The Challenge
Sunsets, shorelines, and surfing sell themselves in July. Selling a beach destination in September is a different problem entirely.
Visitors assume Virginia Beach packs up and shuts down the day after Labor Day. It doesn't — late summer and early fall are arguably the better time to go — but overcoming an assumption is harder than making an introduction. Showing the same beach imagery in a different month wouldn't do it.
The Work
As part of an ongoing collaboration with one of Virginia Beach's agencies of record, Flagship worked with Vigilant Creative on a concept that would let viewers experience the action for themselves rather than watch it.
Six :15 spots, each one a single continuous shot, each highlighting a different aspect of the Virginia Beach experience.
The one-take format is unforgiving. There is no edit to hide a missed mark, and every element has to work simultaneously — so we mapped each concept meticulously and planned every scene to capture the full action in a single take. Each hero was tracked and followed through a signature Virginia Beach activity, holding a feeling of ease throughout.
The Result
Six spots covering the Boardwalk, Sandbridge Beach, the ViBe Arts District, Town Center, the Aviation Museum, and Lager Heads.
The destination came away with an abundance of evergreen content, used immediately in a coordinated social campaign that extended their reach beyond the tourist season.
