FAQ
Practical answers on commissioning crews, edits, training and workflow reviews, so a news desk can decide quickly what to ask us and what to prepare.
Questions we hear from news desks
These are the points editors and producers raise most often before a first commission. If your question is not covered, the contact page is the quickest route to a straight answer.
How quickly can a breaking news crew be on a story?
It depends on where the story is and who is free that day. We confirm availability by phone or email as soon as we understand the location and the filing deadline. Gloucester and the surrounding area are the easiest to reach, and we will tell you plainly if a deadline cannot be met rather than promise it.
What do you deliver when a package is finished?
A cut package with captions, supplied as a file in the format your broadcaster or playout system asks for. Tell us the codec, frame rate, loudness target and delivery route when you enquire, and Tom Pritchard will match them. Raw rushes can be returned alongside the package if you want them for your archive.
Can you work with our own presenters and studio?
Yes. Studio portrait lighting is built around the people in front of the camera and the room you already have. We look at the set, the colour of the background, the ceiling height and the presenter or interviewee, then design a rig that keeps faces natural without overpowering a small studio.
Who attends the camera technique training days?
News shooters at any stage, from new starters to experienced operators who want to tighten their habits. Days are hands-on and cover framing, handheld movement, exposure and sound. Daniel Okafor leads them, and we agree the content with you beforehand so the day addresses the problems your own footage shows.
What does a newsroom workflow review involve?
Priya Chauhan follows a story from ingest through editing, scripting and approval, speaking to the people who handle it at each stage. She then writes up where time is lost and what to change. We can help put the changes in place, but a review does not commit you to that.
Do you handle captioning and different file formats?
Yes, captioning and format conversion are part of our rapid edit and delivery work. Captions can be supplied as burned-in text or as a separate file, depending on what your platform accepts. Send us your specification early, because loudness and frame rate requirements differ between broadcasters.
How do we order and pay for a service?
Start with an enquiry through the contact page. We reply with a written quotation or confirmation describing the work and the price, and once that is agreed we send an invoice to be paid by bank transfer. Nothing is bought or paid for on this website.
What happens if we need to cancel or change a commission?
Tell us as early as you can. Cancellations and refunds follow our payment and refund policy, which sets out what applies at each stage of a commission. If a story changes or a date moves, we would rather rearrange the work with you than leave you paying for something you cannot use.
Describe the crew, lighting, workflow review, training day or edit you have in mind, and we will reply with a clear view of how we would handle it.
