Instinctive Media collaborating with OAT Productions: A Night Shoot with Humberside Police
- Cowley33
- Mar 2
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 30
When you run your own production company, you're used to wearing every hat. But sometimes, stepping into someone else’s project offers a refreshing change and a chance to simply focus on the craft. That’s exactly what happened when I was invited by OAT Productions (Omar and Tarik) to help film supporting coverage for their latest project with Humberside Police.
My Role in the Project
My role on the night was third shooter support. I had been recommended to OAT by another creative in Hull, and they were looking for an extra camera operator who could take some of the pressure off on a live, run-and-gun shoot. Omar and Tarik were working as A and B cam, but the event had multiple things happening at once, with groups moving through in waves. While they focused on interviews and more planned coverage, I was there to capture the B-roll and in-between moments that help the story feel complete. I also offered to drive, which meant we could use my car as a practical base for kit and move quickly between checkpoints across the Yorkshire Wolds.
The shoot was centred around the Humberside Police Night Challenge (March 2025). Groups of around 5 to 10 arrived roughly every 15 minutes, signed up, collected kit, grabbed food, then moved into briefing rooms for introductions and map reading. While Omar and Tarik focused on interviews and planned sequences, I floated between the moving parts, capturing the moments that would otherwise be missed and helping the story feel complete. I was brought in to support with handheld coverage and aerial drone footage, plus the flexibility to be wherever the next useful moment was happening. That mattered even more because Omar and Tarik knew there would be points in the evening where interviews were taking priority while the wider event continued around them. Having me there meant those live moments were still being covered rather than missed. I also offered to step in on the drone side, as OAT were still fairly new to flying drones at the time and, with this being a night shoot, the Air 3 was better suited to the low-light conditions than a smaller drone would have been.
What the Project Involved
The Night Challenge is a unique experience. Participants walked for many miles through the night, completing challenges devised by partner agencies to build relationships and increase awareness of issues such as personal safety and teamwork. The shoot was set to begin in the late afternoon and continue well into the early hours, meaning lighting and conditions would shift throughout.
Instinctive Media was tasked with supporting coverage. For this, I used a Canon R6 paired with a Sigma 24-70mm f2.8 lens, shooting in a run-and-gun style to adapt to the changing circumstances of the event. As daylight faded, a SmallRig RC 60b LED COB light was used to help maintain quality in low light. Anticipating creative needs, I also offered to include drone footage filmed with a DJI Air 3 at no extra cost, to give the edit additional cinematic options.
The biggest challenge for me was deciding what not to bring. Overnight shoots can tempt you into taking every light, lens, and accessory, but you lose speed the moment you are hopping in and out of a car and trekking across fields. I kept it simple: the R6 on a cage, 24 to 70 for flexibility, and a SmallRig light with a silicone diffuser mounted directly to the rig so the setup stayed fast and consistent. Being able to dial in Kelvin and run the light at very low power in eco mode meant I could keep the scene looking natural without turning it into “lit footage.” I had the gimbal packed if I needed it, plus spare batteries, a power bank, a cleaning kit, a couple of lens options, and the drone.
A faster lens could have helped in places, but going below f2.8 usually means primes, and swapping primes in moving situations is where you miss the action. With controlled light on the rig, the zoom gave me the shot variety I needed without slowing the team down.
When Reality Changed the Plan
Partway through the shoot, I overheard a conversation between an adult and another staff member that made me pause. We had been working on the understanding that everyone attending had been made aware of a camera crew and that participation covered permission to film. I double-checked there and then, and it turned out that several of the early groups were not meant to be on camera.
By that point, we had already captured key footage from the start of the event. Omar and Tarik needed to move straight into the interviews, so I quickly asked what they had already covered, matched that against the shots I knew I had, and then looped back through the incoming groups to re-capture the essential intro moments. That meant we could cover what was missing across all three cameras while they kept the interviews on schedule. It also helped us avoid running too far past our intended finish time or disrupting staff who had other responsibilities on the night beyond being interviewed.
How Instinctive Media and OAT Worked Together
One of the standout things about this project was the collaborative atmosphere. Even when plans changed, there was no stress or discord, only practical problem-solving. OAT Productions took lead responsibility for editing the final material, and to support that process I chose to shoot in log format and apply my own conversion workflow. This took extra effort on my side, but it meant delivering cleaner, more flexible footage that allowed Omar and Tarik more creative options in post-production.
Why This Matters to Clients and Collaborators
Collaborations like this show clients not just technical skill but the way Instinctive Media approaches real-world challenges. The ability to adapt quickly, to think creatively under pressure, and to remain calm when the unexpected occurs is just as important as any piece of equipment. By focusing on what was needed on the day and offering additional value where possible, this project has become a strong example of professional collaboration on a complex brief.
If you are another production company or agency looking for support on a shoot that involves outdoor conditions, long hours, night work, or dynamic environments, Instinctive Media would welcome the opportunity to collaborate. I enjoy shoots that test technique, environment, and creative thinking, and am happy to work closely with others to bring a project to life from start to finish.
Final Thoughts
This was my first time filming alongside emergency services and police, and my first proper taste of a full overnight shoot in unpredictable conditions. I loved it. It confirmed what I’ve been feeling for a while. I want to lean more into outdoor, adventure, and challenge-based filming. If your next project involves long hours, late nights, or hard-to-reach locations, I’d love to be part of it.
Working with OAT Productions was a reminder that good things happen when professionals collaborate, stay adaptable, and aim to elevate each other’s work. I’m looking forward to the next opportunity like this.
That night reinforced three things: pack light, stay mobile, and ask the awkward question early, because it only takes one missed detail around permissions to turn a good shoot into a headache.
Humberside Police - Night Challenge 2025
Oat Productions Review :
"Working with Matt from Instinctive Media was an absolute pleasure. He was very easy to work with and really knew his stuff. As a video production company ourselves, it is important that we have people we can rely on when we need an extra pair of hands on a shoot. Matt went above and beyond our expectations and we will definitely be using his services again in the future."
FAQ's
What was Instinctive Media’s role on this shoot?
Instinctive Media supported OAT Productions as third shooter on the Humberside Police Night Challenge shoot, helping cover the event with handheld footage, drone footage, and the flexibility to capture useful moments happening outside of the main interview setups.
Why was having a third shooter valuable on the night?
Because the event was live, spread across multiple locations, and constantly moving. While OAT Productions focused on interviews and planned sequences, Instinctive Media could capture B-roll, arrivals, departures, and the in-between moments that helped make the final story feel complete.
What challenge came up during filming, and how was it handled?
Partway through the shoot, it became clear that some early attendees were not meant to be on camera. Rather than let that disrupt the night, Instinctive Media quickly checked what had already been covered, matched it against the footage already captured, and helped re-cover the key opening moments while interviews continued. That helped keep the shoot moving without pushing too far past the intended finish time.
What kind of projects is Instinctive Media well suited to support?
This shoot is a good example of the kind of work Instinctive Media is well suited to support: live events, outdoor productions, night shoots, moving-location coverage, and collaborative projects where adaptability, mobility, and calm problem-solving matter just as much as camera operation.
Comments