brand film for new retail location

Production Team & Crew

Production Company

GRAYN Media

Director

Joon Rho

Director of Photography

1st AC

Gaffer

Lamp Op

Production Designer

Sodam Hong

Behind the Scenes

Talent/Artist

Rentals

Lenses

Client

Project Overview

At its core, this brand film for Molly Tea's Toronto launch is a love letter to the creative process. Our vision was to bring the viewer directly into the mind of an artist, tracking the journey from a blank canvas to a state of total creative flow. It is a natural parallel to the art of tea-making itself: a celebration of stillness, quiet craftsmanship, and the irreplicable human touch.

The location: an empty shell unit with bare walls and a concrete floor. A true 'blank canvas.'

The camera: an ARRI Alexa Mini LF. World renowned for its unmistakable organic image, favoured for its beautiful colour science.

The lenses: rehoused Leica Noctilux optics from Zero Optik that merge vintage character with modern performance.

vancouver commercial video production crew on set

Watching a production come together is always an amazing experience, every member of the team working tirelessly to bring the vision to life. Camera, lighting, production design, and director all communicating and working in unison to achieve a common goal.

Once the frame is locked on the first setup, the whole team breathes a sigh of relief.

vancouver commercial video production director and crew

Tight, effective communication is the lifeblood of any set. As director, Joon anchored the production, driving key decisions and keeping the crew aligned throughout the day. He fostered a set culture that proved you don't have to sacrifice a relaxed, collaborative atmosphere to maintain absolute professionalism and high spirits.

vancouver commercial video production dp and camera crew

DP Cody Preston (sporting his signature Crocs) and 1st AC Viktor Wallmark operated in seamless lockstep, keeping complex camera movements and razor-thin focus perfectly dialed in. Heavy cinema builds and vintage glass often slow down production with longer setup times, but their synergy kept the company moving fast without sacrificing an ounce of creative precision.

Even finding time and energy to experiment with some extra creative shots.

vancouver commercial video production production design and art department

Art direction and production design is key to crafting a world that the film lives in. Taking what would just be an empty room, and lifting it into something that feels real and tangible to the audience. The production designer, Sodam Hong, meticulously layered props and art supplies to breathe life into the room. She successfully elevated the blank canvas into a tangible, authentic artist's studio.

Ultimately, the project's success hinged on adaptability. Documenting an artist's process meant navigating creative unknowns. During pre-production, it required constant, transparent communication with the talent to balance what could be authentically captured in the moment versus what needed to be prepped beforehand. On set, it meant responding to the artwork as it evolved in real time, staying light on our feet to reframe and adjust as the blank canvas slowly came to life .

vancouver video production gaffer and lighting gear

Of course there would be nothing to capture if there was no light! Gaffer Indy Wilson did a phenomenal job sculpting the space, utilizing an Aputure lighting package commanded from his signature orange iPad control center, to dial in the perfect mood and tonal contrast for every setup.

vancouver commercial video production vfx

As the artist sinks deeper into their flow state, the boundary between the physical studio and their inspiration begins to blur. To visualize this deep immersion into the craft, the director envisioned the artist carving their stamp while completely surrounded by a field of blooming flowers. We brought this internal world to life through VFX, rendering and compositing whimsical florals alongside stylized growth animations to beautifully elevate the sequence.

Vancouver commercial video production crew

As we wrap this project, we’re left with deep gratitude for the talented cast and crew who transformed an empty concrete shell into a breathing world of artistic expression. A massive thank you to everyone who poured their energy into this from pre-production through final delivery, and to Molly Tea for trusting us to bring this vision to life.

Commercial Production Q&A:

Common questions about Vancouver video production, commercial filming costs, and our studio workflow

Q: Why do Vancouver commercial production companies use ARRI Alexa cameras?

The organic character of the image and beautiful color science of the ARRI Alexa Mini LF is unmatched and gave the footage a quality that is impossible to attain with lower end cameras. The differences may be hard to quantify but it's something you really feel in the final edit.

Q: What lighting equipment do you use for commercial video production in Vancouver?

Our lighting packages combine flexibility of LED fixtures with the power of modern technology to shape the light just how we need it, regardless of the situation. Our standard lighting package for Vancouver commercial productions inlcude:

Aputure 600 series LEDs to shape the ambient light.
Aputure 300 series RGB LEDs to add color and highlights where needed.
Aputure spotlight mounts to create texture and hard cuts.
Diffusion sheets, flags, and bounces to soften and shape the light.

Sidus Link functionality offered with Aputure and Amaran lights are a game changer for the modern video production workflow, allowing for increased efficiency and dynamic lighting changes.

Q: Is a video village necessary for modern commercial filming in Vancouver?

Wireless video feeds have been such a game changer for commercial video production. Allowing the Director, Production Designer, Gaffer, and 1st AC to all view and monitor live feeds of what is being captured by the DP. A standard video village package includes:

Wireless video transmitters and receivers (Teradek if focus pulling is required, Hollyland for general video feeds).
Handheld production monitors for the Director.
Large production monitors for clients, cast, and crew.

Everyone knows exactly what the frame looks like and it allows the DP and 1st AC to have some space to move without everyone watching over their shoulder.

Q: What is the average cost of commercial video production in Vancouver?

Pricing varies by shoot duration, location, crew size, and deliverables. Most Vancouver commercial video productions fall between $10k–$25k depending on scope. Smaller social media projects may start at $5k, while full commercial campaigns with multiple shoots and VFX can reach $30k+. Factors that influence the cost are:

Shoot duration: 1-day shoots will naturally cost less than multi-day productions.
Location: Rental rates for studios or on location permits.
Crew size: Full production team vs lean skeleton crew.
Equipment & Rentals: Camera gear, lighting, support, audio, and set design requirements.
Deliverables: Social cuts vs broadcast masters.
Post-production Requirements: Basic cut vs color grading + sound design + VFX.

We handle all pre-production, shooting, and post-production in one package so you don’t need to manage multiple vendors. Contact our Vancouver video production team for a custom quote.

Q: Can AI replace traditional VFX for commercial film production?

Generative AI still has a ways to go for it to catch up to traditional 3D renders in terms of a professional compositing workflow. Yes, AI can create pretty visuals but often lacks a clean alpha output for transparent images and professional file outputs which are essential for compositing over live action footage.

Please head over to our Instagram to give the crew some love! More to follow on IG, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

And contact our Vancouver Production Studio today for any inquiries, we'd love to hear from you!

Looking forward to working with all of you again in the near future.

— GRAYN