Lights, Camera, Paddington! Our adventures with the nation’s beloved bear

Paddington Bear has been in the hearts of millions since Michael Bond wrote him into existence in 1958 and the success of the Paddington movies put the Peruvian bear on big screens across the globe. When Studio Canal announced a third film that follows his adventures back to his homeland of Peru, our client, PromPeru, was eager to celebrate his return and embrace the opportunity to share the beauty and culture of Peru with a UK-wide audience. 

Our brief was to capture a range of video content and photography during several events taking place in London; receptions at the Peruvian Ambassador’s Residence; press junkets with the cast and all the action on the red carpet (actually, it was green!) during the world premiere in Leicester Square. The objective was to capture all of this in a way that would highlight the film's release whilst connecting with UK travellers and showcasing all that Peru has to offer as a destination.

Day One: A star-studded reception

Four days of shooting kicked off with Lauren and Louis attending an evening reception at the Ambassador’s Residence where stars from the film mingled with important figures in Peruvian politics. There was also the small matter of meeting Paddington himself. Good job they were dressed for the occasion!

Day Two: Conversations on Peruvian culture with Paddington’s cast and crew

The weekend that followed required a more journalistic approach, so we collaborated with talented presenter, Lucy Norris. The luxurious Corinthia Hotel hosted the Paddington in Peru press junket and we were given the opportunity to sit down and talk with members of the cast and crew. Samuel Joslin (Jonathan Brown) and Madeleine Harris (Judy Brown) talked excitedly about their first encounters with Peruvian culture. Director, Dougal Wilson, gave a fascinating account of his travels during his recce of Peru and Hugh Bonneville (Henry Brown) met all expectations with his charming personality and great sense of humour.

It was clear the cast and crew understood the significance of Paddington’s return to ‘deepest darkest Peru’. Everyone was receptive to our questions which gave us great confidence as we stepped onto the red (*green) carpet the following day in Leicester Square.

Day Three: Stepping onto the green carpet

The production level of the premiere was on a scale the team had never seen before. Ben and Lucy made their way to the media section to set up for interviews while Darren tried his luck in the photography draw, unfortunately getting called last and having to find his spot within the crowded press pit! The hours that followed embodied the red carpet experience, a star-studded lineup filtered in, welcomed by a frenzied media fanfare as the team jostled for shots and interviews. After Ben and Darren said their goodbyes and thanks to Lucy for an amazing couple of days, the train ride home was spent editing to provide a quick turnaround.

Day Four: Celebrating the spirit of Peru

The fourth and final shoot saw Oli and Louis return to the Ambassadors Residence. With the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism in attendance, the evening was a celebration of Peru, promoting trade and travel with UK travellers. Smiles and laughter filled the room (and our SD cards!).

The entire team had the opportunity to be involved in this unique and fun project, from multiple trips to London to quick turnaround edits in the studio (and on the train!). The hours of planning enabled us to understand the logistics and deliver beyond our client’s expectations. We couldn’t have done it without the incredible pre-production and support from our project coordinator, Beth. The studio was buzzing with stories for days and a few of the team even took a trip to watch Paddington in Peru on the big screen.

Are you looking for support with your video projects? From planning and pre-production to capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments, we’re ready to bring your project to life. Get in touch today.