When Curve Theatre asked us to film for their upcoming Christmas musical The Sound of Music, we knew we were in for a special project. Set against the stunning backdrop of Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, we shot two musical numbers: the iconic ‘The Hills Are Alive’ and the timeless ‘Edelweiss’.
Filming outdoors brought with it both incredible opportunities and a few challenges. The sweeping landscapes of Bradgate gave us the perfect canvas for the story, but with soaring temperatures on the hottest day of the year, it also meant a lot of uphill climbs carrying kit!
To bring the production to life, we made the most of a variety of filming techniques.
The steadicam was our workhorse for smooth, cinematic movement across the hills, while our drone provided epic aerial perspectives of the cast and scenery. We also incorporated behind-the-scenes footage into the final videos, giving audiences a glimpse into the making of these musical moments.
Due to the conditions of the day, we made the decision to try to keep kit weight to a minimum without sacrificing quality. Making use of Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF Face-Tracking Technology, we used a Canon 16-35mm EF lens rather than a cine-prime to negate the need for a follow focus system and therefore a heavier payload on the steadicam rig. Whilst it was a hot day, it was also quite windy making the complex drone shots complicated too. Luke used the latest Mavic 4 Pro which not only worked beautifully with our C70 footage, but also reduced any potential issues with wind that a lighter drone would present.
This project was a real team effort:
Director: Nikolai Foster
Maria: Molly Lynch
Captain Von Trapp: David Seadon-Young
Steadicam Operator: Dan Flanders
Drone Operator: Luke Gale
Musical Supervisor: George Dyer
HMUA: Elizabeth Rita
Designer: Michael Taylor
1st AC: Francesca Costa
2nd AC: Jack Davies
Runner: Rey Dempsey
Offline Editor: Dan Flanders
Online Editor: Duncan MacLeod
During the editing process, we worked with Director, Nikolai Foster, to assemble the edit and bring the vision to life. Once we had achieved picture lock, we spent time removing members of the public from the backgrounds as well as stylising the overall look in the grade.
We might have gone home a little sunburnt and convinced our legs would never recover, but it was worth it to help bring this beloved story to life on screen. Everyone put in a huge shift to make sure every shot matched the magic of the music, and the results speak for themselves.
We love being part of projects like this – ones that celebrate both theatre and film, bringing stories off the stage and into new, cinematic spaces. It was a joy to collaborate with Curve Theatre and help give a glimpse of what audiences can expect this Christmas when The Sound of Music takes to the stage.
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