What does it really take to make a great brand film? Is it millions of pounds, a giant crew, or the latest gear? If you ask us at Cinelescence, the answer is simpler: it takes creativity, persistence, and the ability to turn obstacles into opportunities.
Who We Are
We’re Cinelescence: Freddie Connor and Dan Buckley.
- Freddie is a director and producer who started in London, graduating from the Royal Central School of Speech & Drama. His credits include Flattening the Curve (winner of Best Pilot at the L.A. Webfest), Mustang: 60 Years of Turning Roads into Legends (winner of Best Commercial at Bridge Fest Vancouver and nominated at the Berlin Commercial Festival), and Eternal Blue, which was shot across London, Paris, and Cairo with Hollywood actor Christian Oliver and international model Taylor Reynolds.
- Dan is a cinematographer and editor whose career has taken him from intimate indie productions to large-scale international shoots. He has filmed on location at global landmarks including the Great Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, and the streets of London and Paris, and his cinematography has powered award-winning brand films and pilots. With a reputation for resourceful problem-solving, Dan has built a career on making small crews look like Hollywood-scale productions.
Together, we formed Cinelescence to create cinematic, story-driven brand films that deliver the scale of major studios with the agility of an independent team.
Eternal Blue: A Brand Film Across London, Paris, and Cairo
One of our most ambitious projects was Eternal Blue, created for Field of Gems Jewelry. We shot across three iconic cities: London, Paris, and Cairo. We captured sweeping locations and wove them into an emotional narrative. The real magic came from the people: working with Hollywood actor Christian Oliver (Speed Racer, Valkyrie) and international model Taylor Reynolds elevated the project into something unforgettable.
When Christian tragically passed away shortly after the shoot, the entire team was deeply affected. What was meant as a brand piece became a heartfelt tribute, and every member of the crew carried that emotional weight with respect and admiration for Christian’s legacy.
The lesson? Your brand film is only as strong as the people and preparation behind it. Bring in the right collaborators, rehearse until it feels natural, and even modest productions can feel like epic cinema.
Before filming in London, we held rehearsals in Columbus, Ohio, with stand-ins, testing camera stabilization, and walking every shot beforehand. That preparation proved invaluable. It didn’t just save time—it gave us the freedom to focus on performance and story once we were on set.
Mustang: It Shouldn’t Have Worked
When we set out to create our Spec Brand Film, Mustang: 60 Years of Turning Roads into Legends, everyone said we were crazy…that pulling off something on this scale for under a million dollars was impossible. They were right; it should have cost us millions.
But when we sat down with racer Norm Murdock and pitched the idea, he just smiled and said: “When do we start?”
That moment was everything. It showed us that belief and passion are contagious, and if you ask, people will join you on the ride. Networking and the courage to share your vision are often the key that unlocks impossible doors.
The Mustang spot recreated six decades of history on a fraction of the expected budget. When we had a technical failure during a crucial racing scene, we reshot it in a supermarket car park. Using creative framing, low-angle shots, and carefully planned visual effects, we pulled off sequences that audiences assume were shot with Hollywood budgets.
The film went on to win Best Commercial at Bridge Fest Vancouver and was nominated at the Berlin Commercial Festival.
The lesson? Don’t just accept compromise; think outside the box. By focusing on storytelling, cinematic angles, and cutting the right corners, we turned a project that should have cost over a million into one that cost under 10k. The takeaway: don’t be afraid to ask, and don’t be afraid to dream bigger than your budget.
Tips for Filmmakers: How to Think Bigger on Smaller Budgets
Here are some takeaways from our journey that you can use:
- Lead with story and character. Audiences don’t remember the budget; they remember how you made them feel. Start with emotion and build out.
- Rehearse everything. Use stand-ins, walk through every shot, and test gear in advance. Our Eternal Blue rehearsals in Columbus, Ohio saved us days of chaos on location in London.
- Pre-visualize ruthlessly. Storyboards, mood boards, LUTs, and test shots lock the vision before the camera rolls.
- Invest in key moments. Pick the few shots that will sell the scale and pour your resources into those. One or two epic moments make the whole brand film feel expensive.
- Turn obstacles into opportunities. In Mustang, one of the most powerful shots was a slow-motion, low-angle shot of the rear tires captured in a car park, a shot usually reserved for locked-off racetracks. People still ask us how we pulled it off.
- Work with people who share your passion. Whether it’s a Hollywood actor, a DP, or a local crew member, choose people who see obstacles as challenges to overcome. That mindset elevates the entire production.
The Bottom Line
At Cinelescence, we’ve produced brand films internationally, worked with Hollywood talent, and turned supermarket car parks into racetracks. We’ve been recognized at the Berlin Commercial Festival, alongside industry giants, all while working with a fraction of the budgets.
So here is the truth: limitations aren’t a curse; they’re your greatest asset. They force you to be inventive, to lead with story, and to make choices that elevate the work. If you’re a filmmaker staring down a tight budget or tricky circumstances, don’t give up. Embrace the challenge. That’s where the real storytelling begins.
Cinelescence is the creative partnership of two award-winning professionals: director and producer Freddie Connor and cinematographer and editor Dan Buckley. Freddie is a multi-award-winning director and producer known for projects like the TV pilot “Flattening the Curve” and the drama “Heather’s Painting,” which won numerous accolades. Dan, a seasoned cinematographer, has captured striking visuals around the globe, from Paris to New Zealand, and has contributed to international commercials and popular shows like “Restaurant: Impossible.” Together, they bring a wealth of experience in award-winning direction and global storytelling to every project.
