Paul Smith Performance at Woodhorn Museum
The brief
Museums Northumberland asked us to produce content for a digital version of Woodhorn Museum’s 157th Miners’ Picnic, after the pandemic forced the celebration online. The centrepiece was an intimate solo performance by Maxïmo Park frontman Paul Smith, performing original songs alongside traditional music connected to the North East’s mining heritage.
On the day
It was an intimidating day. We had a closed museum, a private gig and half a day to film an interview, the teasers and the full performance, with IngramAV’s lighting and sound waiting on my call. A jib, a dolly and a couple of static cameras got us most of the way there. Paul’s performance did the rest.
He’s the loveliest chap. He stayed behind afterwards to give us an interview, nailed it in one take, and we all left with his songs stuck in our heads for months.
Our approach
We worked with Museums Northumberland’s creative team to plan a film worthy of both the performer and the setting, incorporating imagery from social documentary photographer Mik Critchlow that Paul had chosen to accompany his setlist. With half a day to capture an interview, teaser content and the full performance, we fitted a full camera crew, the artist and a full AV crew safely into the museum space under COVID guidelines, working closely with the in-house lighting, sound and projection team.
Deliverables
A filmed solo performance with accompanying interview and teaser content, incorporating curated photography, for digital broadcast to a wider audience than the event could reach in person.
The result
Helped Woodhorn Museum build on the success of the previous year’s virtual celebration and present the museum’s heritage to a new, wider digital audience.