Jacaranda looks back on 2013

2013 was another action-packed year at Jacaranda. We celebrated over 25 years at the top, securing another Top 10 place in Televisual magazine’s annual Corporate Top 50 survey. We were also recognised by the British Film Institute in their ‘Shooting the Message’ series, ensuring that Jacaranda’s films will be forever available in the BFI archives.

We produced films for both new and regular clients,including:

Several films for long-term client BP, showcasing their involvement with the London 2012 Olympics and the forthcoming 2014 Commonwealth Games.

We welcomed new client Panalpina to Jacaranda, producing a raft of films highlighting the company’s global activities and achievements .

For the 7th year running we produced the Barclays Citizenship Awards, creating 72 films and introducing new voting applications and a responsive website.

We became a Standard Chartered Bank Preferred Supplier and are currently producing a series entitled Standard Chartered Explains.

For new client SAB Miller, we produced a suite of films presenting their financial results and brand highlights.

We were asked to create a number of films for newly merged GlencoreXstrata about their operations and CSR commitments in Zambia.

As Autumn approached, we were delighted to win the pitch to produce ‘The Eve Awards’ a series of 21 films, shot globally for new client, Petrofac.

And just before the year ended, it was great to work with returning client Darty, presenting their Results and introducing their new in-store initiatives in Paris.

To all our clients and colleagues, we wish you a successful 2014 – and hope to work with you again soon!

From Dawn till Dusk in Zambia

One of the world’s largest natural resources companies, Glencore Xstrata recently hired Jacaranda to produce a series of films highlighting Mopani Copper Mines operations in the Copperbelt region of Northern Zambia. Having filmed in Zambia several times before, we were off to a running start, committed to a tight schedule aimed at getting as much of their impressive operational and CSR initiatives firmly in the can during an action-packed 5 day shoot.

Straight in at the deep end, quite literally, the crew were up bright and early on day one to go deep down Mopani’s Mufulira underground mine where we were able to get some fantastic footage in adverse filming conditions.

Straight from the mine we found ourselves en route to the capital, Lusaka, for an interview with the First Lady, Dr. Christine Kaseba-Sata, on healthcare issues within Zambia. The following morning, quickly dusted down with mining boots firmly in the backpack, the interview took place in the Presidential palace..

Our MD Katy really hit it off with the First Lady, as you can see…

The rest of the shoot followed along the same lines, with bouncy truck journeys, whilst trying to eat a quick sandwich, to many different locations in and around the mine sites. We captured some beautiful footage of wonderful communities, schools and hospitals supported by Mopani.

At the heart of this shoot was the willingness of both crew and clients to get the best possible shots whatever the time, whatever the conditions. Up before sunrise and returning wearily after sunset may seem like a chore to most, but, with such welcoming people and such a beautiful country, everyone was more than happy to do it. It was a great shoot and we can’t wait for the next one! For more info see here.

A Movember to be Proud of! – Tom’s Blog

A moustache used to bear the sign of power and prowess, inducing respect from those around you. Take this man for instance. Lord Kitchener and his moustache could have persuaded the Julian Assangee of the era to go to war! However over the last 10 to 20 years the moustache has been associated with laziness and  creepiness, not quite a warming beard or a sharp clean shave but that weird something in between.

However things are beginning to change particularly in the month of November or as it is called amongst many social circles these days, Movember.

Now, at the beginning of November men or MoBros as they are called have a clean shave, then will their testosterone to take over and battle embarrassments to produce an awesome moustache. This simple task of sporting a moustache is helping raise awareness and money for cancer studies and particularly Testicular and Prostate cancer.

Having only recently been able to grow a beard I found it hard to let go, especially with the added stigma of my girlfriend saying I look like a frog without one! However after the initial shave and the cold it brought with it I started to enjoy my sleek new look. Now however the moustache is starting to take shape and where in the past I may have found myself looking down at the floor with such an affliction, I look up and notice fellow MoBros and their moustaches of all shapes and sizes and I hold my head high as I stroll into Pret and order a soya skinny latte with chocolate sprinkles in my most manly of voices!

Jokes aside I think this is a fantastic movement as the more the issue is in the public sphere and people know about symptoms and treatments, the more people will feel less embarrassed and seek treatment sooner. Personally i would like to encourage anyone to take part and make a donation, small or big to help this great cause! Anyone can take part, MoSistas included so no excuses!

Thank you to those who have already sponsored me and if you would like to, please find my movember page on the link below:

http://uk.movember.com/mospace/4024517

Happy Movember,

Tom

Keeping Your Hand In – Tom’s Blog

A couple of months ago Jacaranda was chosen to create a new corporate image film for new client Invensys. I was tasked with gathering existing footage from which we will create a footage library and, combined with new footage, create this new corporate film.

This was one of my first major tasks in my new job as Production Assistant and I obviously wanted to impress with my work. I started the task full of energy, contacting production companies the world over to gather all the rushes we thought would be useful. Hard drives were sent in their droves and it was nice to receive something important and work related as oppose to my usual post of Love Film subscriptions and pizza menus!

When the wall of hard drives started to obscure my view of my colleagues I knew it was time to start the mammoth task of logging EVERY SINGLE SHOT! It soon became too much and reinforcements were called in. As we trawled through the shots hour after hour, day after the day morale was at a low but when things are low and times are rough we always had doughnuts and blooper shots like these to give us the much needed boost to finish the footage log.

In this particular shot above, a production company had travelled to the great Niagara Falls in America and managed to get this fantastic shot of the waters edge. This really was the shot, the whole shot. Now I understand shots like these can happen when you’re jostling for space but as I understand it Niagara Falls is a pretty big water feature!

Anyway with the help of my colleagues, confectionery goods and a few bloopers we were able to finish the footage log and my first major piece of work was presented to the client. He was happy, my bosses were happy because he was happy and I was happy because they were both happy and it meant that doughnuts in the afternoon are now seen as an integral part in creating a hardworking and happy workforce at J House.