BEHIND THE SCENES: OFFICE BUILDING SHOOT
(Behind the scenes)
METLIFE BUILDING
200 PARK AVE
MetLife 200 Park Ave, an iconic landmark in the heart of New York City, underwent a multi-million dollar renovation aimed at attracting tenants back into the office space post-COVID-19.Services provided.
Client: Tishman Speyer and Irvine Company
Architecture: MdeAS Architects
Location: New York City
Directing | Cinematography | Photography
We spent four days filming inside the MetLife Building in New York, following a major renovation led by Tishman Speyer and The Irvine Company. The goal was to create a new set of assets for leasing and investor-facing use, but more importantly, to show how the building actually functions day to day.
From the start, we kept coming back to the idea of movement. Not just the architecture, but how people exist within it. The lobby, the terrace, the workspaces, the smaller in-between moments like grabbing coffee or stepping away for a break. It needed to feel lived in.
We worked with a cast of around 20, a mix of talent who felt more like real tenants alongside a few more stylized faces for key moments. The balance was important. Too polished and it feels staged. Too casual and it loses direction.
WHAT WE DID DIFFERENTLY
Logistically, it was one of those shoots where everything takes longer than expected. Moving through the building wasn’t simple. Furniture couldn’t be shifted through certain areas, so everything had to be staged within tight constraints. Even moving the crew between locations required planning.
Lighting was another challenge. Being in New York, surrounded by other buildings, you don’t get long windows of clean natural light. We had to be precise with timing, especially in the renovated spaces where material and finish really matter.
Despite all of that, the structure we built in pre-production held. Each day had a clear focus, and by the end, we had a full picture of what it feels like to spend a day there, from arriving in the morning to moving through different spaces as the day unfolds.
The final images are now being used across their website, but more than that, the project came together in a way that feels true to the building. Not just how it looks, but how it works.
