here, back with the 20th entry in The Movie Minute! For this entry’s topic, I chose something that’s inspired by our upcoming shoot at the 2025 Mountain Man Memorial March in Gatlinburg, TN. Whenever we are filming, we’re always on the move, whether it be on set or in an open-air event. One of the greatest benefits from our productions is that it helps us get our physical activity in and stay healthy and fit.
A common consensus among doctors is that everybody should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day, five times a week. Of course, not everyone is able to go to the gym every day, but maintaining a sedentary lifestyle can be bad for our health. Therefore, it’s important that we as filmmakers get our physical activity in, especially since we spend a lot of time at our desks editing and completing other administrative tasks for a majority of our work day.
That’s where field production comes in, as it’s a great opportunity to get our exercise while producing content. One example is through our deployment of “run-and-gun” productions, or, filming on the go. For many of the events we produce content for, a lot of multi-location photography and videography is involved, requiring us to walk a lot while carrying camera equipment. For most of our “run-and-gun” productions, we carry most of our gear on our backs because we aren’t able to quickly get a new lens out of case or exchange a dead battery for a charged one – it needs to all be with us. This is important in settings where a lot of action passes by quickly in various locations and we need to be constantly moving in order to get the coverage and content we need.
Even in studio-like controlled environments, we’re moving often, as equipment must be set up, moved around and broken down for interviews and other productions. While we are mostly seated when conducting interviews, we’re also constantly moving to gather b-roll footage and to guide interview subjects to/from the studio for an overall pleasant experience.
It’s critical to also take breaks often, as we don’t want to overwhelm ourselves. That means being sure to drink plenty of water, ask for assistance for moving things and other tasks if needed, and getting plenty of rest. Of course, it’s important to not get too carried away so that we don’t miss an important project opportunity!
Before we come to a close, let’s get some insight from the team:
“If I am keeping it reel, myself and every other camera operator on the team has never left a production not feeling sore the next day. Whether we are bringing a full package in for a studio/location day or we are on the go with a gimbal/tripod and backpack, I am always feeling it. For me, shoot days are rewarding because I know I’ve earned my keep. Ecclesiastes 5:12 comes to mind, which states, “The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit him to sleep.”
–Jacob Centeno, Founder & Creative Director
“As the videographer for Legacies Alive’s 2023 “Trek to Tribute,” I had the honor of documenting a 425-mile memorial hike led by U.S. Army veteran and first responder Shawn Patterson. His mission: to honor the memory of his fallen brothers-in-arms, Sergeant Tyler Holtz and Specialist Ricardo Cerros, Jr.—two heroes he served alongside during his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Over the course of four weeks, I hiked and filmed alongside Shawn as he journeyed from Dana Point to Salinas, carrying over 15 pounds of camera gear through every terrain California had to offer—from city streets to rugged coastline. My responsibility was to capture the emotional core of the trek and produce a highlight video for Legacies Alive’s social media and fundraising efforts, aimed at building lasting memorials and raising national awareness.
One of the most powerful moments I witnessed was seeing the families of the fallen join Shawn on different legs of the hike—pushing their physical limits in tribute to their loved ones. Their resilience and unity brought a raw emotional depth that I worked to faithfully reflect in the footage.
This project was more than a filming assignment—it was a mission I believed in. Legacies Alive’s commitment to honoring fallen soldiers deeply resonated with me, and being part of telling this story was one of the most meaningful experiences of my career.”
-Jhoel Flores, Producer & Engagement Specialist
To wrap things up, it’s important to stay healthy and fit as a storyteller. Of course, a significant portion of a filmmaker’s day could be spent sitting at a desk for editing among other things. Nevertheless, getting adequate physical activity remains a necessity, and field production provides the perfect opportunity to tell stories while keeping our bodies on the move.
That’s all for this week’s entry in The Movie Minute. Wishing you all the best, and see y’all in 2! -Madeline
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