Bradley & Pablo in Budapest – Turning the City into Athens

A Long Time Coming Commercial Production in Budapest

We’d been in touch with Filmiki on previous commercial productions that didn’t quite get over the line, so when their team reached out again, we were keen to make this one happen. After a few initial calls, we got a clear sense of the directors’ approach. Bradley & Pablo are known for their visual style and tight connection between movement and music. This spot was built around a charismatic main character moving through the city in sync with a well-known music track. Light, confident, and slightly playful in tone. In the directors’ words: “Our approach in a nutshell is to create a joyous forty-second film that delicately tiptoes between cool and comedy.”

Budapest Doubling for Athens

Although the shoot took place entirely in Budapest, every location had to feel like Athens. That meant a lot of work for the art department. Street signs were replaced, posters redesigned, graffiti removed, and streets restyled. A Budapest taxi was modified to match a Greek one. Shopfronts were rebuilt, including a small market-style setup and a hot-dog stand. One empty interior space was turned into a clean, modern restaurant. These changes helped create the distinctive Mediterranean atmosphere needed for the story. It’s the kind of job Budapest handles well: using what’s already there, then layering just enough on top to sell the illusion.

Day One: Traffic and Rain

The first day was shot on a side street next to a busy main road. We couldn’t fully close it, so traffic had to pass through at intervals. That meant constant coordination, especially with dolly tracks running along the street for several shots. Then came the weather. The brief called for bright, Mediterranean light. Instead, we got rain. Rather than stop, we adapted. The darker pavement didn’t break the look, so we carried on, and later decided to wet down the streets on day two to keep everything consistent.

Day Two: Building the World

The second day covered two new locations. First, a shop exterior and interior were redesigned to match the Protergia brand, with everything from signage to layout adjusted accordingly. The final setup was the most complex: a large city intersection. All four corners were dressed, and around forty background performers filled the space to create a busy street scene. One key moment involved the main character stopping a car mid-crossing. To capture it, we controlled traffic, positioned a crane in front of the actor and picture vehicle, and reset the scene multiple times. To maintain visual continuity with the previous day, our special effects team wet down roughly 300 square metres of pavement using hoses, quickly and repeatedly between takes.

A Complex Shoot, Done Right

This was a demanding production—tight choreography, live locations, shifting weather—but everything came together. The collaboration between Filmiki, the directors, the client, and the local crew worked exactly as it should. Everyone knew what they needed to do, and the result reflects that. For a closer look at how it all came together, take a look at the behind-the-scenes film of the shoot.

Need a production house in Budapest who can transform one city into another? Get in touch and we’ll help you make it work.