Films about life and (also) about work.

The client came to us with a request to introduce the team with a film in order to attract new employees.

A person sits on a chair in a large, comfortable room. There's a microphone above them, and a camera to their right. — A relaxed atmosphere is important for good interviews.

The client was a banking services company. People there work in teams, from home, in the office, in the call center, and online.

Digital services are often difficult to represent visually. What does an IT service typically look like? A person typing something into a keyboard and looking nerdy? What you often see in other recruitment videos wasn't enough for this client.

We therefore wanted to convey the working atmosphere and team spirit without the film coming across as an intrusive advertisement or playing on stereotypes.

Therefore, we have presented the following solution:

People work in teams. That's why films also have to be human. For us, that meant leaving out a lot of things.

I think I speak for many filmmakers: When a filmmaker is given a budget by a client, the first thing you want to do is buy new camera equipment and try everything out. Technology can be very exciting, and as a filmmaker, you quickly think you absolutely need it all for your next job. The client should see what they're getting for their money: and what would that be? Equipment? Or maybe large film crews? Hmm.

Speaking of large film crews, here's a little story: A truck full of equipment doesn't fit through the entrance to the office location's parking lot. A director with a beret and a clipboard under his arm directs the employees in front of the camera, saying things like "Action!" and "Now, please, completely natural!" and "Cut!" and the employees are in the middle of this almost comical scene. I didn't make this up; it happened exactly like this in a large company nearby. The employees should report authentically about their experiences in their professional and private lives.

How authentic does that sound to you as the client? And how much like a theater show?

It's true: this is how actors work on a film set. Actors and actresses can handle it. But the crew members are usually not actors.

A young man sits in front of a blue screen in a large room and is being interviewed. He is smiling and in a good mood. — ‘I didn't even realise it was starting!’ is the best compliment for us.

Employees are usually not actors.

Filming and interviews

That's why it's very important to us that the atmosphere before and during filming is just right. It shouldn't feel like a film set, but rather like a casual conversation over a cup of coffee, tea, or, if necessary, a glass of wine. Anything that makes the conversation more pleasant is good.

We started by scheduling phone appointments with the protagonists before the actual recording to get to know each other. This is a good icebreaker and helps to ease initial fears.

On the day of filming itself, we had plenty of time and reserved a day at the location for each person. This gave us enough time to set up the set and configure the cameras. The participants and the client's team were able to settle in without stress and get warmed up. Before the actual interview, we started with a little small talk to get the conversation started.

With this method, it happens that the people in front of the camera are so relaxed that they no longer think about the camera and sometimes even slip into their dialect. Above all, they laugh a lot and genuinely. As a film crew, we are highly focused during this moment. All electronic equipment must function reliably. If someone opens up so much in front of the camera that tears are rolling, the camera better rolls as well! That's why we rely on professional cine equipment. Not just for the image quality, but mainly to ensure the workflow.

Two men look at an iPad and discuss something. — Markus Braun and Oliver Rodrigues J discuss the interview process

The premiere of the finished films

The response to the project has been very positive. The short films we shared on social media were viewed frequently, and there were many reactions. Many colleagues also watched the premiere of the 2- to 3-minute films in a large cinema in Saarbrücken. The atmosphere was great, and there was enthusiastic applause after each screening. I think this shows what film stories can achieve outside of social media. Here, you simply have to think beyond TikTok, with its short five-second attention span. There's more to it, and this project is proof of that.

A young man can be seen on a large cinema screen in a dark cinema hall. — Premiere of the films in a large cinema hall as an unforgettable team event.

Emotional stories

The authentic telling of personal stories is an important foundation for the subsequent film that will emerge from the interview. The dramaturgy has to be right, and other strong film recordings for the narrative must be found. There's a lot of talk about "emotional storytelling" these days:

»Hensel and Gretel got lost in the forest...«

I think a very important part of storytelling starts much earlier, which is to find Hansel and Gretel as a story in the first place and then to be the first to tell it so that it can be passed on.

This also works with your experiences and values. The best way to find out exactly how is to work together.