There’s something about a horse-drawn carriage ride that feels timelessly romantic. And that’s precisely the feeling Jones Advertising set out to capture for Ben Bridge Jeweler. We wanted this commercial to feel as if we were watching a scene from 1920 or 2020. But more importantly, that viewers aspire to “be” the romantic couple they see.
To accomplish this task, Jones Advertising headed to Seattle’s Occidental Park. Its classic architecture, cobblestone streets, and historic surroundings made it the perfect setting. Teaming up with director Ron Gross and Blue Goose Productions, we shot two commercials in just a single night (see our behind the scenes footage here). Filming from 8 pm to 8 am on a warm October evening, the crew transformed the city block into a holiday wonderland by stringing lights on trees, spraying the streets with water and setting up a huge snow machine. The glistening snow added a soft, romantic glow throughout the spot, and also allowed us to slow down time as our couple shares their forever moment.
Shooting on the Phantom and Red cameras with a 30-foot boom and jib arm, we recorded each scene at up to 900 frames per second. Shooting at such high speeds requires a LOT more light than normal. Luckily we had the best grip crew in town, who also doubled as the “horse” in several scenes! The horse pulling the carriage had a little difficulty walking slowly and hitting his “mark,” so when he wasn’t on camera, our grips took his place, pulled the carriage and no one was the wiser.
With twinkling lights illuminating the “winter” night, snow gently falling and the couples’ happy faces perfectly framed, a special moment became a forever moment when the dashing man surprised his lady love with a box from Ben Bride. Time slows down as she opens the box and we witness a tender and timeless moment.
This was an extremely fun and challenging shoot, and we are very proud of the end result! Let us know what you think by commenting below, or sharing the spot with your friends online.