Love Taupō

Making an ambitious idea achievable.

Promotional campaign film designed to position Taupō as a summer destination travellers would actively choose on its own merits.

Roles / Capabilities

Creative Development, Scriptwriting, Stakeholder Alignment, Directing, Production Planning, Creative Logistics, Cast Direction, Editorial Direction, Post-production Supervision

The Brief

Objective

Help change travellers’ perception of Taupō so that they would choose it as a destination in its own right rather than primarily as a closer alternative to destinations farther away.

Challenge

We were given a high-level creative concept that was extremely ambitious. I needed to develop a shootable script and storyboard that could be delivered on time and under budget.

Key Constraints

10 locations over 2 shoot days, stormy October weather, long travel between locations, and keeping our lead actor dripping wet throughout the entire shoot.

The Process

Storyboard 01

Final frame

01 — Translate the concept

Make It Filmable

We were given an ambitious high-level creative concept, but it had not yet been translated into something that could actually be shot. My job was to turn that ambition into a detailed storyboard and production plan without losing what made the idea exciting.

Storyboard 01 → finished frame

Design It Before Shooting It

Composition, action and practical production decisions were resolved in advance, so time on set could be spent executing rather than solving the concept from scratch.

Storyboard 02

Final frame

02 — Build the system

Repeat Across The Campaign

The same thinking was applied across the wider film: ambitious creative ideas became specific, executable decisions before production began.

Locations

Shoot days

03 — Production reality

On Time, Under Budget

Outrunning storm clouds, pneumonia and time itself, in the end we got over the line.

The Solution

Solution

Establish a creative flow that allowed for 1 or 2 setups per location. Use exterior locations sparingly and for maximum effect and schedule vulnerable exterior material early enough to allow rescheduling where needed. Most of all, plan, plan, plan.

Ownership Summary

Took the existing high-level creative concept and developed a shootable script and storyboard. Directed cast and crew over the two-day shoot in Taupō. Oversaw post-production right through to final delivery to the client.

Outcome

The ad was completed on time and under budget, with scenes to spare. The final result received very positive feedback.

Attribution

Client

Love Taupō

Agency

ODV (working through Make Collective)

Production Company

ODV

Watch the full ad

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