In the early hours while most of Las Vegas was quiet, George Russell and Brad Pitt filmed a striking Mercedes advert at Caesars Palace, taking advantage of empty city streets before the grand prix weekend. The production involved an ambitious shoot directed by renowned photographer Larry Chen, focused on a camouflaged AMG GT, putting the spotlight on George Russell Mercedes advert filming for automotive fans worldwide.
Behind the Scenes: Innovative Production Techniques Revealed
The commercial was created between 7pm and 7am, allowing the cast and crew unobstructed access to the iconic location. Brad Pitt played a guest anticipating his vehicle’s arrival, with George Russell portraying a valet returning the car after a spirited drive. This performance included sharp drifting and dramatic donut maneuvers, leveraging Russell’s racing profile for cinematic effect.
Photographer Larry Chen offered insights into the unconventional process that contributed to the video’s viral success.
“We started off with this really fun scene of him pretending to be a bored valet driver,”
Chen shared, highlighting Russell’s commitment to the role despite the late-night schedule. The project demanded meticulous oversight, with sponsor obligations influencing even small details.
“I was told I always had to show his IWC wristwatch… I always made him pull back his sleeve,”
Chen said, pointing to the branding requirements woven throughout the shoot.
Drivers and Technical Challenges Under Unusual Conditions
Despite Russell’s on-screen presence, the stunt driving for the drifting sequences was performed by Formula Drift champion Samuel Hübinette. The setting around the fountain at Caesars Palace presented distinctive difficulties—streets with cobblestones and uneven surfaces challenged both the drivers and crew, making each maneuver far from straightforward.
Chen explained the distinct look of the prototype on camera, particularly its outer covering and how it affected visual storytelling.
“The way the vehicle moved, the way it built up smoke… was pretty different,”
he noted, underscoring the complexity of filming a car under wraps and bathed in artificial lighting.
Pitt Embraces the Role, Crew Seeks the Perfect Shot
Brad Pitt, recently seen filming for an F1 movie, comfortably assumed his role in the advert shoot. His collaboration with the crew meant capturing not only dynamic driving but also moments with high visual impact.
“I would say my favourite shot of the night was with Brad and then also the vehicle in the background making a bunch of tyre smoke,”
Chen recalled, describing efforts to coordinate camera work while the production team filmed video footage concurrently.
The setup required precise coordination, lighting, and a bit of improvisation.
“I actually had to be a lot closer to him to shoot his face. We had to light him and then also the action had to take place kind of in slow motion for the shot to come together. It almost looked like a photoshopped shot. It looked like it was not real, but we did it practically and that’s just my style,”
Chen added. This attention to in-camera effects was a deliberate choice.
“I really want to try to get everything as close to in camera as possible. After that, I showed the folks from Mercedes the photo, and they were just so stoked on how interesting it looked. It just looked so out of place,”
he further explained, sharing the enthusiastic response from the Mercedes team.
Impact of the Night Shoot and What Lies Ahead
After long hours of filming and creative experimentation, the production wrapped up with a video that has already sparked interest among Mercedes fans and social media observers. The collaboration between Russell, Pitt, and the highly skilled crew highlighted not only the technical demands of such shoots but also the unique storytelling opportunities offered by racing personalities and elite automotive brands. As anticipation builds around the advert’s wider release, the innovative footage from Las Vegas underlines the growing intersection of motorsport stardom, movie talent, and bold automotive marketing.
