Super Bowl Sunday is more than just a thrilling sports game that happens once a year. Every moment of the live broadcast, from the spectacular sideline shots to the exhilarating halftime show and the engaging and hilarious commercials, captivates viewers and entertains them throughout the game.
In truth, the Super Bowl is one of the few television viewing experiences that keeps viewers watching live broadcasts even after the action cuts to ads. The creative and often funny Super Bowl commercials produced by huge names like Budweiser and Doritos are almost as famous and popular as the teams that play on the field.
However, as fun as they are to watch, Super Bowl commercials are equally fun and exciting to film for the production companies involved in the process. This year, Elevation Ten Thousand got to take part in that experience.
What Does It Take to Film a Commercial for the Super Bowl?
Filming a Super Bowl commercial is a labor of love and commitment that involves a significant investment of time, resources, and creativity to ensure that the commercial stands out and resonates with the audience. From concept development to implementing post-production final touches, making a TV commercial requires many steps and the skills of many people who need to work together to make the magic happen.
This year, for Super Bowl LVIII, Elevation Ten Thousand’s video production team had the opportunity to experience the thrill and challenge of filming a Super Bowl commercial first-hand. Throughout the fall and winter, we produced a local Super Bowl commercial with one of our clients right here in Albany, NY, and now we are giving you a behind-the-scenes pass to relive the whole process along with us. Let’s watch the magic happen together.
Behind the Scenes at Elevation Ten Thousand’s Super Bowl Commercial Filming
Back in November 2023, Elevation Ten Thousand received a request from the marketing director for Harding Mazzotti, a local law firm that is well known throughout the region for their expertise. They reached out to ask us to pitch an idea for a Super Bowl commercial, and our video production manager, Blake Cortright, jumped at the opportunity.
Focusing on the theme of hard work and persistence that is emblematic of the Harding Mazzotti approach to law — not to mention the Super Bowl itself — the team put together a pitch for a sports-themed montage that would take them to four separate locations, require a cast and crew of more than 20 people, and challenge them to turn around a Super Bowl-worthy production in just three months.
How We Produced a Super Bowl Commercial in Three Months
Our Elevation Ten Thousand team was committed to the vision and the deadline right from the start. That meant that a lot of the steps necessary for making a good commercial were followed in quick succession: storyboarding each location’s shots, working with Elevation Ten Thousand’s print and apparel department to produce props and costumes, completing the filming itself, and then adding the final touches in post-production. As Blake makes clear, “Filmmaking is ultimately about a great team,” and Elevation Ten Thousand’s team really delivered greatness, especially considering the short schedule.
Get a Behind-the-Scenes Peek at Our Super Bowl Commercial Filming in an Exclusive Mini-Documentary
If you have ever wondered what really goes on behind-the-scenes when shooting a Super Bowl commercial, then you are in luck. Using footage from the filming process and various post-production, documentary-style interviews, the Elevation Ten Thousand team was able to make not one, but two great products in the past three months.
The video above represents a 20-minute mini-documentary that offers you full access to the Elevation Ten Thousand Harding Mazzotti Super Bowl commercial production journey. With interviews from Blake featured alongside other key players in the production process, as well as Harding Mazzotti’s marketing manager Henry Nahal, this unique backstage pass will give you a whole new perspective on the power and possibilities of producing a Super Bowl commercial that no one will soon forget.
Take Your Commercial to the Next Level with Elevation Ten Thousand
Whether you are going for the gold with a Super Bowl slot or simply looking to up your advertising game locally, Elevation Ten Thousand’s video production team has the answers and the resources to help. Contact us today to learn more about our video production services and how we can help you take your commercial game — Super Bowl or not — to the next level.
