A Day in the Life of a Mumbai Brand Film Crew: Hustle, Heat, and Hype

Every shoot is unique and fun in its own way. Some shoots challenge you to your limit, while others float by in a breezy dream. Our latest shoot was a mix of both. We faced some challenges along the way but the ultimate result left everyone feeling very happy.

If you want to know what a day in the life of a Mumbai Brand film crew looks like, join us as we take you on a journey through our shoot, from wake-up to wrap-up.

Lights, Camera, Chai!

'Mumbai doesn't sleep' is a common saying that you will hear time and time again if you live in the city. The saying holds especially true for those belonging to any creative field of work. Actors, writers, directors, editors, we all come alive in the night. A 1 to 2 am Chai break at Nagori tea House is very on-brand for this production team.

With that in mind, you would assume that a late morning is a given. A late night in tow, this crew was up and ready for the day at 8. Not quite early enough to beat the morning traffic but enough to get a head start on the day.

Loading all our equipment in our trusty vehicle took a few trips. All loaded up and ready, we headed out to brave the Mumbai office hour. Complaints about the heavy humidity were our car conversation. Humidity or not morning tea is a must. So there we are stopping at a tea stall for the first buzz of the morning.

Finding System In Chaos

At the shoot location, the crew swarms into action. The setup is underway and our team is hard at work. Camera setting, shoot setup, light placement, the chaos is real but we find our own system within it. With the setup in place, we are ready to get started with a day of productive shooting.

Meeting The Locals

Oomph Artworks crew meets the locals during the brand shoot.

Outdoor shoots in Mumbai are always unpredictable. You never know who you'll end up meeting. In our case, some really cute stray dogs wandered in to check up on the shoot. While we would have happily entertained the rambunctious bunch for the entire day, we did have a shoot to get on with.

We also got visits from curious local kids who wanted to know everything about what we were doing. These little hinderances aside, we start the shoot without a lot of hiccups.

The Heat is On

By mid-day the heat is sweltering and pressure is high. The crew is deep in the grind now. Shirts are soaked, sunscreen is melting, and the camera feels like it weighs a ton.

Somewhere in the chaos, our crew works diligently to provide an outstanding product for the client. Welcome to midday madness on a Mumbai shoot. It's part pressure cooker, part skills, and part going with the flow.

Lunch Break

Catching a break from the blistering sun for a bit, the team breaks for lunch. This is just a time to eat and plan on the go, though. We discuss the next shots, charge up the batteries, scribble any last-minute changes and get ready to hustle again.

Golden Hour

The golden hour is the perfect time to have an outdoor shoot. The natural light is gorgeous, and it is the best time frame to capture that outdoors magic. Time is limited though and the team really needs to hurry to get those vibrant shots. In the end, we end up with some stunning footage that is well worth the hustle.

That’s a Wrap

With the last of the daylight fading, the shoot is coming to a close. We pack up the gear and get ready to leave. The process is far from over though. There will be many discussions over many cups of Chai as we edit the footage into usable content for the client.

Reflections Over Chai

We are back at our old haunt for a last cup of tea to wind down the day. The crew might be tired and a bit done with the heat but we are proud of the day's work. Many a discussions are held over the cup of tea, but it is now time for this team to head back to the office and then head back home.

Let us in on your typical work day in the comments below.

We hope you will consider Oomph Artworks for your next cinematic adventure.