FilmKode capability
Live Video Calls for Film & TV Props
Two characters on a video call, both on set, both shot live, both phones showing the other person in frame — that's what FilmKode does. No comping the other end in post, no green-screen tricks, no actor mouthing to nobody.
Why this is hard to do well
A real video call has motion, latency, audio sync, lighting differences, network jitter — all the visual signals a viewer reads as "real" without thinking about it. Faking it in post-production is expensive and rarely convincing. Shooting it live solves the eyeline problem and the performance problem in one move, but only if the technical rig holds together under the pressure of a film set.
What we provide end-to-end
- Local on-set network (no internet dependency — works in any location)
- Custom video call app — runs on both ends, branded as whatever the script requires
- Multi-cam coordination: both call ends can be in different rooms, on different stages, or in different locations entirely
- Frame-accurate audio + video sync so reaction shots cut together cleanly
- On-floor control: AD/script can mute, drop the call, glitch the signal on cue
- Backup units pre-paired so a dropped take never kills the day
- A FilmKode crew member on set throughout the shoot week
Typical setups
A common scene: one character takes the call in a kitchen, the other on a hospital corridor, two units shooting simultaneously. Our system has both actors looking at and reacting to each other live. Director cuts between cameras knowing the eyelines work.
Selected work
- Departure (2019)
- Scoop (2024)
- Code of Silence (2025)
- The Crow Girl (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- Do you need both call ends in the same building?
- No. Same studio is simplest, but we routinely run calls between separate stages or locations using our own private bonded link. The actors see each other live regardless of geography.
- What about audio? Don't headphones break the shot?
- For dialogue-heavy calls, in-ear earwigs handle the audio for the actor without anything visible on camera. The boom captures the room; the call audio is laid in clean from our system in post if needed.
- Can you do glitchy / failing calls — pixelation, freeze frames, drops?
- Yes. These are scripted effects, controllable from the floor. We can drop frames, induce a freeze, simulate poor signal, or kill the call entirely on cue — and recover on cue too.
- How is this different from just using Zoom or FaceTime?
- Production-grade reliability, full visual control, no Zoom/FaceTime branding on screen, and the ability to script every aspect of the call (timing, signal quality, glitches, who joins when). We also control the camera-facing video stream so the lighting on the other end matches the scene.
- How quickly can you pre-pair and tech-prep the rig?
- A typical rig is ready in a few days of prep. For complex multi-end calls with three or more characters, 1-2 weeks of prep is comfortable. We always tech-rehearse on set the day before camera day.
Bring this to your production
Get in touch via our contact form with the production name, your role, the brief, and a rough shoot window. We reply within one working day to UK production enquiries.