Office Video Shoot Checklist: How to Prepare Your Space

Most corporate videos are filmed at least partly in the client's own office. That is good news — your real workplace is more convincing than any rented location — but offices are designed for work, not cameras. A little preparation makes the difference between a calm, efficient shoot and a day of moving furniture and waiting for quiet. Send this checklist to whoever is coordinating on your side. For a project like this, see our corporate video service.

Two weeks before

• Confirm the date with everyone who will appear and with building management.
• Check building rules: filming permission, security passes, parking, loading access, working hours.
• Choose rooms for interviews: quiet, not too small, with a background that shows your workplace.
• Plan the B-roll: which teams, desks, meetings, screens and products should be seen.
• Tell staff that filming is planned and who will be on camera; give anyone the option not to appear.
• Prepare release forms for people who will be filmed.

The week before

• Send interview topics to speakers, not word-for-word scripts. See testimonial videos that sound natural.
• Share clothing advice: solid colours, no fine stripes, a spare top. Read about what to wear on camera.
• Check screens: prepare neutral or approved content for monitors and TVs.
• Book meeting rooms for the crew's base and equipment.
• Plan around confidential areas — finance, HR, client data, whiteboards.

The day before

• Tidy key spaces: clear desks of clutter, cables, personal items and paperwork.
• Remove or turn away confidential material.
• Check the lights: replace flickering or mismatched bulbs.
• Water the plants, clean glass walls and meeting tables.
• Confirm the schedule with speakers and team leaders.

On the day

Noise. Ask nearby teams to keep calls and conversations away from the interview room. Switch off noisy air conditioning, coffee machines and printers near the interview, if possible, and put a sign on the door.

People. Have one coordinator who knows everyone and can find the next speaker. Keep a printed schedule.

Space. Give the crew a room for equipment, and allow 30–60 minutes to set up lighting and sound for interviews.

Normal activity. The best B-roll is real work. Ask teams to carry on as usual, with a few planned moments: a meeting, a whiteboard session, a product demonstration.

A sample schedule

Senior speakers are usually best early, before their day fills up.

Health, safety and courtesy

• Keep walkways clear of cables and stands.
• Respect people who prefer not to be filmed.
• On sites and in warehouses, the crew follows the same safety rules as staff. Related: safety and induction videos.

Exteriors and arrival shots

The building, the entrance and the reception area set the scene. Check whether the building owner allows filming outside, and plan exterior shots for good light — early morning or late afternoon. More on this: choosing filming locations in Dubai.

Common mistakes

• Filming on a day when half the team is out.
• Forgetting a quiet room for interviews.
• Confidential screens and whiteboards in the background.
• No coordinator, so the crew waits for speakers.

Questions people ask

Do we need to close the office?

No. A good crew works around normal activity. Only the interview room needs to be quiet.

How much space does the crew need?

For interviews, a room of at least a medium meeting-room size works best, so the camera and lights can be placed at a distance.

How we film in offices

At Fat Cat Media we have filmed in offices, factories and venues across the UAE since 2012. We send a planning checklist, keep the crew small and work around your team's day. See our corporate video service.