Behind the Scenes: The Riyadh Air Runway Challenge

When golf meets aviation, spectacle takes flight. In this extraordinary piece, Riyadh Air partnered with golf’s biggest names — Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio García, Dustin Johnson, Joaquín Niemann, and Jon Rahm — to create an unforgettable challenge: hitting the perfect shot over Jamila, Riyadh Air’s magnificent Boeing Dreamliner, to score a hole-in-one on the runway itself.

Our production team was tasked with bringing this ambitious vision to life — blending the precision of sport, the engineering beauty of aviation, and cinematic storytelling into one seamless, high-impact film.

Concept & Creative Vision

The concept was as bold as the athletes themselves: Every frame had to balance scale, suspense, and elegance, showcasing Riyadh Air’s brand identity — sophistication, innovation, and excellence — while capturing the personality and competitive spirit of each golfer.

From the outset, we knew this wasn’t just a golf video — it was a cinematic event. The creative direction emphasized wide-angle grandeur for the aircraft, dynamic camera movement to capture ball trajectories, and close, emotive shots to bring viewers into the mindset of each player.

Pre-Production

1. Creative Development
Working closely with Riyadh Air’s marketing and creative teams, we developed a treatment that combined the spectacle of a challenge show with the visual language of a premium commercial. Storyboards and motion pre-visualizations mapped every movement.

2. Logistics & Safety Planning
Filming on a live runway with a full-sized aircraft presented enormous logistical challenges. Every sequence required coordination with aviation authorities, strict safety protocols, and meticulous timing to ensure both the crew and talent could perform without risk. Our team collaborated with ground and safety officers to plan shot positions, golf trajectories, and equipment zones.

Production

On shoot day, the runway was transformed into a stage of cinematic proportion.

Each golfer — Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio García, Dustin Johnson, Joaquín Niemann, and Jon Rahm — stepped up to the tee with signature flair.

Our director guided performances to balance natural charisma with competitive tension. The Director of Photography and camera team worked hand-in-hand to execute movements and coverage that followed the ball from tee to hole.

The shoot took place over a single morning under tight schedule control, requiring seamless coordination between our production unit and Riyadh’s airfield operations.

Post-Production

In post, our editorial team crafted final pieces to feel both epic and intimate — a mix of awe and athletic mastery. One headline edit and associated cutdowns for social.

• Editing & Rhythm: We structured the piece to build tension with a playful but cinematic tone.

• Sound Design: Engine ambience, golf impacts, and soundbites were layered with a bespoke score to create a cinematic energy.

• Color Grading: The final grade emphasized Riyadh Air’s iconic palette — shimmering blues and purples — against the clean desert light.

• Visual Effects: Subtle enhancements were applied to track the golf balls in flight and accentuate depth and movement.

The result: a piece that looks as majestic and cinematic as it feels, blending sport, technology, and artistry into a single breathtaking moment.