Viper Marketing & Communications Group

Communication Planning on the Casualty Set

Author: Jim Hardcastle

Jim has helped organisations and groups communicate more effectively for nearly 20 years. His background in the countryside and rural sectors provide him with a wealth of experience. Fueled by coffee with Post-Its at the ready, he’s here to help .

‘Same energy levels but no real crushing!’ The Director of Casualty, BBC’s Saturday night medical drama spoke clearly to the 100 extras in the nightclub. Dotted amongst them and shielding the main actors was myself and other members of Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue. This was a real lesson in 'communication planning'.

A&SSAR has had a long standing relationship with Casualty, filmed in and around Bristol, they have called upon the expertise of the organisation many times. For this particular episode a surging crowd leads to crush injuries. To ensure there was no real crush, strategically placed team members were in the crowd to call a halt to proceedings should anyone trip or the situation get out of hand.

Expecting to be concealed in the large crowd, some team members, including myself, found themselves having to do 'proper' acting as they were the first line of defence, shielding the main actors and in full view of the cameras. The real value of asking A&SSAR members to help in scenes like this, where no real technical skill was required, is the existing level of communication built up through training and call-outs. Thorough planning and rehearsals, supported by a team with strong mutual trust, ensured the days filming went smoothly. Few words needed to be spoken between us. In fact few words could be spoken as it was so noisy at some points. 

The real lesson in communication planning came from the different directors though. The main director only spoke to the leading actors, a second director spoke to us and the crew and a third director spoke to all the extras. It seemed ridiculous at points as one director spoke to another to speak to us while only a few centimetres away! It worked though. After an hour or so you knew the voice you were listening for and they knew who to look for. Audience planning at work. 

However, I'm not sure all those people on the set would survive budget cutbacks! 

Although characterised by being slightly taller and in most cases twenty years older than the ‘nightclub-goers’ we blended in well. The episode is due to be screened on November 6th. Fees for the day will go towards supporting the on-going costs of Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue.

For more pictures of my day out click here

- Posted on Monday 12 Jul 2010 at 12:35 by Jim Hardcastle

Tags: audience (33), avon & somerset (6), bristol (28), communication planning (21), effective (4), jim hardcastle (33), market segmentation (7), search and rescue (9), segmentation (6), target audiences (7)