Capturing Holiday Magic Through Video Production: A Look at Our Charlestown Business Alliance Shoot
This week, Bunker Hill Media partnered with the Charlestown Business Alliance (CBA) to produce a series of video reels promoting their highly anticipated Holiday Night Out on December 11th. This project encapsulated everything we love about video production: storytelling, collaboration with local businesses, and capturing the spirit of a vibrant community.
Over the course of an action-packed day, we filmed content designed to highlight Charlestown’s local businesses while inspiring people to attend the event. Here’s a deeper dive into how we brought this vision to life.
Why Video Marketing Is Essential for Event Promotion
When it comes to promoting events, video content is unparalleled. Studies show that 92% of marketers say video is integral to their strategies, with event-focused videos often generating more engagement than static content. For organizations like CBA, video reels are an incredible way to show—not just tell—why their event is worth attending.
Social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook favor video content, with posts featuring video achieving 48% more views on average. Short, dynamic reels are particularly effective for conveying the festive energy of an event like Holiday Night Out, capturing attention quickly and encouraging shares among local audiences.
For the Charlestown Business Alliance, our goal was to create engaging, visually rich content that would spotlight the participating businesses while inviting viewers to join the fun.
The Vision and Scope of Work
CBA enlisted us to deliver:
One 30-45 second video reel promoting the Holiday Night Out.
Two 15-second cutdowns designed to be highly shareable across social platforms.
Raw footage for future use, giving the client flexibility in creating additional content.
This required us to create a balance of vibrant b-roll, quick interview snippets, and festive storefront shots—all tailored to resonate with Charlestown’s community.
A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Shoot
The Day of the Shoot
We began early on December 3rd, visiting around 15 local businesses across Charlestown. Each stop involved close collaboration with shop owners, ensuring we captured the heart of their spaces while making the process fun and seamless.
From festive storefronts decked out in holiday lights to charming interior setups, we worked to showcase the unique character of each business. The footage we gathered included:
B-roll of holiday decorations and gift displays, capturing the warmth and cheer of the season.
Engaging storefront shots, designed to emphasize the “shop local” ethos of the event.
Owner interactions—including quick cameos and waves from behind the counter, bringing personality to each scene.
Collaborative Moments
One of the highlights of the day was working closely with Charlestown’s small business champions:
Amanda from Junebug and Place & Gather: Amanda played a central role in helping coordinate the shoot and even appeared in walking-and-talking scenes promoting the event.
Kayla from Kaybea: Kayla’s boutique added a stylish flair, and her enthusiasm made for some of the day’s best takes.
Andrew from Prima: Andrew brought energy and personality, providing candid moments that added depth to the footage.
Technical Notes
For this project, we prioritized tools and techniques that ensured a polished, professional look while remaining nimble enough for an all-day shoot:
Sony FX3: Its exceptional low-light performance helped us capture rich, detailed shots indoors and out, even as the sun began to set.
Nanlight FC500B: This lighting setup allowed us to highlight products and holiday decorations beautifully.
Vertical shooting: To optimize the content for Instagram and TikTok, we shot everything vertically—a must for modern social media marketing.
What Made This Shoot Special
The magic of this project laid in its collaborative spirit. From the stunning holiday decor to the enthusiasm of the participating business owners, every aspect of the shoot reflected Charlestown’s tight-knit community.
We weren’t just creating promotional videos; we were documenting the essence of a neighborhood that values connection, tradition, and local pride. Watching shop owners interact with their spaces and hearing them talk about the event brought a genuine, heartfelt energy to the footage—something no script can replicate.
Post-Production: From Raw Footage to Video Content Holiday Cheer
With a tight turnaround, our editing team got to work immediately after the shoot. The final deliverables included:
A 30-45 second reel blending dynamic b-roll, cheerful music, and compelling shots of local businesses.
Two 15-second cutdowns designed for quick, shareable posts. These featured a mix of festive decor and snippets from the walking-and-talking scenes.
All raw footage, delivered to Amanda and the CBA team for future content needs.
Why Video Content Works for Events
This project highlighted why businesses investing in video marketing see such high returns. A well-crafted event video doesn’t just inform; it excites. It creates a visual story that helps viewers feel part of something special—even before the event begins.
According to recent data:
Event videos are shared 12x more often than links or text posts on social media.
For the Charlestown Business Alliance, this meant using video not just as a promotional tool, but as a way to build community and elevate their Holiday Night Out into a must-attend event.
Final Thoughts
At Bunker Hill Media, projects like this remind us why we love what we do. It’s not just about cameras and edits; it’s about connecting with people, sharing stories, and helping communities shine.
If you’re planning an event, we’d love to help you tell your story. With professional video production, you can create content that inspires, engages, and leaves a lasting impression. Let’s bring your vision to life—just like we did for Charlestown.
