If I could buy one thing for my dog—it’d be time.
That single line became the heartbeat of our latest campaign. It’s what fueled every shot, every edit, and every conversation on set as we brought the “Buy Them Back Time” campaign to life.
As CMO at Kruiz, I’ve had the honor of working closely with our creative and production teams to capture the magic behind pet travel—those small, quiet moments that remind us why we built this company in the first place. This shoot wasn’t just about dogs and destinations; it was about emotion, memory, and the invisible thread that connects pet parents everywhere.
🎬 Building “Buy Them Back Time”
Our story is simple: time is the one thing every pet parent wishes they could buy. Whether it’s more hikes, more sunsets, or just one more road trip together—our app helps make those moments easier to create.
To bring this to life, we partnered with students from De Anza College’s film and theater departments, giving rising talent a chance to work on a professional production while helping us tell a story that matters. Their creativity, energy, and passion brought a fresh lens to the emotional storytelling that defines the Kruiz brand.
🐾 Filming With Heart (and a Few Tail Wags)
We shot across a vacation home (Vrbo), beaches, trails, and open roads—each scene designed to reflect a feeling every dog owner knows: love, presence, and connection.
Our sound design played a huge role in that emotional storytelling:
- ⏱ Ticking clock → the pressure of time, the reminder that moments matter
- 🎹 Piano motif → memory, tenderness, nostalgia
- ❤️ Heartbeat and breath → grounding presence, that feeling of being right here, right now
Every “tick,” note, and breath was chosen to pull the audience into a feeling—not just a frame. It’s the art of slowing down time, just for a few seconds.
🎥 The Creative Process
As a startup, every shoot is both creative and logistical acrobatics. From scouting the perfect Vrbo location (special thanks to Sacha, our incredibly kind host!) to managing dogs, cast, and changing weather, we learned a lot.
A few favorite lessons from this shoot:
- Always host a full crew call the day before to align on creative direction.
- Bring walkie-talkies—especially when cell service disappears halfway through a hike.
- And maybe most importantly: coffee, milk, and props deserve their own checklist.
💡 Why It Matters
At Kruiz, we’re not just launching an app—we’re building a movement. Pet travel today is fragmented and confusing. Our platform simplifies it, helping owners easily plan pet-friendly trips—from guidance to booking—with confidence and peace of mind.
Every piece of content we create—whether it’s a TikTok reel or a full cinematic short—serves one purpose: to remind people that traveling with your pet doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be soulful, easy, and full of memory-making moments.
And this shoot? It was our love letter to that truth.
🌎 What’s Next
This is just the beginning. We’ll soon be expanding the “Buy Them Back Time” series to include cats and other animals as Kruiz grows. Each story will highlight the same truth: that love travels with us—and that every trip, big or small, is another chance to make time count.
Our app officially comes out later this year, marking a huge step forward for pet travel.
Follow our journey on Instagram and TikTok @letskruiz, and stay tuned for behind-the-scenes clips, emotional stories, and our next content drop.
Because if we could buy one thing for our pets—it’d be time.
Special Thanks For Our Beautiful Pet Friendly Location
Sacha, our amazing Vrbo host — see her property here.
🙏 Thank You to Our Crew / Credits
Executive Producers
Angela Le, Brad Pauer
Director / Creative Director
Angela Le
Producers
Brad Pauer, Jet Amarasinghe (Associate)
Director of Photography
Sandy Chow
Assistant Directors
Julia Li (1st AD), Jet Amarasinghe (2nd AD)
Assistant Camera
Fernando Perez De La Rosa
BTS Videography & Photography
Jet Amarasinghe
Cast
Veronica Concepcion, Joaquin Gawchua, Evie Bennett
Dog Talent
Bodhi, Jax, Bubbles, Riley