Giang Cao Tea

After discussing with the client, they mentioned they wanted two videos: one with a more corporate, real-estate approach, and the other a brand film showcasing their harvesting and manufacturing process. We tackled the brand film first, constructing a base narrative and a progression for the story from the resources they gave us. As these were not too detailed, and we could not access the location beforehand, we had to improvise from their words and the location-scouted images, which gave us room to cover any scenario we ran into on the day.

To structure the coverage, we began with aerial and wide shots that establish both the space and the ongoing action, then shifted to closer, detailed shots that focus on the journey of the tea. The narrative follows three clear stages: harvest, fabrication and cooking, and finally the finished product and customer experience. We created a demo lookbook featuring key visual references, specifically contrasting the cool green tones of the outdoor scenes with the warm orange interiors. This visual scheme guided the storytelling approach and was validated during camera tests, where we optimized equipment choices for the intended look.

With the planning set, and still without access to the location beyond a few images, since it sat high up in the mountains, we built a guided shot list. It gave the client something to work from and kept us on track. This also served as a system we could refer back to and confirm the coverage that we captured, and it gave the post-production workflow some structure. We built two, one for the brand film and one for the real estate video, marked for the two days of shooting.

Production began up on the hillsides with the locals, climbing the mountains as we captured their native harvesting methods, focusing on the details of the plant and their process. We also shot additional coverage, referencing the production documents as a safety net. Whenever we saw a moment or an action on the spot that could fit the storyline, we added it in. Throughout this phase, we were already thinking about the edit, knowing which shots to capture to guide the narrative and the viewer.

We followed the same steps in the kitchen. We demoed and planned the action with the tea maker, then set up the lighting for the room, developing it on the spot while directing her so we had enough coverage from every angle. This scene also called for the planned match cut, so it took precision in the framing and the sizing of the hands, aligning them identically with the next shot.

On the second day, we moved indoors to the shop, where we designed and set-dressed the room to fit the look we wanted. We aimed to hold the Giang Cao brand image while remembering this is a film, showcasing the process through a variety of takes, working with detail and a shallow depth of field to stay focused on following the tea. From there, we went room by room, using different movements with the elements inside to keep everything smooth and capture the feel and full look of the environment.