The Netflix drama "House of Guinness" leaned into high‑end production workflows and cinematic tools to bring its 19th‑century brewing‑dynasty story to life. According to a feature from ARRI Rental, cinematographer Nicolaj Brüel DFF and his team shot the first five episodes using large‑format ALEXA Mini LF cameras paired with ALFA V1/V2 anamorphic lenses—from the prep stage through post in HDR.
Brüel says HDR was part of the creative plan from the outset: the goal was to reflect the wealth and texture of the Guinness family’s world with rich colour and contrast, while avoiding overly glossy visuals. Shot in large format, the production also placed strong emphasis on lens choice, light‑response, set dressing and down‑to‑the‑grain cinematic detail.
From a creator‑and‑business perspective, there are clear lessons:
- Tool selection shapes your aesthetic: Using a large‑format sensor and premium anamorphics created a very film‑like look—even for a streaming drama. For podcasters or video creators, this signals that workflow and optics matter, not just budget.
- Workflow integration counts: By ironing out HDR workflows early, the team avoided post‑production surprises. That’s a good reminder for content teams that early testing and standards save time and money.
- Location + production support your story: Though the story is set in Ireland and New York, it was filmed in the UK using locations carefully chosen to match architecture and era. Set‑dressing, lighting and lenses all worked together to create the “world”.
If your content (podcast, video‑podcast, branded series) aims to convey authenticity and depth, investing in workflow and environment can pay huge dividends. The House of Guinness example shows how modern gear and thoughtful execution turn ambitious storytelling into premium production.
