Oxford Film student involved in Stagecoach’s attempt to break a Guinness World Record

By Anon - 19 July 2018

General

By Ben Morris

Callum John recently had the fantastic opportunity to be part of Stagecoach’s attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the most simultaneous performances of one show.

To mark their 30y ear anniversary, the international performing arts school decided to coordinate with over 150 schools across the UK, Germany and Canada to put on simultaneous productions of Beauty and the Beast last month.

 

One fundamental aspect of undertaking a world record attempt is providing crucial evidence to send to adjudicators at Guinness World Records. This is where SAE Oxford’s very own Callum John came in. Callum’s company, Oxon Filmworks, that he works at alongside his father and brother, were hired by Stagecoach to help out with the world record attempt in Oxfordshire. They were tasked with shooting the live performances of Beauty and the Beast at three separate Stagecoach schools in Oxfordshire: in Botley, Kidlington and Summertown.

 

Talking about the experience, Callum said: “This has been another step in a long line of steps in my career. It was a really fun day to be a part of.”

 

Despite having filmed many live performances for Stagecoach Oxfordshire before, this project required a lot more planning, coordination and man-power than usual. With the help of additional kit from SAE Oxford and two junior cinematographers to bolster their team, they managed to formalise a logistical plan for the day.

 

“It was like having the same amount of cake, but having to share it between a larger group of friends. We had to find a different way of cutting it to make it work,” Callum told us.

 

The simultaneous performances took place on Sunday 1 July at 6pm (BST) and it was imperative that Callum and his colleagues provided clear evidence that each of the three Oxfordshire schools began their production at the exact time. In order to provide proof, they started recording at 5:55pm and proceeded to hold a digital clock in front of the camera until the performance began at 6pm precisely.

 

“We’ve been doing live shows for years, but this had a fun bit of pressure attached to it,” Callum explained. “There had to be no cuts throughout the entire show. Even if we zoomed in once, we failed. It was that precise.”

 

Even though Callum and his team only had the responsibility of three performances out of over 150, it was still crucial that they fulfilled their role and that their film was eligible as evidence for the Guinness World Records - an added pressure that certainly weighed on their shoulders.

But Callum is not one to shy away from a project, in fact, his enthusiasm for taking on new challenges and developing his filmmaking talent is undeniable. With a background in musical theatre and acting having attended Stagecoach himself as a youngster, Callum developed a love of filmmaking at the age of 13 which has blossomed into his current role at Oxon Filmworks and his study of Digital Film Production at SAE Oxford.

 

Callum commented: “I like making things. I like being creative: telling stories and making something to show.”

 

This project in particular had personal significance for Callum, as not only did he attend Stagecoach until he was 18, they were also the first company to offer him the job of filming a live performance. Talking about his role in assisting with the World Record attempt, he said:

 

“It was my way of contributing back to the company that I owe a lot to. Stagecoach was the first company to hire me as a person to do this skill which has allowed me to pursue the career I wanted to do.”

 

So what’s next?

 

“It went really well. The event itself was brilliant. All we have to do now is hope that they’ve actually broken the record,” Callum said. “It was one of the most interesting days I’ve had doing live cinematography because it was about more than just the final product, it was about breaking that World Record.”

 

With one project done and dusted, Callum still has plenty more in the pipeline to keep him busy. He’s currently shooting a music video for an indie pop artist, set to be the videographer/photographer and shoot promotional material for an upcoming theatre production, all while planning his Major Project at SAE Oxford - a 90 minute period drama/neo-noir Cold War thriller.

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