Xiaomi Diwali Campaign

How long does it take to create and deliver a Diwali campaign? This one took just 5 days!

Yes you read that right. 4 films that revealed eagerly awaited offers were scripted, budgeted, produced, edited and delivered in 5 days !

Day 1

We visit the client and figure what can be achieved in this super tight timeline. Present scripts. Make budgets. Get them approved.

I simultaneously started getting the team together starting with the line producer, then the DoP and Production Designer. We booked them for recce on Day 2, setup on Day 3, shoot on Day4

Day 2

Fly to Mumbai and get to the recce locations. Our line production team in Mumbai lined up the locations, made sure the DoP, production designer, ADs and the rest of the crew got to the location on time so we could start without any hiccups.

Here is the location we zeroed in on in Madh Island

It was pretty bare

At the location we blocked our shots and got the art references sorted so sourcing for art could begin as soon as the PPM was done.

We also started and finished casting in record time, with auditions! (screenshots from auditions below)

By midnight the PPM deck was ready with everything meticulously planned.

Day 3

PPM with client

The ppm happened early in the morning, and went smoothly, leaving us the rest of the day to setup art, source styling and rehearse with the cast.

The art team took every measure possible to speed up the process. Fans and par cans were used to help the paint and putty dry quickly in the Mumbai humidity.

After numerous phone calls, messages, intensive effort, and sheer determination, we finally earned a peaceful night's rest and were fully prepared to commence shooting on Day 4.

Day 4 Shoot !

Did I mention we also had a still shoot going on simultaneously?

The post team was on set and was making lineups as and when good takes were okayed. We got the go-ahead from the client for these lineups on the spot to expedite the editing process. The shoot was wrapped with no delays. We had a leg up on the editing process and were ready to face Day 5

Day 5 The editors' hotel room turned into an edit suite. The edit was refined and perfected. We recorded the voice-over on the finalized edit, added some grading magic and animated the endslate, and just like that, the films were ready by the end of Day 5.

Achievement unlocked : Fastest Script to Delivery of my career. Here are the 4 films