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If you’ve ever been on a Brand Power shoot chances are you’ve met our larger than life cameraman Dave Richardson. Curious to learn more about this BG legend, copywriter Michelle Legge threw a few questions his way.

Let’s start with the basics Dave, what do you do and how long have you been doing it for?

I guess you can call me a cameraman, but my official title would be ‘Director Of Photography’. I work closely in conjunction with the director and the gaffer (lighting person) to set the shots in line with the creative vision. I’m also the man behind the camera, setting it up, and physically moving it to follow the talent if required. I work as a freelancer, and have been with BG for over 8 years now.

What about your Film background?

Well, I went to Swinburne Film School (now Victoria College of the Arts) and soon after got a job with a production house making music clips. I started as a production assistant, moved on to 2nd unit camera work, and finally graduated to cameraman. From there I went out as a freelancer, working on many different feature films, short films and documentaries. I’ve also written and directed a few small budget independent films. It is hard competing with big dollar blockbusters, but film is something I do for the love, and maybe that means I’m crazy, but I guess I must have a thick skin!

You’ve worked on all of Buchanan Group’s branded advertising vehicles. What are some of the unique challenges facing each?

Well, naturally each BG branded ad has its own signature style, but within that, every Brand Power or Zoot Review is unique. With Brand Power the main challenges are lighting the shelf correctly, and that can be hard when you’re working with highly reflective packs, like glass or glossy plastics.

With Zoot Review we set up and light for three separate cameras. So we’re often in a situation where we’re dealing with contrast problems between the three cameras, and it’s really important to balance the lighting between the Zoot Review presenter and the celebrity. Lighting also changes during the day as the sun moves, so lighting may have to be adjusted as we go along to maintain continuity. Lighting across three cameras in tricky, but obstacles like these keep cinematography interesting.

Shooting a MediFacts is a whole other kettle of fish because we shoot in real pharmacies. We have to work while the shop is closed, and that means we shoot very early in the morning. The real challenge with MediFacts is to shoot within a limited time. It’s not impossible, it’s just an added pressure that needs to taken on board.

Working with BG has also been a great travel opportunity for you?

Yes – it’s certainly one of the perks. BG’s brands are catching on worldwide, so it’s been a real pleasure to head overseas. I’ve been involved in Zoot Review in New Zealand, a Brand Power in Malaysia, and a VoxPlug in Canada. The VoxPlug Canada job really stands out for me because we were located on Wasaga Beach, near Toronto on Canada Day, so we were encountering really boisterous kids, not to mention a massive sand storm!

How do you ensure quality on a Buchanan Group shoot?

I think it comes down to a few things, mostly experience and having done commercials for a long time. With experience you can pick potential flaws, because you know what to look for. Having the right equipment naturally can be the make or break in terms of quality, and it’s important to keep up to date with new equipment and advancements. An example of this is that BG used to shoot in the standard 4x3 format. About 3 years ago we changed over to 16x9 to accommodate wide screen TV’s, and that’s really been the big change for BG in so far as filming.

The move to Port Melbourne has meant a fully equipped, brand new studio for Buchanan Group. How has this affected shoots?

The new studio is wonderful to work in on every conceivable level. Basically it gives us the access and space we need. Little things can make a big difference in time efficiency, like being able to drive the lighting truck right up to studio door. The new studio is really geared up to suit what we do at BG.

Part of a typical shoot day involves lots of client interaction and feedback, which is something we encourage at BG. Do you find this makes the day easier?

Absolutely. It’s great that clients are able to give us feedback as we go along, because at the end of the day we’re selling their product, and we want to make the best possible ad for them. One of the great things about BG is that the job gets done but we also have a really fun day, which keeps the shoot relaxed for both the client and crew.