When Everton FC and Hill Dickinson wanted to showcase their partnership and give the public a fresh look at the new Hill Dickinson Stadium, they needed a single shot that felt bold, confident and impossible to ignore. AerialJohnny was brought in to deliver exactly that with a fully planned, high precision FPV drone fly through, paired with traditional aerial footage for context and scale.
Before filming, we always hold several calls with clients to discuss the day and how it typically runs, including what’s needed beforehand and on the day itself. Of course, not everything always goes according to plan, so we sometimes need to adapt. Here’s what we faced and how we overcame it.
We were racing against the clock on the day. The digital screens team were installing new screens above the player lockers, which left us with just about 20 minutes to get everything. Our plan was ambitious: one continuous shot starting outside, through the player tunnel, into the change room, down the press walkway, and out onto the pitch-plus a few extra internal shots. With such little time, we had to move fast, think on our feet, and adapt as we went, making every second count.
Filming in a live stadium came with its own set of challenges. Groundsmen, cleaning crews, and pitch maintenance systems were all in action, which meant our usual flight paths had to be adjusted on the fly. We had to carefully navigate around teams working in the stands and make sure we didn’t capture too much of the pitch equipment. It turned into a delicate balancing act, staying safe, getting the shots we needed, and keeping out of everyone else’s way.
With a stadium of this scale and so many key locations to cover, maintaining a strong signal was a real challenge. By carefully planning our flight paths, positioning ourselves strategically, and keeping open communication with the Everton staff, we were able to capture everything we needed with minimal signal interruptions. It was all about staying smart, adaptable, and coordinated to make sure nothing was missed.
We were able to deliver a single take from outside into the stadium that gave viewers an incredibly unique view of the stunning stadium from every angle they didn’t know they needed!
We captured multiple takes from both inside the stadium as well as flying from inside the luxury sports box onto the grounds. We also deployed our traditional drones for a more smooth and cinematic shot delivery.
Something we always believe in is giving our clients the least amount of work needed on their end to get the footage to a good editing base, that’s why we delivered all the clips fully stabalised, and shared on the same day to give the Everton editors ample time to work with the footage!
The final footage delivered exactly what the client had in mind. A high energy, immersive one-take FPV sequence supported by cinematic aerial shots that showcased the stadium, the partnership and the sheer scale of the build.
The content travelled fast across LinkedIn, YouTube and internal channels, helping strengthen the visual connection between Everton FC and Hill Dickinson while giving fans a glimpse of a venue they had not yet stepped inside.
If your next project needs the same mix of precision flying and creative storytelling, let’s talk about how to bring it to life.
The Result
Behind The Scenes
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johnathan@aerialjohnny.co.uk
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Our office serves as a central hub, allowing us to efficiently service clients across the entire UK. With a team based in London, we’re able to provide local expertise and support for any project, regardless of complexity. This ensures close collaboration and a deep understanding of your needs, wherever you are.