The University of Reading offers an industry-leading meal plan system, designed to provide students with healthy, balanced meals, while supporting their academic success. To promote this initiative, they needed a short, engaging video that highlighted both the health and educational benefits of a meal plan.

 

The video was part of their wider meal plan and student recruitment campaign. From the outset, it was clear that storytelling would be key, showcasing real experiences rather than just listing facts.

 

Pre-Production: Planning the Narrative

Before picking up a camera, I spent time researching, storyboarding, and scripting to ensure we had a clear direction that aligned with the university’s goals. We decided to tell the story through the people who experience the meal plan daily. This included students and a slightly reluctant (but brilliant) Executive Chef!

 

Filming: A Three-Day Production

To keep the shoot organised and efficient, we split the production into three structured days:

📍 Day 1 – Recording the Narrative
We filmed the core interviews, setting the foundation for the story. This was a controlled, scripted setup, ensuring we captured all key messages.

📍 Day 2 – Student Life & Dining Experience
The focus shifted to capturing students in the dining halls, recreating the bustling energy of real mealtimes. Careful planning ensured we had the right lighting, composition, and spacing, allowing us to create a natural yet cinematic feel.

📍 Day 3 – The Food Itself
The university chefs took centre stage, preparing signature dishes that showcased the variety and quality of meals available. Unlike the previous structured days, this was a fast-paced “run-and-gun” gimbal shoot, capturing dynamic, fluid shots of food in motion. This contrast in filming styles gave the final edit a rich and engaging visual variety.

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The Key Lesson: Story Comes First

This project reinforced something I always tell clients—no matter how formal a video needs to be, story is always the most important element. Even when delivering key information, an engaging narrative will keep the audience watching until the very end.