Marching To The Royal Marines' Beat
Captive Minds took on a very exciting project last year: raising awareness of Commando 999 - former Royal Marines now working in the emergency services, who raise money for the Royal Marines Association. Their biggest annual event is the Speedmarch - marching and jogging through central London - and Captive Minds asked me to video the event for publicity and posterity.
The first task was to consider the story we were trying to tell - the grit and determination of former Royal Marines, many not in top condition, who will undertake an immense challenge as part of the camaraderie of the Royal Marine Corps. The second element was tying this in with the physical story of the day - the journey from The Mall, via Downing St and the Olympic Park, to the finish line in Pall Mall and a remembrance service at The Glasper Memorial.
Simon Bright, of Captive Minds, identified the key spokespeople, and I used the prep time to chat to as many participants as possible, getting Vox-Pops and identifying strong characters. Captive Minds Special Projects Director, Alex Rayner, drove in heroic, Ronin-esque fashion through the streets of London, in pursuit of 40 chaps in green and white whilst avoiding the Lord Mayor's Parade. We dashed East towards the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (the first people allowed onto the Park since the London 2012 Games) and onto the finish line.
After the event, it was a matter of piecing the story together, and selecting the best Vox-Pops. The result is below. I'd love to hear your thoughts and comments.