Written by new-contact on Mar 14, 2014. Posted in Production News

ITN Productions films Dancing on Ice Suzuki tie-in at Alexandra Palace in London

ITN Productions filmed at Alexandra Palace in north-east London for a new spot for the Suzuki SX4 S-Cross that tied in with the Dancing on Ice final. The ad shows two Suzuki vehicles performing a balletic ‘dance’ on the ice before revealing figure skaters Torville and Dean as the drivers.

The production team had a rapid three and a half weeks from getting the opening brief to the actual airdate. Half a day was spent at the Dancing on Ice base at Elstree Studios where they shot opening interviews with some of the show’s cast and judges, before they relocated to Alexandra Palace, known informally as ‘Ally Pally’.

“We couldn’t film the dancing cars at Elstree because the rink was too small and there was the weight of the cars on the actual ice to be considered,” explains Adam Barnett, Head of Commercials at ITN Productions: “We chose Alexandra Palace partly for its proximity to London and partly for its ease of access and availability. Crucially, the palace also has wide doors which were useful to get the cars in and also for our crew and equipment.”

The Ally Pally rink is actually designed for ice hockey, so the palace team helped black out the venue and cover the hockey markings.

“We had studded winter tyres imported from Finland for the Suzuki cars,” Barnett adds: “Everyone at Ally Pally was great in helping us for the day-long shoot.”

Although the park ground opened earlier, Ally Pally first opened in 1873 and spans seven acres. The gardens and great halls are all popular filming locations and the halls also regularly host exhibitions and concerts.

Credits:
Client: Suzuki
Agencies: ITN Productions and the7stars
Planner (the7stars): Toby Hutchins
Business Development Manager: Steve Jordan
Head of TV: Rhiannon Murphy
Producers (ITN Productions): Steve Meier and Geoff Dibbon
Head of Commercials at ITN Productions: Adam Barnett
Director: Ben Hume-Paton