The Roundtable
Five people. One table. One year they will never forget. Our goal is to create a space where they can sit down, talk honestly and let the story unfold naturally — while we make sure we're there to capture all of it.
Not a panel discussion.
A real conversation.
We really like the idea at the center of this brief. It doesn't need a lot of extra production layered on top of it. The people at the table and what they went through together are the story. Our job is to create the right room, put the cameras in the right places and then give the conversation enough space to become real.
Build the room.
Two planning calls with AHF, a site visit or floor-plan review, shot list, lighting plan, camera strategy and technical prep. If the phone beat moves forward, we'll also test the recorded line before shoot day.
Let them talk.
One multi-camera shoot day with approximately two hours of recorded conversation. We'll build coverage around the table so we can follow who's speaking while also catching the reactions, pauses and exchanges happening around them.
Shape it carefully.
We'll work through the full conversation and build the 30-minute master, eight social cuts and launch trailer, along with the color, sound, captions, graphics and archive package required for final delivery.
Simple. Warm. Intentional.
We love the simplicity of the look in the brief: dark, warm and focused completely on the people at the table. We would keep that, but we'd be very intentional about the shape of the room and the table. Our recommendation is a true round table for six, with one seat left empty, a neutral background and one dominant key light. The letter — and the phone, if that beat moves forward — are really all we need.
Camera Strategy
- Three-camera 4K base production
- Table master and tight participant coverage
- Framing with headroom for clean 9:16 center crops
- 4K acquisition for participant coverage
- Long takes that allow natural cross-talk and reactions
- Planned straight-down overhead hero composition centered on the round table
- Optional fourth camera on slider priced separately below
Set & Lighting
- Our recommendation: a true round table sized for six positions
- One intentionally empty seat
- Room layout planned around the overhead composition
- Dark, warm lighting treatment
- Single dominant key-light approach
- Neutral backdrop with no logos in frame
- Letter at each seat
- Phone included if the remote-call beat moves forward
The team behind the conversation.
We'll bring a crew large enough to do this properly, while still keeping the room comfortable. Once the conversation starts, we want the production itself to fade into the background.
On-Set Crew
- On-Site Producer
- Camera Operators
- Production Sound Mixer
- Gaffer
- Grip 1
- Grip 2
- Camera Production Assistant
- Production Assistant
- Hair & Makeup Artist
Post-Production Team
- Lead Post-Production Editor
- Color Finishing
- Sound Editing & Final Mix
- Graphics & Caption Preparation
- Media Management & Archive Preparation
- Final Quality Control & Delivery
Everything we need to do it right.
The equipment package is built around this shoot: clean multi-camera coverage, great sound, controlled lighting and enough flexibility to keep the technical side from interrupting the conversation.
Camera
- 4 × Sony FX3 4K cinema cameras in the base package
- Sony G Master lens package
- Professional tripods and camera support
- Support for the planned overhead hero composition, subject to site conditions
- Production monitors
- Media, batteries and camera accessories
- Timecode synchronization across cameras and audio
Audio, Lighting & Grip
- Individual lavalier microphone for every participant
- Boom or table microphone for safety audio
- Professional multi-track field recording
- In-room playback for AHF-supplied oral-history audio
- LED lighting package for the warm, controlled look
- Small grip / lighting truck package
- Stands, flags, diffusion and light-control materials
- Power distribution, cabling and production support equipment
Everyone on set is covered.
Catering, refreshments and craft service are included for up to 18 people for the production day. That includes our production crew, all five Roundtable speakers and the AHF-provided moderator. We'll coordinate dietary restrictions ahead of the shoot.
Included Headcount
- Production crew
- 5 Roundtable speakers
- 1 moderator
- Up to 18 people total
Included
- Production-day meal
- Craft service and snacks
- Water and non-alcoholic beverages
- Coffee service
- Dietary accommodations coordinated in advance
One shoot.
A full collection of content.
Keep it simple.
Make every choice intentional.
The brief already has a really strong idea at the center of it, so we don't think this needs a lot added to it. If anything, we would simplify the room even more and make a few visual choices that make the conversation feel bigger without getting in its way.
We'd make it truly round.
The brief allows for a round or oval table. Our preference would be a true round table. Everyone feels equally placed in the room, including the empty chair, and it gives us a stronger composition from every angle.
One perfectly symmetrical shot.
As we read the brief, one image immediately came to mind: looking straight down over the center of the table. From above, the table becomes a perfect circle, with the five speakers and the empty chair creating a simple, symmetrical image. We'd plan to capture that as a signature hero composition for the film.
Don't just film who's talking.
Some of the best moments may come from the person who isn't speaking. We want to hold on those reactions — someone hearing an archive clip, turning over the letter or listening to the person across the table. Those quiet moments can say a lot.
October → December 2026
One team from the first planning call through final delivery.
MissionTeller will handle the full production — planning, crew, equipment, shoot day, editing, finishing and final archival delivery.
One complete production from pre-production through final delivery, based on the scope and deliverables outlined above.
- Pre-Production & Creative Planning $3,000
- Shoot Day: Production Crew — Up to 10 Hours $8,000
- Shoot Day: Camera, Audio, Lighting & Grip Equipment $5,000
- Catering & Craft Service — Up to 18 People $1,200
- Post-Production & Finishing $15,500
- Samsung T7 Shield Archive SSD, Media Prep & Delivery $1,300
- Production Subtotal $34,000
- Production Fee — 10% $3,400
- Base Production Investment $37,400
Additional options requested in the brief.
These items are not included in the $37,400 base production investment. They can be added individually if AHF decides they make sense for the final production plan.
We'll take care of production.
AHF brings the people and the story.
AHF Provides
- Participants and signed consent forms
- Moderator and run of show
- Location if production takes place at AHF's office
- Oral-history archive audio clips for playback
- Project fonts, palette, reference screens and brand assets
- One point of contact for the engagement
MissionTeller Provides
- Pre-production and technical planning
- Production crew and equipment
- Cinematography, lighting and production sound
- Catering and craft service for up to 18 people
- Post-production and finishing
- Samsung T7 Shield archive drive and media preparation
- Final deliverables and archive delivery
- Vendor crew releases
This becomes part of AHF's archive.
AHF will own all footage, audio and finished work produced for the project. After the film has been publicly released, MissionTeller may share the finished work in our portfolio with appropriate credit.
Let the conversation do the work.
At the end of the day, we don't want this to feel like five people sitting down to give interviews. We want it to feel like we're getting to sit in on a conversation between people who went through something together. Our job is to create the room, put the cameras in the right places and then get out of the way enough for something real to happen.
Comparable look from one of our projects.