CASE STUDY

Hilton refreshes its look with production in southern Brazil

Story and Way Out West worked for the five-star hotel chain Hilton to capture the refinement and luxury of their brand on film 

Qoya Curio Collection by Hilton is nestled on one of Curitiba's main avenues, between the stylish Batel neighborhood and the central region of the capital of Paraná. The hotel has developed a new approach to  luxury - the concept of ‘slow living’ invites guests to slow down, feel welcomed, and rest in a true urban retreat.

Photographer working with Story and Way Out West

This contemporary refinement was the backdrop for updating the image bank of the Hilton hotel chain, which boasts around 2,500 properties spread across more than 80 countries. But it was up to the Story team to ensure that luxury was front and center  by providing  casting services, extensive wardrobe, and sourcing shooting locations.


Costume production was particularly challenging, needing several weeks of fabric, accessory, and texture research to ensure full compatibility with the hotel's style and clientele.

And we only had 48 hours to cast six main actors and eight extras. At this point, our experience came into play with agile and assertive work.


Story also provided lighting and electrical equipment, running the entire production in a way that wouldn't disrupt daily life at the hotel, which was fully operational at the time of the photoshoot. At Story we’re highly experienced in working on projects where a low-profile setup is required, so this was second nature to our professional crew. 



A local team of 30 people, including producers and costume designers, worked in harmony with Way Out West's director of photography to achieve a result perfectly aligned with the client's expectations.

Story Productions renewing Hilton's image bank

Curitiba and its urban scenes and parks

Curitiba, the capital of the state of Paraná in southern Brazil, offers a variety of interesting and diverse settings that can be used for filming, both in urban and natural areas. It also has the advantage of being a more cost-effective location for filming in Brazil, due to reduced production expenses in comparison to São Paulo. 


Here are just a few examples of locations in and around Curitiba that could make fantastic settings for your next project: 


  • Historic Center: Curitiba's Historic Center is rich in colonial and neoclassical architecture, with cobblestone streets, tree-lined squares, and historic buildings such as the Curitiba Basilica Cathedral and the Paço da Liberdade. These areas are  ideal settings for shoots  that seek to recreate historical or traditional environments.


  • Ópera de Arame: This iconic open-air theater, with its steel and glass structure surrounded by a lake and lush vegetation, offers a unique and breathtaking setting for filming. The Ópera de Arame is often used as a location for cultural events, concerts, and audiovisual productions.


  • Parks and Gardens: Curitiba is known for its beautiful parks and gardens, such as Jardim Botânico, Parque Barigui and Parque Tanguá. These green areas offer a variety of natural settings, including lakes, trails, areas of native vegetation, and open spaces, all ideal for outdoor filming.


  • Bosque Alemão: This charming theme park celebrates German culture and features a fairy tale trail, a panoramic tower, a tea house, and a replica of the Casa Mila, where filming can be done with folkloric or fantastical themes.


  • Traditional streets and neighborhoods: Curitiba has a variety of neighborhoods with unique characteristics and their own atmosphere, such as the Italian neighborhood of Santa Felicidade, with its wineries and traditional restaurants, or the bohemian neighborhood of São Francisco, with its narrow streets and colorful houses. These areas can be explored as authentic settings for filming that seeks to capture the cultural essence of the city.



Story is  the ideal company to help bring to life luxury and refinement in your audiovisual projects here in Brazil. If you are not from here and need a multilingual team who will take care of everything, contact us, we’d love to hear from you.

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