07 May Focail Nua Short Documentary Interview Videography
Focail Nua is a short documentary about the Irish language, produced by Bread and Circus Ltd. Idiosync Films provided sound recording, cinematography, and drone videography for interviews across Ireland.
Project Background
Bread and Circus researched and developed this project to highlight Irish language terminologists. These are people who adapt and add new words to the Irish language. We also touched on an ongoing effort to create the first Irish-to-Irish dictionary in some interviews. We have worked with these producers on several projects and found them lovely, patient, and down-to-earth. So, we were delighted when they asked us to help with filming interviews for this project.
Concept Development
This concept was very interesting. We shot interviews with two cameras: one for close-ups and another for wide angles. The wide angle left empty space for animators to add visual effects later. For example, they placed an octopus on a desk with the Irish translation: Ochtapas. Various visuals were added around the interviewees, so our wide shots maintained deep focus.
The project aimed to enter film festivals and secure funding for the Irish-to-Irish dictionary project. It was successfully entered into several international film festivals.
Pre-Production
The concept was flexible and improvisational. We didn’t create storyboards or scout locations before each interview. Editors and VFX artists inserted relevant creatures and objects into the frame, so we focused on various spots like nooks and countertops.
Bread and Circus did all the research for each interview and prepared the questions.
Production
We supplied two 4K cameras, a large LED key light, several panel lights, and sound equipment. The LED lights ensured each location was well-lit for the animations. We used bright fast lenses but stopped them down to keep everything in focus. This required plenty of light. The sound setup included lavalier microphones and a shotgun microphone on a boom pole, positioned over the interviewee and tilted toward their face.
This backup setup meant if the interviewee tapped their lavalier mic, the shotgun mic would serve as a backup. It also gave editors options for the room’s acoustics.
Every space has unique sound characteristics that lavalier and shotgun microphones capture differently.
We used a very wide lens and a standard 50mm for close-ups, giving editors two angles to cut between. This helps hide cuts. We also shot additional B-roll inside and outside each space. In some cases, we used a 4K drone to capture the surrounding landscape.
Post-Production
Idiosync Films was not involved in post-production, but we provided the camera make and model for colour accuracy. We archived all footage unless otherwise requested, in case clients want to revisit projects later.
Execution Details
We shot the interviews over several weeks at locations across Ireland. Footage was copied and delivered right after each shoot. Sometimes, we sent footage via express mail on hard drives. For smaller amounts, we transferred it through Google Drive.
We provided one videographer to accompany the Bread and Circus producer on all shoots. Philip, our main videographer, also operated the drone and recorded sound.
Results and Impact
The key deliverable was the raw footage from each shoot. We transferred files directly from our cameras’ SD cards to the producer’s external hard drive. The final film was sent to several festivals and will be released online soon. Bread and Circus received great feedback, and we have worked with them on multiple projects since.
Lessons Learned
Challenges arose from travelling to many locations without scouting them first. This meant we had to adapt to unknown sound and lighting conditions, as well as limited space for equipment. However, this was a minor challenge, as we are used to working without location scouts and bringing lightweight, versatile equipment.
The project succeeded due to the public interest in the Irish language. The experts we interviewed were very knowledgeable. Most interviews were in Irish, with some questions in English. This was interesting for our videographer, who doesn’t speak Irish!
Another successful aspect of Focail Nua was the animation work, which created an engaging viewing experience. Various creatures and objects appeared in the background, with their Irish names and translations visible.
Conclusion
We are proud to have worked on such an artistically ambitious documentary. It showcases the Irish language, mostly in Irish, with beautiful animations and VFX that highlight the inventiveness and openness of the language.