ON THE SET OF OUR NEW TV AD
Ever wondered what goes into making a TV advert? Now’s your chance to find out…
You might have seen our star-studded TV advert on your screens this Christmas (if you haven’t, where have you been?!) and if we do say so ourselves, it’s a masterpiece! In true Butlin’s fashion, we had lots of fun shooting on set with our incredible team, so we thought we’d share some of the highlights from behind the scenes. Want to see what happened backstage? Check out our exclusive footage, featuring Stephen Mulhern, Fleur East, Justin Fletcher and lots of other famous faces. Plus, we caught up with the Film and Creative Directors to get the inside scoop on how it all came together. Read their interviews below…
Lights, camera, action!
MEET THE DIRECTORS
If you want to know where the idea for the advert came from, what the challenges were and how it was made, then Creative Director Mark Elwood and Film Director Oscar Cariss will give you the low-down…
Oscar Cariss
Film Director
WHAT’S YOUR ROLE?
My role on the shoot was director, but I was also involved in writing the idea and putting that together with the team at Leo Burnett and Butlin’s.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT?
I'm fascinated by Butlin’s as a British institution. It’s part of our contemporary culture and has been around for a long time, so I was keen to get involved. I have a lot of experience in the world of entertainment – I used to work with ITV on Britain’s Got Talent – and I felt that I was the right fit for the project.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO PRODUCE FROM BEGINNING TO END?
There were about four months-worth of ideas and scripts that were being worked on, but once the concept was signed off, I would say two months of work prior to the shoot. There were lots of things to organise. We had to establish what the talent needed to do and how we could all work together to create something entertaining that would stand out.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE AUDIENCE FEELS WHEN WATCHING THE AD?
I hope the audience feels like this is a new direction for Butlin’s. The brand has a really high calibre of entertainment and I think the audience will recognise that, and I want them to feel excited. I think people have a certain idea of what to expect, so they might be surprised by the advert and think, actually, that looks pretty good!
WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THE PROJECT?
As a writer and director, it’s been great seeing it come to life from just an idea I had whilst at home, and how everything has come together. The performances blew me away – the acts at Butlin’s are all amazing!
Mark Elwood
Creative Director
WHAT’S YOUR ROLE?
I’m Executive Creative Director at Leo Burnett. I’m involved in the day to day running of the creative department, working with different teams to answer client briefs and create concepts.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT?
All projects pose an exciting opportunity, but this one in particular gave us the chance to take Butlin’s in a new direction, strategically and creatively.
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE TO PRODUCE FROM BEGINNING TO END?
It’s taken around seven months to complete. Once we received the brief, we moved into strategic development followed by creative development. Then came production, where we saw the idea come to life.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE AUDIENCE FEELS WHEN WATCHING THE AD?
We want the audience to be wowed by the variety of entertainment that Butlin’s has to offer, from shows for tots to the whole family. This is a thrilling new direction for Butlin’s, and we hope it excites people.
WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST EXCITING PART OF THE PROJECT?
We had a great team working on the project, both at Leo Burnett and Butlin’s, as well as fantastic production and post-production teams. It’s always exciting working alongside people who are passionate about creating great work.
TV AD STORY BOARDS
Before we could even begin filming the advert, we had to come up with a concept and meticulously plan every shot, every camera angle and every moment. Check out our story board to see how the whole idea came to life from humble beginnings…
WATCH OUR BRAND-NEW TV AD
Finally, after months of planning, filming and editing, our brand-new advert is here and we’re pretty excited about it! As ‘The Home of Entertainment’, it’s only right that we put our acts front and centre, so we’ve decided to showcase our 2022 line-up in a way we’ve never done before. Watching for the first time? Buckle up because you’re in for a treat!
GREAT SAVINGS ON ALL FAMILY BREAKS
Summer Holidays
School’s out, fun’s in! For seven weeks, see live performances from star names including Stephen Mulhern, Fleur East and Diversity. Plus, don’t miss our Big Top Circus.
Showtime Breaks
Running throughout the year during term time, these great-value getaways showcase the very best of Butlin’s, with original entertainment taking centre stage.
May Half Term
The kids are off school, the weather’s getting warmer and there’s a bank holiday in the mix! Make the most of it with live shows from Stephen Mulhern, Sam & Mark and more.
Easter Breaks
The hunt for your next holiday ends here! Get in the spring of things with an Easter break chock-full of egg-cellent entertainment and activities for all ages.
THINGS TO DO, DAY & NIGHT
Included in your break
Daytime activities
It wouldn’t be a trip to Butlin’s without those non-stop action days, so we’ve included a bucketload of activities in the price of our breaks.
Included in your break
Exclusive Shows
Butlin’s and entertainment go hand in hand, so we’ve pulled out all the stops to make sure your break is filled with amazing live shows you won’t see anywhere else.
Included in your break
The Pool
Goggles at the ready! With looping water slides, high-speed flumes, racing rapids and pools for tots, our Splash Waterworlds are overflowing with adventure.
Included in your break
The Fairground
Butlin’s is all about those ‘just one more go!’ moments, which is why all our breaks include unlimited fairground rides, from dodgems and waltzers to bungee trampolines.