Pivot had a great marketing strategy for this project. They had a very clear idea for the feature film, how they wanted to tease the film with social media cut-downs leading up to the release, and how the story in the film supported the image they wanted to portray for the Firebird. It was great being involved in a team that had such a clear vision. It was my responsibility to storyboard the concept in further detail and creatively direct the production. I managed two film teams in Austria and Arizona, USA as well as shooting the narrative parts in New Zealand myself. I finished up with editing where particular attention was paid to the sound design and music selection. We used these elements to carry the viewer through the various scenes and convey a sense of a mysterious dreamlike and perhaps dark fantasy that the characters where transported into. It was a delicate balance between the playful idea of an ice-cream and the comedy aspect and the concept that drove the marketing strategy: “It’s not as sweet as it looks”.
PAUL RAYNER – DIRECTOR
“It was the discovery of my fathers 1964 Canon FX in the back of a storage shed cupboard in Cape Town, South Africa over 20 years ago that started my fascination with the captured image.”
ABOUT ME
My whole life I have been drawn to mountains. The stark beauty of them, dramatic light, space, adventure, adrenaline, solitude and inspiration that they offer. Mountain sports and photography have been the vessel through which I have explored the physical and mental provinces of the mountains. After a decade of analogue and digital photography I gingerly dipped my toe into the immersive world of film. This was when I realised that in truth I was a filmmaker by nature – I plunged head-on into what has now become my most compelling passion.
I am grateful to have had such a comprehensive experience in analogue cameras and still photography. It has greatly influenced my skill set and has shaped my approach toward filmmaking. Being obsessively immersed in the people and the sports that I shoot allows me to honestly portray my subjects. Through stunning imagery, crafted by light and movement, it is my ambition to create films that inspire people to think and motivate them to act.