Johnnie Walker commercial shot by Director of Photography Sherman Johnson, directed by Tim Warren

Johnnie Walker "Black. Then, Now, Always"
Director: Tim Warren
Production Company: Artex Productions

Johnnie Walker “Black. Then, Now, Always” is a branded film directed by Tim Warren for Artex Productions and photographed by Sherman Johnson. Filmed across North Carolina, New York, and Florida, the project explores the history of Johnnie Walker Black Label through a series of connected moments spanning multiple eras. The visual approach combines black-and-white origin-story imagery, period-inspired scenes, and contemporary sequences, creating a progression from the brand’s past into the present day. Historical portions of the film were photographed with Cooke S4 lenses to evoke a softer, more classic character, while contemporary scenes utilized ARRI Master Primes. Motion control photography, probe lenses, and practical transitions were used throughout the production to create seamless connections between locations, time periods, and storylines. The campaign received three ADDY Awards.

TECHNICAL

This online commercial for Johnnie Walker Black was shot in Banner Elk, NC, New York City, NY and Fort Lauderdale, FL, and was shot on a Red Epic Camera. The two period vignettes were photographed using Cooke S4s lenses and the modern vignette was shot on Arri Master Primes.