An inspiring launch for the
Customer Stories campaign

The challenge

HomeServe wanted to kick off their Customer Stories campaign with a powerful launch film that could serve a dual purpose: attract potential customers by showcasing success stories, and inspire internal staff to share their own success stories, which could be turned into future content.

The challenge was to create a versatile film that would resonate across both audiences while maintaining the brand’s approachable, trustworthy image. We needed to craft a story that felt both personal and impactful, ensuring it worked seamlessly across different platforms.

The approach

The brainstorming sessions were centred around how to make HomeServe’s customer success stories feel authentic and relatable. We knew that showing real customer experiences would be key to connecting with the audience.

By using a mix of different homes and creating a narrative that reflected the diversity of HomeServe’s customer base, we aimed to build an emotional connection that would work for both external audiences and internal staff. We decided on a visual approach that would feel cinematic yet grounded in reality, with each scene carefully crafted to reflect a different type of home and customer experience.

Production

The shoot took place over two days across locations in Derbyshire and Cheshire. One of the main production challenges was creating seven distinct house locations using only three actual homes. We needed each scene to feel unique in terms of style and affluence, so we got creative with set dressing and lighting to transform the same spaces into different environments.

To capture the footage, we used Atlas Orion Anamorphic lenses on a Red Epic W 8k, paired with a Movi Pro gimbal for smooth, dynamic shots. The anamorphic look gave the film a cinematic quality, elevating the visuals while keeping the story grounded in real-life experiences.

Post-Production

Editing this film required careful attention to detail, as the content needed to be distributed across multiple platforms in various aspect ratios from TV through to social. Given the anamorphic footage, re-cutting and re-framing the hero film for different formats was crucial to maintaining its impact on every platform. Post-production took five days, during which we also had to address a late request from the client for on-screen graphics.

Balancing their branding requirements with a design that wouldn’t overwhelm the visuals was a challenge, especially since their usual text styling was heavier than what we felt would work best. We eventually convinced them to opt for lighter, illustrated graphics that enhanced the film without detracting from the story.

The results

The launch film successfully set the stage for HomeServe’s Customer Stories campaign, resonating with both external viewers and internal staff. The film’s emotional storytelling and polished visuals not only captured the attention of potential customers but also sparked a series of additional films across Europe.

This expanded the campaign into a documentary-style format, spotlighting real HomeServe successes in homes across the continent. For TrunkBBI, this project was a stepping stone to creating even more impactful content for the brand, cementing the success of the initial launch film and driving the campaign forward.