12-Hours Notice: Shooting Kendall Jenner & Mario Testino for Bunim/Murray in Jaipur

  • Project: Keeping Up With The Kardashians
  • Format: Reality TV / Observational Documentary
  • Client: Bunim Murray Productions (Los Angeles) / E!
  • Credit: Shooting Producer/Director (India)
  • Locations: Jaipur (Samode Palace), Rajasthan.

Case Study: Entertainment TV shoot in Rajasthan

The Challenge: Reality Waits for No One

In the world of high-volume reality TV, a  "locked" schedule is a relative term. Bunim/Murray Productions—the machine behind the Kardashian empire—needed to capture a specific, high-stakes sequence: Kendall Jenner’s iconic Vogue India cover shoot with Mario Testino in Rajasthan.

The logistical problem was acute. The talent was already en route. The creative brief was evolving. Flying a dedicated camera crew from Los Angeles to Jaipur on less than a day's notice would have been a logistical nightmare and a budgetary disaster.

They didn't just need a "fixer" guide them. They needed a Remote Unit capable of stepping in as a seamless extension of the LA team. A production team capable of matching the show's specific visual style, and managing the aggressive legal compliance required by a global franchise—all with 12 hours on the clock. We received the call at 9pm, the next morning we arrived on set at 8am, and we turned over before 9am.

The Solution: The "Shoot-to-Order" Protocol

Instead of the client scrambling for visas and flights, we mobilized a Western-standard camera and sound team from our Goa and Delhi bases, converging on Jaipur while the talent was still in HMU.

  • Visual Continuity: Reality TV lives and dies in the edit. If the footage doesn't match the LA cameras, it's unusable. We utilized specific camera packages and lighting setups that mirrored the show's "glossy reality" aesthetic, ensuring our rushes could cut seamlessly with footage shot in Calabasas.
  • The "Release" Shield: In reality TV, an unsigned release form is a legal hand grenade. Shooting in a public environment (even a palace) with A-list talent attracts chaos. We handled all location and appearance releases on the ground, ensuring that every frame we shot was legally cleared for global broadcast before the hard drives even left the set.
  • The Invisible Producer: Our team didn't just point and shoot; we Produced. We directed the sequence based on the showrunner's notes, managing the sensitive interface between the Vogue fashion crew (who wanted privacy) and the E! requirement (who needed access). We got the story without any friction and we were all friends by the time we wrapped.

The Outcome

We delivered the sequence on time and under budget. By utilizing our "Shoot to Order" service, Bunim/Murray saved tens of thousands of dollars in international flights, hotels, and per diems.

The segment aired globally, capturing the grandeur of Samode Palace and the tension of the shoot, with the audience never suspecting that the "LA Crew" was actually a team of local experts hired the day before.

What The Client Said

"Thank you for being so patient and for doing such a great job last minute and with very little information. Well done, you guys and hoping to make it to India, eventually.”

- Delphine Lorin, Senior Producer | Bunim/Murray Productions

 

The Official Trailer...

 

Services Provided

  • Remote Field Production: Acting as the "eyes and ears" of the LA Executive Producers.
  • Rapid Deployment: Mobilizing crew and equipment to Rajasthan in under 24 hours.
  • Legal Compliance: Managing appearance releases and location contracts to US network standards.
  • Heritage Permissions: Securing a location release for the historic Samode Palace.

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