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for Thruball
It's More Than Just a Game
This was a full-service commercial video production from concept through delivery. We handled creative development, casting, production, editing, VFX, and post-production. From early concepting to the final cut, our role was to build the piece from the ground up and carry it through every stage.
our involvement
Thruball is a new and fast-growing beach game built for all ages, blending elements of Pickleball, Volleyball, and Spikeball. With the rise of recreational sports like pickleball, the goal of this piece was to position Thruball as something more than casual. More competitive. More physical. More serious.
The story follows four friends through a match, centered on one hero player preparing for game time. We wanted it to feel like an athlete stepping into competition, not just someone showing up to play.
At the center of the concept was one simple idea: Thruball is more than just a game. It's a sport. Everything from the pacing to the casting to the final line of the piece was built around proving it.
the concept
— Jackson Callahan | Thruball
"Castillo Holliday Films went above and beyond bringing our first commercial campaign to life. Such a fun time being on set for the shoot and the commercial turned out incredible!"
CLIENT LOVE
The structure of this piece was designed to follow the rhythm of a real game. It opens with preparation, moves into competition, and ends with the kind of release that comes after a final point. We wanted viewers to feel the energy of the match from the first serve to the last, which meant building a clear emotional progression into the edit without relying on a single line of dialogue.
Building the Match
Thruball moves fast. To keep up with the pace and get enough coverage, we shot on two RED Raptors and treated it as a two-camera production from the start. That setup let us move quickly and stay inside the action without constantly resetting, with the flexibility to catch both the bigger plays and the smaller moments in between.
Keeping Up
The original idea was to shoot outdoors, closer to the environment the sport was built for. But with snow on the ground and winter still in full swing, we had to pivot. After exploring a few options, we landed on an indoor soccer facility. That shift changed the setting, but it also opened the door to use VFX to show how Thruball can live in different spaces: on turf, on a court, at the beach, or in your backyard.
Choosing the Location
Sound was a big part of what made the piece feel grounded. We wanted the real sounds of the game, the breathing, the footwork, the contact of the ball, to be part of the final cut. Capturing all of it on set meant we didn't have to recreate it later. It gave the edit something real to build from.
Capturing the Impact
process
the
02.14.2026
shoot day bts
after
before
The visual approach for Thruball leaned sharper and cleaner than some of our other work. Shot on RED Raptors with Leica R lenses, the image carries a modern feel while still holding onto some texture and softness. Lighting stayed focused around the play area, a pool of light that kept attention on the action and let the edges fall away. In post, the color stayed natural and restrained. The goal was to support the energy of the game, not distract from it.
the color grading process
visual & sound choices
Even though the piece was shot indoors, we wanted it to feel focused and elevated, not flat or overly commercial. That controlled pool of light kept attention on the play while everything else fell off into shadow, which helped shape the world of the piece. Combined with the sharper lens choices, live sound, and fast-paced coverage, it gave Thruball the kind of visual weight that helped sell it as a sport, not just a game.
