Filming a Christmas advert In ONE DAY - Behind The Scenes with Stones Throw Media

Behind the Scenes of a One-Day Christmas Advert Shoot

When we were approached to create a Christmas advert, we were given a tight deadline—just one day to film everything. With so little time, the key to success was all in the planning. Here’s how we managed to pull it off, from pre-production to the final shot.

Step 1: Pre-Production is Everything

When you have just one day to film, pre-production is your best friend. We started by creating a storyboard to lay out the visual structure of the video. This evolved into a mood board to capture the overall vibe and style, leading to a pre-visualisation (pre-vis) video. We used stock images and clips for the pre-vis to get a sense of pacing, framing, and overall flow, giving us a bare-bones template to work with.

This step helped us answer some crucial questions:

• What do we need to film?

• How will we film it?

• What equipment do we need?

By the end of this process, we had a clear roadmap for scheduling everything for the shoot.

Step 2: Scheduling & Time Management

Once the planning was done, it was time to assign times to each shot on our shooting schedule. Knowing when to film each piece is crucial, especially when you’re working with a limited timeframe. For example, there’s a part in the video where we needed a dark factory setting. To achieve this, we had to wait for nightfall to get the right lighting. Planning the order of the shots ensured we could maximise the daylight and then transition to night-time scenes smoothly.

Step 3: Dressing the Set

Our set was an empty warehouse with just a few crates—definitely not the most festive space. But with some creativity and resourcefulness, we transformed it into a Christmas wonderland.

We made a list of props we needed:

• A huge Christmas tree

• Decorations (lights, tinsel, etc.)

• Other seasonal props to create that festive feel.

Getting the tree into the warehouse was no small feat—we had to use a forklift to move it in and out!

Pre-production made this part much smoother. Knowing exactly what we needed in advance meant we didn’t waste time scrambling for props or materials on the shoot day.

Step 4: Choosing the Right Gear

For a shoot like this, we needed to be fast and nimble. Given Mike’s… well, let’s just say “maturing” age, we opted for equipment that would be easy to handle but still deliver high-quality results.

We chose the Sony A7S III mounted on the RS3 Pro gimbal. The zoom lens allowed us to capture wide shots and close-ups without constantly swapping lenses.

One tool that made a huge difference from the start was the Atomos Ninja V. This device streamed a clean feed to an iPad so the crew and client could monitor the footage in real time. It helped keep everyone on the same page without huddling around the small camera monitor. It was especially useful for reassuring the client that we captured the right shots throughout the day.

Step 5: Lighting Magic

Lights are critical when filming, especially when creating a cosy, festive atmosphere. Without proper lighting, you might as well be filming in the dark. We started by using two large panel lights to flood the scene with a base layer of light. This helped us maintain a consistent level of brightness across the set.

We incorporated RGB lights to highlight certain areas to add depth and interest. These gave us subtle colour accents and helped brighten up spots that looked too dark.

Christmas lights were a must! We used string lights to bring that holiday warmth and charm into the scene. Small details like these make all the difference in creating a believable, festive environment.

We also used some practical lighting—lights that are part of the scene itself. For instance, we added a light by the front door to make it look like a natural part of the environment, and we placed a light inside the forklift cab to illuminate the driver without drawing too much attention.

Step 6: Directing People (And Animals!)

They say, “Never work with children or animals,” but in this shoot, we had both! Directing people who aren’t professional actors (or animals) can be a bit tricky, but there are a few tips we’ve learnt over the years:

• Clear Instructions: Clear instructions are key if your cast comprises trained actors or people with no acting experience. If someone doesn’t get it right the first time, don’t stress—it’s all part of the process.

• Be Open to Ideas: Sometimes, the best shots come from unexpected places. One of the best shots we got was an idea from one of the team members. It’s important to let go of your ego and be open to suggestions. You might just discover something better than what you envisioned.

• Stay Calm and Collected: This is one of the most important aspects of directing. If you’re stressed or panicked, the crew and clients will feel it, too. A calm demeanour helps everyone stay focused and confident.

• Refer Back to the Plan: When in doubt, look back at your storyboards, mood boards, and pre-vis videos. These decisions you made before you stepped onto the set, and they’ll guide you through any challenges.

Conclusion

Pulling off a one-day shoot for a Christmas advert was challenging but incredibly rewarding. With meticulous pre-production, careful planning, and a great team, we were able to create something special in record time.

If you found these behind-the-scenes insights helpful or have an idea for a video project, get in touch here. 

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