Behind the Scenes: Filming Franklin Through The Years
Filming Franklin Through The Years at Franklin College was an incredible experience—one that allowed us to capture the rich history and vibrant spirit of the institution. Over the course of two days, we conducted six interviews and gathered b-roll around campus, crafting a visual story that reflects the essence of Franklin College.
Our main interview location was the Neapolitan Alumni House, a beautiful, 100+ year-old home that serves as a guest house for visiting dignitaries and special guests. The building’s historic charm gave each interview a unique and elegant backdrop, helping to visually ground the film in the college’s long-standing traditions.
Prepping for the Shoot
A successful shoot starts well before the cameras roll. In pre-production, we worked closely with Franklin College’s team to coordinate interview subjects, scout locations, and plan the best time of day to capture ideal lighting. Because we were filming in a historic home, we had to be mindful of space constraints and power sources while setting up our gear. Our goal was to make each interview look distinct while maintaining a cohesive visual style.
Interview Setup & Camera Gear
We filmed all interviews with a two-camera setup in 6K resolution, giving us plenty of flexibility to reframe shots in post while maintaining a 4K final deliverable.
A Camera: BMD URSA G2 with a Fujinon 20-120mm PL Cine Zoom, providing a cinematic depth of field and allowing for versatile framing.
B Camera: BMD Pocket Cinema 6K with a vintage Leica 50mm lens, mounted on a motorized slider. The subtle movement from the slider added a dynamic, polished feel to the interviews.
One of the biggest challenges in filming at the Neapolitan Alumni House was managing the natural light streaming in through its large windows. While natural light can be beautiful, it needs to be controlled to avoid inconsistencies between shots.
Lighting Approach
To ensure a soft, flattering look, we used a combination of powerful lights and diffusion:
Aperture 1200D as the key light, allowing us to use multiple layers of diffusion for a natural, cinematic feel.
Quasar Science tubes and Litepanels Astras to shape and fill the background, adding depth and separation.
8x8 silk diffusion frame to soften the incoming window light and create an even, balanced look.
With these tools, we were able to maintain visual consistency across all interviews while still making use of the unique textures and depth of the historic setting.
Photographs: Visual History Through the Archive
In place of traditional b-roll, we wanted to tell the story of Franklin College through the lens of its past. Our team carefully curated and scanned hundreds of photographs from archival sources, including yearbooks, newspapers, film negatives, and old college publications.
These images serve as a powerful visual thread, connecting the personal stories shared in interviews with the broader historical narrative of the college. From black-and-white portraits to candid snapshots of campus life, each image adds depth and emotion to the film, helping to paint the interviews with the textures and tones of the era being discussed.
The result is a documentary that feels grounded in history—not just through the words of those who lived it, but through the very images that defined it.
Wrapping Up
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the generous support of Franklin College, which allowed us to take over the Neapolitan Alumni House and provided access to some fantastic locations across campus. The combination of a beautiful setting, carefully crafted lighting, and top-tier cinematography ensured that Franklin Through The Years will be a visually stunning documentary that does justice to the institution’s history and impact.
We’re excited to bring everything together in post-production and can’t wait to share the final film. Stay tuned for more updates!