Creating a Story-Led Christmas Film in 24 Hours
DT
A 24-hour storytelling experiment with a DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
Tis the season — so I decided to make a Christmas ad in a single day.
At Thresh Productions, I talk a lot about story-first social content. And if the first rule of storytelling is show, don’t tell, then it felt right to put my own philosophy to the test.
So I set myself a challenge:
24 hours to conceptualise, shoot, edit, and produce a story-led Christmas video, entirely on a DJI Osmo Pocket 3.
The idea was simple: take the familiar “Things to do in London at Christmas” format and reimagine it as an actual narrative.
Same destinations, same festive touchpoints — but with a story to guide the viewer through the journey.
What I Learned in the Process
1. The DJI Osmo Pocket 3 is seriously impressive
Despite a few low-light struggles, it handled handheld shooting, colour depth, and stabilisation incredibly well. Small camera, big potential.
2. Being both the crew and the talent is… an experience
Would this have been stronger with another creator on screen? Absolutely. Did I film myself anyway? Also yes.
3. Colour grading D-LOG at midnight builds character
Shooting D-LOG gave me flexibility in post, but for quick-turnaround social projects, the in-built colour profiles might be the wiser choice.
4. 30,000 steps in a day is not a recommended workflow but weaving Regent Street, Covent Garden, Somerset House and Southbank into one cohesive story? Worth it.
On Perfection (or the Lack of It)
I nearly didn’t publish this project because it isn’t perfect.
But perfection wasn’t the goal — possibility was.
In just 24 hours, this video became a great example of what’s achievable now on social media with the right idea and a story-first approach.
And if this is what’s possible in a day… imagine what we could create with even more time.
Want to Explore Story-First Content?
If you’re interested in elevating your brand’s social presence through narrative-driven content, feel free to reach out — no seasonal quests required.