Clockwork Films, in collaboration with VML, are so proud of this new work for Rio Tinto, brought to life by director JH. Executive Producer Katie Trew shares her insights and experiences from behind the scenes.
“The concept behind the ‘into’ brand platform for Rio Tinto was to show that there is so much more to Rio Tinto than just iron ore, mining, and hi-vis,” says Katie. “When you are shooting in remote locations there is always an extra layer of complexity to the project. When your main location is a working iron ore site that is active 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the preproduction and planning required was next level”. Katie highlighted the pivotal role of the production team, particularly Susie Opie (Producer) and Josh Nicholas (Production Manager), in ensuring everything ran smoothly.
“The enormity of a Rio Tinto operation is just impossible to comprehend without seeing it for yourself. I think it’s fair to say the wonderful team at Rio Tinto were consistently challenged by us – film making and mining iron ore are two very different worlds. Together we had to navigate the route to allow us to shoot safely whilst still capturing the magic that JH, DP Jani Hakli and photographer Stef King needed to tell this story.”
One of the most demanding scenes took place inside a lab where temperatures soared to 50°C, presenting significant technical hurdles. Katie recounts. “We were rigging lab equipment with various camera setups, as we couldn’t be inside once the machinery was running. It’s an environment that is very hot and very loud meaning full ear protection – everyone is lip-reading. Every time we would get ready to roll, the 50° heat in the room would send the camera gear into an error. It was high pressure shooting.”
Ironically, the hottest weather during the seven days of shooting was the basketball and foreshore scenes in Perth. The Pilbara offered up a balmy 38-degrees and then the crew returned to record breaking 44-degree days back in Perth.
Despite the challenges, the team successfully captured some incredible imagery, thanks the commitment of everyone involved. An absolute stand out was the performance we got from our toddler Ace, who appeared in the commercial alongside his real-life mother, Takia. “There’s no doubt that the real star of the show was Ace. He just turned it on every time the cameras were on him,” says Katie.
The Rio Tinto ‘into’ campaign not only showcases the vast and dynamic world of Rio Tinto but also celebrates the spirit of collaboration, determination, and creativity that made the project a reality. Clockwork Films is proud to have been part of this journey, bringing together passionate storytellers to create something truly special.
