CASTLE HILLS

Feature Story: Cooper & The Castle Hills Gang

The Assignment

In many ways Castle Hills looks like most master-planned communities in north Texas, with its manicured golf course and gentle hills. Look closer though, and in the subtleties you’ll see something different. “The thematic elements upon which the community is based are derived from the poetic side of life,” said developer Chris Bright in an early meeting. Whoa. That was unexpected.

Built on the land of former Dallas Cowboys owner Bum Bright, Castle Hills is more than a neighborhood. It’s a childhood retreat and family heirloom. Our assignment was to conceive a traditional marketing video, but that wouldn’t do this project justice. Not after absorbing every feature alongside its passionate creator. Chris Bright didn’t know it yet, but he was about to meet the present-day version of himself as an eleven-year-old boy.

The Work

The pitch meeting wouldn’t have been out of place on the Universal lot. Our proposal was simple: a movie. A 60-min feature, set entirely within Castle Hills on the 4th of July. The plot involved Cooper Callaghan helping his affable neighbor, Mr. Wilson, find a missing wedding ring before his wife returns home. The heart of the project though, was all about emotional connection. While the attributes of Castle Hills are special, the spirit and lifestyle it engenders is one-of-a-kind. Simply put, it’s a genuine community.

The film premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival and was the centerpiece of a custom website and digital media campaign. It won several awards within its industry and helped Bright Realty continue to build out Castle Hills at a steady rate.