Case Study
Storyland Studios: Bridging the Ocean for Experiential Media
How do you capture interactive media for a physical theme park experience from 5,000 miles away? The company behind experiential designs for Disney, Marvel, and Sports Illustrated Resorts needed to direct an overseas shoot — and Spexster made it seamless.
About Storyland Studios
Storyland Studios is an experiential design company with a team of around 50 people based around the globe. They create immersive storytelling environments for major entertainment IP owners, theme park developers, and nonprofit experiences — including work with Disney, Marvel, and Sports Illustrated Resorts. Their installations are experienced by millions of guests worldwide. Their mission: create experiences that lift the spirit.
The Project
Storyland needed to film content for an interactive experience that would display media to guests once they selected a specific story. The ultimate goal was to impact people's hearts and drive increased app awareness and donations. The production required filming overseas — presenting a location challenge that needed a reliable, experienced crew on the ground.
The Challenge
Storyland needed to film overseas and had no existing connections in the region. Finding a full production crew — including director, DP, camera operators, and support — in an unfamiliar market was the core challenge. They needed to trust that the crew would deliver professional-grade work without the benefit of prior working relationships or local recommendations.
How Spexster Helped
Spexster connected Storyland Studios with Windstärke 10, a Hamburg-based production company with deep local expertise. The Spexster team provided fast, clear communication, handled crew sourcing, and connected the two teams quickly. The creative team helped coordinate logistics, ensured everyone was comfortable on set, and set up live remote viewing — allowing Storyland's US-based team to follow the shoot in real time, provide feedback, and stay connected across continents.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do you run a video shoot overseas without local contacts?
Spexster sources a vetted local crew in the shoot city, handles logistics and contracts, and can set up a live remote video village so your team directs from home. Storyland Studios filmed in Hamburg with no prior connections in the region — Spexster connected them with a local crew and ran the production.
What is a live remote video village?
A live remote video village streams the camera feed from set to a remote team in real time, so directors and creative leads who can't travel can watch, give feedback, and approve shots as they happen. Spexster set one up so Storyland's US team could direct a Hamburg shoot across the Atlantic.
Can a US team direct a shoot in Europe remotely?
Yes. For Storyland Studios, Spexster's live remote video village let the US-based team follow a Hamburg shoot in real time, provide feedback, and stay connected across a roughly 5,000-mile gap and a multi-hour time difference.
How does Spexster find a film crew in Hamburg or Germany?
Spexster matched Storyland with Windstärke 10, a Hamburg-based production company with deep local expertise, then handled fast, clear communication and on-set coordination. The same vetted-network model works for sourcing crews across Germany and Europe.
Who handles logistics on an international shoot?
Spexster does. The team coordinated logistics, made sure everyone was comfortable on set, and set up live remote viewing — so Storyland could focus on the creative while the production ran smoothly overseas.