Going Live : Streaming the Massive Woodturning Weekender with Chestnut Products

Earlier this month, the Offset Films crew packed up our broadcasting gear and headed down to the spectacular Steam Museum in Swindon. Our mission? To deliver a full, action-packed two-day livestream for Chestnut Products’ annual Woodturning Weekender.

If you're not familiar with the woodturning world, this event is a massive highlight in the calendar! It brings together passionate hobbyists, professional makers, clubs, and traders from all over the UK. From incredible live demonstrations by exceptionally skilled turners of all ages to the buzzing trade stalls, it is a fantastic celebration of craft, creativity, and connection.

STEAM - Museum of Great Western Railway

Bringing the Event to the Whole World

While the atmosphere in Swindon was electric, Terry from Chestnut Products knows that not everyone can make the trip in person. Accessibility has always been at the heart of his vision. That’s why the Woodturning Weekender moves to a new location every year, and—most importantly—why it’s streamed live for viewers watching from the comfort of their own homes.

Demonstrator Andy Matthews on stage at the Woodturning Weekender

From Simple Stream to Full TV Production -When we first teamed up with Chestnut Products a few years back, the livestream was a relatively straightforward broadcast of the main stage. Fast forward to today, and it has evolved into something huge—essentially functioning like a professional, two-day live TV programme!

This year’s broadcast had a lot of moving parts, including:

• Main Stage Action: Every single live demonstration streamed in full high definition.

• Our Pop-Up Studio: A dedicated studio area for sit-down interviews with demonstrators and special guests.

• Roving Reporters: Live field reporting, interviewing clubs and traders across the massive venue floor.

• Pre-Recorded Magic: Seamlessly mixing in sponsor content, look-backs at favourite moments from past shows, and a fantastic two-part Chestnut Products tutorial hosted by their newest recruit, Nathanael Griffiths.

Nathanael's pre-recorded tutorial

Creating a Two-Way Conversation

What we love most about this livestream is how interactive it is. It isn’t just a one-way broadcast; we integrated a live chat where viewers from hundreds of miles away could ask questions in real time. Our team then passed those questions directly to the demonstrators on stage!

With viewers sending in photos of their own workshops and actively chatting throughout the weekend, the stream felt incredibly community-driven. It truly felt like everyone was in the same room.

Mel from Chestnut products interviewing one of the many traders

More Than Just a Weekend: Building Lasting Value

For Chestnut Products, the benefits of this livestream extend way past the final wrap on Sunday afternoon. The two days of broadcast generate an absolute goldmine of content—giving them high-quality promotional clips for next year’s event and endless social media snippets that highlight their position as industry leaders.

It’s always a privilege for us to work on such a unique project. Celebrating a passionate community alongside a client committed to innovation makes our jobs incredibly rewarding.

Terry in the Studio interviewing an attendee

Could Your Next Event Go Live?

Whether you are planning a corporate conference, a music festival, a sports match, or a local community gathering, livestreaming is the ultimate way to break down geographical barriers, extend your reach, and create lasting content.

If you want to turn your next event into a polished, professional broadcast that engages audiences both in the room and at home, your local team at Offset Films is ready to help you plan it from script to screen.

Get in Contact Today