Mary’s first Christmas alone, for Bluebird Care
Bluebird Care asked us for a Christmas idea in October 2023. We pitched the story of Mary, facing her first Christmas alone, and the Bluebird carer whose visit changes her day. We cast it, had it cleared for TV, shot it in one long day in Dublin and delivered it in December. It aired on Virgin Media in Ireland, and Bluebird Care was so pleased that it aired in the UK too.
Brand films and advertsWatch the film
What Bluebird Care needed, and what we made
- When
- October to December 2023
- Shoot
- One day in a family home in Dublin
- On air
- Virgin Media in Ireland, then the UK
What they needed
A Christmas film made to the standard TV needs, for Bluebird Care’s own channels and for broadcast, that shows what a carer means to someone living on their own.
What we filmed
A story with almost no dialogue: Mary unpacking decorations, eating breakfast alone, moving through a quiet house, then the carer at the door and the warmth coming back. We filmed from late morning into the night, so the light moves from a cold morning to fairy lights.
Getting it on air
Virgin Media’s copy clearance team approved the idea and the storyboard before we filmed anything. Clearing an advert at the storyboard stage costs far less than changing a finished one.
What we delivered
- A 75-second Christmas advert
- The idea and the script
- Casting through an agency
- Copy clearance before the shoot
- A version with voiceover
- The master for TV broadcast
A 75-second Christmas advert, the idea and the script, casting through an agency, copy clearance before the shoot, a version with voiceover, the master for TV broadcast.
“They’re everything we want in a partner. We can rely on them, and the team meets us halfway with innovative ideas.”
From idea to air
Ten weeks from the first idea to the master file, with TV clearance before the shoot.
Step 01
October 2023: the idea
Bluebird Care asked for a Christmas idea. We pitched Mary’s story on 2 October and had the script with them the following week.
Step 02
November 2023: clearance and casting
Virgin Media’s copy clearance team approved the idea and storyboard, and we cast Mary and the carer through a casting agency.
Step 03
27 November 2023: the shoot
One long day in a family home in Dublin, from late morning to night, so the light could change with the story.
Step 04
December 2023: the edit
The first cut went to Bluebird Care on 4 December, a version with voiceover followed, and the master was ready on 13 December.
Step 05
On air
The advert aired on Virgin Media in Ireland. Bluebird Care was so pleased with it that we made a UK version, which aired there too.
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