Behind the Scenes of an ESSENCE Shoot with Kofi Siriboe in New Orleans
Filming on location for ESSENCE in New Orleans. Photo by @theibbyali.
I recently had the opportunity to provide local production support for an ESSENCE magazine video shoot with actor Kofi Siriboe at his home in New Orleans. Kofi is known for playing Ralph Angel Bordelon in Queen Sugar and appearing in Girls Trip. I spent about 10 hours filming alongside my friend and fellow filmmaker Leonard, moving through different locations inside the house to create distinct looks for the story.
ESSENCE’s feature, “A Newfound Home,” explores Kofi’s connection to New Orleans and his vision for a creative home for local artists. The accompanying “Of The ESSENCE: Kofi Siriboe” video brings that story to the screen.
Building each setup around the home
Filming in a home meant adapting each setup to the space. Over the day, we worked in different areas of the house and shaped the light to suit each shot. We used lights along with modifiers and diffusers, adjusting the setup as we moved from one location to another.
The behind-the-scenes photos show parts of that process: preparing and operating cameras, working with the lighting on set, and capturing moments between takes. A finished interview or editorial video may look effortless, but each frame depends on careful coordination between the people in front of and behind the camera.
Collaboration on set
I was glad to work alongside Leonard, the filmmaker behind Bbryant Films. A collaborative crew helps the production keep moving as the team changes setups and works through the day.
I’m also grateful to photographer @theibbyali for documenting the shoot. The BTS photos offer another perspective on the work that went into creating the final piece.
Local video production support in New Orleans
This project is a good example of how local production support can help an editorial team work on location in New Orleans. NOLA Video Krewe provides video production support for editorial, corporate, event, and brand projects in New Orleans and the surrounding area.
If your team is planning a shoot in the city, explore our video production services or get in touch about your project.
Behind-the-scenes photography by @theibbyali.