Harrison Ford Comes to Scotland for Glenmorangie, with the Help of LS Productions

In January this year Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky revealed a new global campaign starring cinematic icon, Harrison Ford. Legendary for his countless iconic movie roles, the Hollywood actor brings his trademark wry humour to the fore in a series of episodic films directed by actor and film-maker Joel Edgerton.

Once Upon a Time in Scotland takes us behind-the-scenes as Harrison Ford journeys to Glenmorangie’s Highland home, to discover the skill and craftmanship that goes into making each bottle of its complex and elegant whisky. It sees the actor enjoy the authentic Scottish experience — from getting to grips with the nuances of Scottish pronunciation and kilt etiquette, to bonding with locals over a dram of single malt — all shot in an unconventional, deliberately ‘off-script’ style.

Filmed over 3 days in the picturesque north-east Highlands of Scotland, the campaign captures the natural beauty of the local area: from the historic distillery in Tain where Glenmorangie has been created for over 180 years, to the 19th century Ardross Castle (that is also happens to be home to BBC 1’s the Traitors), and the dramatic landscapes surrounding Loch Glass. Edgerton’s 12 episodes and hero film are complemented by still images shot by acclaimed fashion photographer Lachlan Bailey. 

As the UK’s largest production service partner, born and raised in Scotland, LS Productions were perfectly placed to deliver all local production for the shoot. Working in partnership with Production Agency Bandits and Production Company Hungry Man. LS were able to utilise their intimate local Scottish production knowledge, to keep Ford's arrival in Scotland a secret, whilst co-ordinating 90 local Scottish crew to deliver a best in class production experience for some of the worlds most exceptional global talent, which also included creative director Justin O’Shea and stylist Christine Centenera. 

Shot on a Alexa 35 camera with Steadicam the shoot required the co-ordination and execution of a number of logistically complex shots. The most challenging being the stills and footage that required the transportation of Ford and crew to the side of a remote Scottish mountain. LS worked closely with the helicopter team to ensure the timely setup of everything required to get the shots and the safe arrival of one of the world's most famous faces, before the midges set in. The resulting stills from Lachlan Bailey have become instantly iconic and definitely worth the challenge.

A 2nd unit was also involved to capture the stunning drone shots of the classic black Jaguar E-Type which Ford can be seen driving in Episode 2 from the distillery to his accommodation, alongside the co-ordination of all other driving shots, BRoll as well as the BTS team who were documenting the shoot. 

Episodes 1-6 of ‘Once Upon Time in Scotland’ can be viewed on the Glenmorangie website here