IdeaProductions: Russian video production company

Russian video production company

We specialize in producing audio and video content for television, radio, press, and other media. We work throughout the Russian Federation and across all stages of production.

You can entrust us with both a comprehensive shoot and assistance for your film crew while working in Russia.

What we do

Complete video production

Our key competencies in the area of Russian video content creation include:- classic interview shoots in Russian, English, or French (including multi-cam)- broadcast and documentary shoots;- filming of Russian news coverage: breaking news and events, running commentary, analytics, etc.- stock B-roll footage shot in Russia- drone shooting in Russia.

Depending on the task at hand, we will undertake the full cycle of production from finding actors, collecting pieces, and obtaining filming rights to shooting directly, editing, and translating pieces and subtitles.Our team comprises cameramen, screenwriters, sound engineers, and producers, and all communication can be carried out in English or French.

Preparing for your Russian video shoot

Your fixer in Russia

Location scouting in Russia

Searching for speakers and heroes

Fixer service in Russia, preparing shooting in Russia

Obtaining filming rights from the proper Russian authorities

As a rule, one does not need permission to shoot in public spaces. However, there are various grounds and facilities (Moscow's Red Square, for example) where permission is required. The same can be said for a number of regions throughout Russia, including the extreme North or Far East, for example (Chukotka, Kamchatka, and others).
We will help producers procure the proper permits and approvals necessary to film.

Drone shooting in Russia

As of 2017, drone filming is subject to approval from the proper authorities (regardless of what was shot and where — any drone shots must be approved). Unfortunately, this can be an incredibly bureaucratic and inconvenient process, but we will share all our expertise with you in solving these issues.

Foreign journalist accreditation at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Russian press visa for foreign journalists

Foreign journalist accreditation.
Journalists and directors must receive accreditation
from the Russian Foreign Ministry before filming.
This mainly concerns the filming of officials and
organizations (both governmental and public sector
institutions). As a rule, even at the early stages of
requesting an interview or potential shooting location,
you will be asked to provide accreditation.
And for other filming, it is still desirable to have such
an accreditation in order to avoid any formal issues in
the course of your work. As we are quite familiar with
the entire process of receiving accreditation from the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we will accompany you
every step of the way, including obtaining a press visa.

Journalist accreditation and press visa in Russia

During your Russian film shoot

A professional team at your disposal

We will provide a team of English-speaking professionals who will ensure a high-quality video shoot for your project:
- cameramen
- sound engineers
- lighters- technical assistants
- make-up artists
- English-Russian interpreters (consecutive or simultaneous)
- drivers, transport

All of our camera operators' equipment is up to the highest, modern standard.

Equipment rental for shooting in Russia

If necessary, equipment rental is available in Moscow and St. Petersburg (it's also available in other cities, but honestly speaking, choices are concentrated around the capitals). Considering the fact that Moscow is the transport hub of the country, we recommend renting everything necessary in Moscow before shooting in other parts of the country (in the Far East for example).

You can rent almost anything you need for your video shoot: cameras of all kinds, camera accessories (lenses, filters, batteries), lighting, sound equipment (microphones, lapel mics, audio recorders, etc.), stabilizers and tripods, director's monitors, etc.

After shooting in Russia

Footage screening and translation

Our team of English-Russian translators is well-versed in the specifics of translating audio and video (with verbatim translations, specific dialogue translations, and time-code arranging). You can count on us to translate your material from Russian to your target language.

Searching for footage in the Russian video archives

If your project is historical in nature, then it's likely you will need a selection of materials from Russian video libraries. We have experience working in video and photo archives, from selecting the material to acquiring the rights to use.

Our team

Dmitry Bulba, Director of IdeaProductions, is an experienced producer and documentarian. He is a graduate of the Marina Razbezhkina School of Documentary Films and the Russian Federation State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in screenwriting. Among the works he's produced are numerous television and radio broadcasts, news releases, documentary reports and films, investigative journalism pieces, and interviews.

Dmitry has filled a wide variety of roles based on specific request, including line producer, translator, fixer, and correspondent. We craft the right team depending on the task at hand.

Our portfolio

C’ dans l’air : Poutine, le maître du jeu

broadcast from October 17th, 2021 on France 5

Our team filmed several episodes for this program (in Moscow, Kirov, and Blagoveschensk). We also produced and carried out the shooting of an interview with the Russian president's Press Secretary, Dmitry Peskov. Camera, sound, fixing, and transport. Link

C' dans l'air sur France 5: Poutine le maître du jeu. Russian fixer

Russie / USA : Béring, le dernier rideau de glace

broadcast on October 21st, 2021 on the channel ARTE

Filming and production of the Russian part of the film in Chukotka.
Camera, sound, fixing, transport, and translation.
For Hikari productions.
Link

Envoyé spécial. Beyrouth : une bombe au cœur de la ville

broadcast from November 12th, 2020 on France 2

Remote filming, search for witnesses and speakers responsible for the tragedy from the Russian side.
Interview translation.

Link

Envoyé spécial on France 2. Russian fixer

Complément d'enquête. Hackers : les nouveaux braqueurs

broadcast from January 28th, 2021 on France 2
Filming the Russian portion of the broadcast (Moscow): search for characters, production and filming, interviews.
Camera, sound, fixing, and transport

Link

Complément d'enquête on France 2, Russian fixer

Envoyé spécial. Sexe, chantage et vidéo.

broadcast from November 9th, 2017 on France 2

Investigation reportage filmed in Russia (Moscow and Irkutsk): fixing, translating, investigations.

Link

Envoyé spécial: Sexe, chantage et vidéo. Shooting in Russia

Viktor Boulgakov, survivant du Goulag

Article published in Paris Match on 1st of January 2022

Translation and interpreting in Moscow

Link

Rewild, la nature reprend ses droits, documentary

broadcast from 6 of February of 2022 on a M6 channel (France)

The episode was shoot by IdeaProductions crew in Siberia, Yakutia republic: fixing, translating, camera, sound, logistic management.
Link

Shooting in Russia for M6, Russian fixer

Espionnes, film about 4 ex-agents of secret services

broadcast from May, 2022 on BrutX channel (France)

The Russian episode was shoot by IdeaProductions crew in Moscow and fully managed on all stages: location scouting, transport, equipment rental, simultaneous translation, camera, sound.
Link