Capture the moment.
Protect the footage.
This is a live opening, not a controlled commercial. A missed first customer cannot be recreated. Your priority is coverage first, perfection second.
Live production status
Critical shots still needed
These update automatically when you check items off in the Shot List tab.
At-a-glance camera card
Treat ISO and white balance as location-dependent. Set/test presets at night; verify real morning daylight at 6 AM.
Live decision guide
Where you should be
Switch to the Schedule tab for full details. Times are flexible.
Orientation rules
Live 7–11 AM: aim roughly 60% horizontal / 40% vertical. For one-time action, horizontal 4K with center-safe composition often protects both edits, but a vertical crop sacrifices field of view.
After 11 AM: aim roughly 30% horizontal / 70% vertical. Repeat the strongest product actions natively in both formats.
Watch edges: keep faces, bagels, signs and hands within a 9:16-safe center region when planning to crop. Don't assume every horizontal shot will work vertically.
Night-before scout: what you can and cannot lock
Lock: 4K format, 10-bit codec, S-Cinetone, AF behavior, memory recalls, audio workflow, lens suitability, camera positions, flicker checks, storage and gear.
Only baseline: kitchen exposure and white balance if the same fixtures will be used during service.
Recheck at 6 AM: daylight-dependent dining exposure/WB, exterior exposure/ND, window highlights and any lighting that changes from nighttime.
Run a rehearsal: record 10–15 seconds with both lenses in each zone; inspect footage on MacBook at 100% for focus, flicker, motion blur, distortion and audio.
Lens-specific considerations
Sony FE 24–105 f/4: your reliable live-action zoom. Use 24–35mm for lines and room context; 50–85mm for reactions, handoffs and interviews. At 4K60, APS-C crop makes its wide end about a 36mm-equivalent field of view.
Samyang wide prime: kitchen, atmosphere, close-range movement and storefront wides. The exact model is not yet confirmed; verify focal length, maximum aperture, focus distance and filter size before relying on model-specific advice.
77mm 7Artisans 2–5 stop VND: fits Sony. Keep off indoors. Test for color cast, vignetting and X-pattern at stronger settings. Never let removing it cost a key moment.
Interviews & natural audio
PCMAE leadership: “What makes this opening significant?” “What does a successful opening look like?”
Store manager: “How did the team prepare?” “What are you most excited for customers to experience?”
Employee: “What's your favorite part of working here?”
Customer: “What brought you out?” “How's the bagel?” Ask permission before filming testimonials.
Sound checklist: HOT BAGELS! shout, oven/tray sounds, bagel rip, dip, service callouts, crowd energy, 10–15 seconds of room tone per zone. Monitor audio peaks and avoid clipping.
After-11 product session
Priority: clean bagel portraits, oven-to-counter sequence, perfect rip, creamy dip, branded packaging, overhead hero, multiple cream cheese flavors and both orientations.
Food focus: use flexible spot or manual focus for close-ups. Consider f/5.6 for depth of field when lighting allows. Check the lens minimum focus distance.
Boom safety: stage away from customers/staff; use tested support, proper counterweight and sandbags, and secure the camera. Never improvise an unstable overhead rig.
What success looks like in the edit
Vertical 15–30s: fast opening hook → energy/line → oven or rip → dip → first bite/reaction → HOT BAGELS! or brand payoff.
Horizontal 30–60s: storefront/location → anticipation → opening → production and hospitality → customers → team/leadership → celebratory finish.
Optional future assets: evergreen food reel, team story, PCMAE success story, recruitment content and product library. Extra edited deliverables are not automatically included in the contracted scope.
Failure prevention & contingencies
LED banding: test 1/60 and 1/125 under actual fixtures; use fine shutter adjustment if needed and verify on playback.
Bright white packaging: zebras and histogram are more reliable than judging only the monitor image.
AF hunting on food: move to a smaller focus area or manual focus; stop down if possible.
Card/battery issue: swap during a lull, confirm record indicator and remaining time, and review a short clip.
Missed planned shot: capture the next authentic equivalent; reserve repeatable actions for after 11. Do not recreate customer reactions as if candid.
Footage safety: do not format or delete on location. Make two separate backups before clearing media.
Master shot list
0%★ = critical. Tap a checkbox to mark it complete. Progress saves automatically on this device.
Run of show
Orientation plan
7–11 AM live event: ~60% horizontal / 40% vertical as a planning guide. Frame unrepeatable action with vertical crop safety.
After 11 AM product session: ~30% horizontal / 70% vertical. Repeat hero actions in both orientations.
Deliverables
Contracted: 15–30s vertical social highlight; 30–60s horizontal recap.
Optional future content: food reel, team story, PCMAE leadership story, evergreen product library. Extra edits are not assumed to be included.
Sony A7 IV settings
Shared baseline
Auto ISO is a practical live-event starting point, not a guarantee of correct exposure. Watch zebras and bright packaging. Check flicker at 1/60 and 1/125.
Lens swapping plan
Sony 24–105mm f/4: primary live-event lens. Samyang wide prime: tight kitchen and wide environment. Samyang model assumed AF 18mm f/2.8 FE; verify before the shoot.
ND & 60p rules
7Artisans 77mm 2–5 stop VND: use on Sony outdoors; remove indoors. Test vignetting, color shifts and maximum strength. In bright sun, stop down if necessary.
60p: switch to 1/125; 4K60 has APS-C crop. Avoid it for critical wide shots and live audio moments if 30p is more useful.
Stabilization: Active for handheld movement when crop is acceptable; Standard/Off for stable locked shots. Test each lens.
Preflight checklists
0%Location & exposure notes
Write down actual morning conditions here. Entries save automatically on this device.
Backup your checklist
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