The world’s first hot air balloon digital display

The Aeronauts is a film which tells the story of scientist James Glaisher who set out to climb higher into the skies in a hot air balloon than anyone before. The film is an Amazon Original movie, made by Amazon Studios, starring actors Eddie Redmayne as Glaisher and Felicity Jones as his balloon companion Amelia Wren.

To celebrate its release, our experiential team worked with Amazon Studios and digital agency AKQA on a movie premiere that would itself involve dizzying heights. We created what is considered the world’s first “digital hot air balloon”.

The balloon measures 31m (101ft) in height, incorporating a screen with 76,752 pixels. This engineering and technological feat provided spectators with a 336 sq m, 360° viewing experience, covering a 56m circumference. The digital screen was developed by our team as well, which made the tech lighter and thinner than normal so that it could become part of the skin of the hot-air balloon.

Stacey Knight, commercial and marketing director at CSM Live, said: “To work with forward-thinking, innovative and truly inspirational partners on this activation was nothing short of a delight. Together with AKQA we delivered an awe-inspiring, breathtaking and immersive activation for the launch of Amazon Studio’s Aeronauts – bringing people the world’s first – and only – flying theatre, in the form of a digital hot air balloon.”

The balloon was tethered to 4 x 4 vehicles and enhanced with two high-resolution screens.

The screening took to the skies in Los Angeles, California and also travelled to Phoenix, Arizona in advance of the official US launch date of the movie.