215 Tops It Off

You know 215 Timelapse for our timelapse videos, of course, but we also take on the occasional on-site shoot. We’re no stranger to the University of Pennsylvania campus and returned this past July to shoot a “topping off” ceremony for the new Amy Gutmann Hall. This traditional construction milestone celebrates the installation of a ceremonial “final piece”—even if the building isn’t quite ready for use yet.

An on-site shoot requires more advance preparation than usual. In timelapse, I can omit a frame among thousands without interrupting the footage. With live events, however, there are no retakes, and editing around mistakes is more difficult. 215 Timelapse scouted the location and met with Penn’s event crew to determine a schedule and setup before the big day.

  • Our setup had to be strategic on an active construction site.

    Our setup had to be strategic on an active construction site.

  • Cameraman Blake stood on a riser to capture both crowd and speakers.

    Cameraman Blake stood on a riser to capture both crowd and speakers.

  • Cameramen Blake (left) and Wes adjusted the ceremony camera for the best possible angle.

    Cameramen Blake (left) and Wes adjusted the ceremony camera for the best possible angle.

Not only did we film the ceremony itself, we also shot a tour of the building’s interior and recorded interviews with Penn faculty, all within a window of less than four hours. Our team consisted of three camerapeople (including me) and two assistants. While one cameraperson set up on a riser to get the best possible angle to film the ceremony, the second conducted interviews elsewhere on campus to escape the ongoing construction noises. In addition to directing my team, I shot the “B-roll” (supplemental) footage: a few short-term timelapse shots, close-ups of attendees signing the panel and enjoying the event, and the VIP building tour. I returned when the ceremony began to capture it from a third angle.

  • “B-Roll” Rich, on the scene!

    “B-Roll” Rich, on the scene!

  • A passing dragonfly was our honorary sixth team member.

    A passing dragonfly was our honorary sixth team member.

Shooting the tour was particularly enjoyable for me. Most modern buildings are made of steel, but Amy Gutmann Hall uses mass timber—an older construction method that has regained popularity in recent years due to its increased sustainability and efficiency. The beauty of the exposed wood throughout is a nice bonus.

Ultimately, I combined our team’s day-of footage with preexisting timelapse footage of the building’s construction to create a properly celebratory film for an exciting new facility.

"The video that Rich created for us was a wonderful illustration of the ongoing construction process of one of our spectacular new buildings. From start to finish, Rich and his team of professionals were wonderful to work with. 215 Timelapse delivered a very high quality video within a very tight deadline."

– Holly Wojcik, Director of Media Relations, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania

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