Making it work: Adapting to unexpected challenges in video production

Design challenges come in many forms, and some of the most rewarding projects are also the most unpredictable. One of my most complex and demanding projects was directing and producing a 25-minute Key Opinion Leader (KOL) discussion between two healthcare professionals (HCPs) on COVID-19 vaccinations. While every project has its hurdles, this one threw a unique set of logistical, creative, and technical challenges my way—from last-minute cancellations to a fragmented production timeline, shifting studios, and outdated data requiring extensive revisions.

Despite these setbacks, the project was successfully delivered, thanks to adaptability, collaboration, and strategic problem-solving. In this post, I’ll break down the challenges faced, the solutions applied, and the key learnings I took away from this intense but rewarding experience.

One of the most challenging design problems I faced involved directing and executing a 25-minute Key Opinion Leader (KOL) discussion between two healthcare professionals (HCPs) about COVID-19 vaccinations, how the virus was evolving and the importance of vaccinations.

I joined the project late, stepping in to direct the first shoot without having seen the final storyboard, which was still being finalised. This created an immediate challenge of aligning the direction with an evolving creative vision.

On the day of the shoot, flight cancellations prevented one HCP from attending. To keep the project moving, I directed the first half of the discussion with the present HCP, ensuring we could seamlessly integrate the second participant later. However, due to scheduling issues, the second shoot was delayed by over a month. During this time, the studio we initially used closed down, requiring us to find a new studio with different equipment, props, and lighting—adding a layer of complexity to maintaining continuity.

When we finally filmed the second half, I had to reconcile footage from two vastly different setups. This included directing the HCPs to interact with the virtual screen we planned to add in post-production, ensuring their gestures, movements, and dialogue aligned with the animations and content we envisioned. This was especially challenging given the continuity issues between shots, such as changes in their positions, movements, and lighting. We had to address these discrepancies meticulously in post-production through dubbing, keying, and refining transitions.

Adding to the complexity, the video incorporated animated charts and data visualisations, which required close collaboration between animation and editorial teams. As we neared completion, a critical update emerged—the data discussed in the video was now outdated.

This required us to revisit all footage, cut out outdated segments, re-edit the video, and animate updated visuals while maintaining the original narrative flow. This iterative process involved further dubbing, retiming animations, and ensuring the updated content was seamlessly integrated.

Despite these setbacks, we delivered the final video on time, much to the relief and appreciation of the client.

Adaptability is everything – No project goes exactly as planned, but being flexible and solution-oriented ensures that progress continues despite obstacles.

Communication is key – Keeping stakeholders informed and collaborating closely with the team helped us overcome challenges and make the right decisions under pressure.

Post-production Can save a shoot but pre-planning is best – Careful editing, keying, and dubbing played a crucial role in reconciling inconsistencies between different shoots and locations. However, a significant portion of this can be remedied by more extensive planning

Always plan for change – In fast-moving sectors like healthcare, data evolves quickly. Having contingency plans and a streamlined revision process is crucial.

Resilience leads to success – Despite the hurdles, we delivered a high-quality final product, proving that patience, problem-solving, and teamwork can turn challenges into achievements.