How We Shot ‘VOTER-ID’
How We Shot the Voter ID Post-it Campaign: A Groundbreaking iPhone Production
VOTER-ID
A Post-it the size of a building.
A campaign shot entirely on iPhone.
Here’s how we brought one of the year’s most unique projects to life.
In January, our team at version3.media had the opportunity to collaborate with ThunderHawk VFX and the global marketing agency McCANN on one of the most distinctive projects of the year — the Voter ID Post-it Campaign.
If you’ve seen those massive pink Post-it notes plastered across buildings reminding people to “Remember photo ID to vote on 1st May,” this is the story behind how we brought that campaign to life.
Pre-Production: Finding the Perfect Locations
Every great shoot begins long before the cameras roll. For this campaign, the brief was to create a sense of realism — large-scale, everyday buildings that could seamlessly carry the illusion of a huge Post-it note.
Our production team scouted through nearly 50 potential locations across Manchester and Bolton, finally narrowing them down to just two sites that matched the client’s creative vision. The goal was to make the VFX feel completely believable, as if the Post-it had truly been stuck to the side of the building.
The Challenge: Capturing an ‘iPhone Look’
One of the most interesting parts of this shoot came when the client requested a specific “iPhone look.” Initially, we debated whether to film on our usual cinema cameras or use the iPhone directly.
After several tests, we discovered that by plugging an SSD directly into the iPhone and recording in Apple ProRes, we could achieve both — the convenience and aesthetic of a phone shoot, with the flexibility and data richness that professional editors need.
This setup turned the iPhone into a surprisingly powerful filmmaking tool, and for the first time, we used it as our A-Camera for an entire commercial shoot.
Production Day: Minimal Gear, Maximum Impact
Filming in the streets of Manchester and Bolton was an experience unlike any other. Walking through urban locations with an iPhone setup allowed us to move quickly, adapt easily, and stay discreet — perfect for a campaign that relied on natural light and genuine city backdrops.
It felt liberating to see how far mobile technology has come. The simplicity of the setup didn’t limit creativity — it enhanced it. This shoot was a glimpse into the future of agile filmmaking, where storytelling and vision come first, and the tools simply adapt.
Post-Production: Bringing the Vision to Life
After wrapping production, our team delivered multiple backups of the footage to ThunderHawk VFX, who handled the visual effects. Their work transformed our raw shots into hyper-realistic scenes where giant pink Post-it notes appeared to cling to entire buildings.
The result was a visually striking and memorable campaign that achieved huge visibility across social media — combining practical location shooting with digital artistry at its finest.
A Shoot to Remember
The Voter ID Post-it Campaign was more than just another production; it was an experiment in what’s possible when creative teams embrace innovation.
From scouting to VFX delivery, every stage was a reminder that great content doesn’t always require massive rigs or complex setups — sometimes, it just needs the right team, a strong idea, and the courage to try something new.
At version3.media, we’re passionate about pushing boundaries in commercial video production — whether it’s using cutting-edge cinema cameras or leveraging the power of smartphones to tell bold, impactful stories.