Behind the Lens: Serenity Springs

Crafting an Immersive Experience: Behind the Scenes of Serenity Springs

When the owners of Serenity Springs in La Porte, Indiana reached out to us looking for a promotional video, we were tasked with creating the perfect approach. They’re branded as a romantic, rustic couples resort that covers more than 85 scenic acres. There’s so much to feature! We know, however, that in today’s world, social media viewership can be lost the longer videos are. We needed to be informative in our approach, but also provide a captivating and engaging style.

01. Drawing Inspiration

With so many of our projects, we look for inspiration in all places. In this instance, it was VRBO and AirBnB. They have taken a very immersive approach to their video marketing. Very quick cuts, accompanied by a handheld style gives it that dynamic feel. It’s a way to cover a lot of ground visually. Since Serenity Springs has so many awesome characteristics, we knew we had to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.

02. Executing the Vision

We spent several drafts scripting our V.O. for this commercial, and once we had a locked script, we began storyboarding and building out our shotlists. With only a day to film, this was a very crucial step. The commercial focused on 3 different couples experiencing different features both on the resort and off the resort. The timing was everything! We had a scout day to walk through our storyboard and shot list. This was a run-and-gun style shoot that required detailed organization and quick execution. 

Our talent arrived prepared as well, understanding the lifestyle approach required for the shoot. They seamlessly adapted to different scenarios and delivered strong performances. 

We filmed inside several different cabins. We captured our talent fishing at a pond, riding bikes through the woods, and roasting marshmallows on a deck. We even went off-site to capture the surrounding community. After a long walk on the beach and interior shots at a local restaurant, we managed to capture every shot we needed over this single day. 

03. Bringing it Together

Immediately following production, we went right into post-production. We had a 60-second V.O. and a few hours of footage to scrub through. We spent several days selecting the right shots and cutting them in the most appropriate order. It’s a tedious process, but a fun one when you have great footage. We hired a composer to score the piece, as the music played a big part in the overall tone. Using stock music can be effective, but for this commercial, we needed a track that complimented and enhanced the narrative arc, pacing, and emotional beats of the video. This included the little sound effects that added texture.

04. The Final Product

Crafting this video for Serenity Springs was more than a creative endeavor; it was a journey of discovery and inspiration. It took every person involved to bring this to life. Through careful planning and precise execution, we captured the essence of this romantic getaway on screen, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in a journey of serenity and romance.