Ed Sheeran for VOX: Commercial Production in Cincinnati for RTL Deutschland
How does a European broadcasting company produce a celebrity commercial in the United States — with a director flying in from Germany and a one-day window to get it right?
RTL Deutschland GmbH — one of Europe’s largest commercial broadcasting conglomerates, operating RTL Television, VOX, ntv, NITRO, and others — needed a production company in Cincinnati, Ohio, to film Ed Sheeran for VOX Network’s winter commercial campaign. Their director was flying in from Germany with a clear creative vision and a team that would be stateside only for the shoot day.
Listening First
The pre-production calls started while RTL Deutschland’s team was still in Germany. Kevin Eller, K2’s Senior Director, took that time to understand the production the way the client understood it — what the campaign needed to feel like, what the shoot day needed to look like, what mattered most to a broadcasting team producing content for a major European network.
Those conversations shaped everything that followed. Kevin asked the questions that got to the specifics — not just what was on the shot list, but how the client wanted to feel on set and what would make the day run smoothly. By the time RTL Deutschland’s team landed in Cincinnati, that groundwork had been laid across the weeks of calls that preceded it.
What K2 Built for the Shoot
K2 assembled and managed the full production for the VOX winter commercial:
- 13-person crew — Director of Photography, full camera and lighting team, grip, sound, and supporting crew
- Full broadcast camera and lighting setup — to VOX Network’s broadcast standards
- Props and styling — wardrobe stylist and prop sourcing for the production
- Transportation — for the RTL Deutschland team flying in from Germany and for Ed Sheeran
- Production management — Kevin served as the on-set producer alongside RTL Deutschland’s director throughout the shoot day
The Shoot Day
Ed Sheeran arrived at a set the RTL Deutschland team recognized as their own. The crew understood the production. The environment matched the standard the campaign required. Kevin’s presence throughout the day meant the German team had a senior producer beside them who already knew what they were working toward.
Ed Sheeran was genuinely fun on set — generous with the crew, present in every setup. The RTL Deutschland team left Cincinnati with exactly what they came for.
Producing Broadcast Commercials for International Clients
K2 Productions handles full-service broadcast commercial production across the United States — including crew, equipment, logistics, and production management — for international brands, agencies, and broadcasters.
The pre-production relationship is where K2 does its most important work. If your brand or network has a commercial production in the US and needs a team that will take the time to understand it before the camera rolls, reach out to start the conversation.
Explore K2’s commercial video production and production work across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.