Preymaker Unwraps the Making of Mercedes-Benz ‘Holiday Love Celebration’ Campaign
Preymaker’s Jacob Weeks, Tobey Lindback, Lauren Shields and Mark Sanna discuss the VFX and grade which helped bring the campaign to life
This article originally appeared in LBB, December 31, 2025.
The Mercedes-Benz ‘Holiday Love Celebration’ Christmas campaign features a hip modern version of Santa Claus and his wife - ‘Mr. Claus’ and ‘Mrs. C,’ who forgo the traditional team of reindeer for a sleek team of Mercedes-Benz vehicles. From agency Merkley+Partners and directed by Peter Thwaites of The Corner Shop, ‘Substitute’ depicts Santa feeling under the weather and a very capable Mrs. C stepping in to save the day, and ‘PTO’ features the happy couple about to begin a lavish summer holiday before being rerouted to Timmy’s house to deliver a forgotten Christmas gift.
The campaign hits all the right notes with exemplary casting, performance, cinematography and styling, along with seamless visual effects and a warm, sumptuous look delivered in collaboration with creative + technology company Preymaker.
LBB talked with the Preymaker team about the VFX and grade which helped bring the campaign to life.
LBB>We understand the campaign was filmed in the Los Angeles area. But you had to deliver a wintry landscape for ‘Substitute.” How did Preymaker help Peter Thwaites create a wintery landscape?
Preymaker’s Jacob Weeks (production)>The driving sequence was shot day-for-night, so we could have as much detail as possible from the car to play with. We worked with Peter to ensure that as much could be captured practically as possible. The road was dressed with fake snow, extending outwards about six feet on either side, so we could capture the contact point of the wheels and the road practically and seamlessly integrate the CG landscape.