Helbling
2016
Projekt Kurz
When Helbling AG approached us to produce a film for their revolutionary toilet prototype, we knew that we had a unique challenge on our hands. The company had developed a toilet that operates completely without any plumbing connections and was set to take part in the "reinvent the toilet challenge" hosted by the Bill & Melissa Gates Foundation, specifically aimed at urban regions in Asia. As a Swiss engineering and film production company, the task of creating a film that captured the attention of an Asian audience was not something we were accustomed to.
Bilder
Together with Helbling AG, we embarked on an extensive research process to understand the cultural nuances and values of the Asian market. We realised that a single film would not be enough to both inform about the technical details of the prototype and create an emotional connection with the audience. As a result, we decided to create two distinct film experiences for the innovative toilet. We worked closely with the Helbling AG to research and develop a film that would effectively communicate both the technical details and the emotional significance of their invention. After extensive research, we came to the conclusion that a single film would not be sufficient to convey the necessary information and create an emotional connection. As a result, we decided to create two moving image experiences for the innovative toilet. The first film, a teaser, was a highly aesthetic parallel montage between Switzerland and China that explained the benefits and necessity of the Swiss-engineered toilet and its user-friendly operation. The second film, a pure 3D experience, was showcased at the event in Shanghai and allowed visitors to experience the technical aspects of the prototype live. Developing a concept that heavily leans on the Swiss engineering aspect of the project but ultimately aims at an Asian market was not an easy task. However, we went above and beyond to create a story that seamlessly marries both worlds and lends a recognizable home to both cultures. The teaser film highlighted the Swiss engineering while the 3D film showcased the technical aspects of the prototype and its potential to solve the sanitation issues in urban regions in Asia. The first teaser film was a highly aesthetic parallel montage between Switzerland and China that explained the benefits and necessity of the Swiss toilet innovation and its easy-to-use features. The second film was a pure 3D film that made all the technical aspects of the prototype live and experienceable at the exhibition in Shanghai. The prototype of the Helbling AG was not awarded any funding despite its impressive appearance, but Foundation Chairman Bill Gates specifically praised the two Helbling films in his opening speech in Shanghai. The film was a true masterpiece, capturing the essence of the company's innovation and their commitment to creating a sustainable solution for the future. It was a visual and emotional journey that connected with the audience on a deeper.
Projekt Kurz
We embarked on a research process to understand the cultural nuances and values of the Asian market, ultimately deciding to create two distinct film experiences for an innovative toilet prototype. The first film was a teaser that highlighted the Swiss engineering of the toilet and its user-friendly features, while the second film was a pure 3D experience showcased at an event in Shanghai that allowed visitors to experience the technical aspects of the prototype live. Despite not receiving funding, the films were praised by Foundation Chairman Bill Gates for capturing the company's innovation and commitment to creating a sustainable solution for the future. The films were a visual and emotional journey that connected with the audience on a deeper level.
01 The Challenge
When Helbling AG approached our Swiss engineering and film production company to create a film for their innovative toilet prototype, they presented us with a unique challenge. The toilet operates without plumbing and was created to participate in the "reinvent the toilet challenge" hosted by the Bill & Melissa Gates Foundation, aimed at addressing sanitation issues in urban Asia. We needed to create a film that would effectively communicate the technical details and create an emotional connection with the Asian audience, a market that was unfamiliar to us.
02 The Solution
We collaborated with Helbling AG to research and understand the cultural values of the Asian market. We realised that a single film wouldn't suffice, so we created two distinct film experiences for the innovative toilet. The first film was a teaser, a parallel montage between Switzerland and China that highlighted the benefits and ease of use of the Swiss-engineered toilet. The second film was a 3D experience that showcased the technical aspects of the prototype at the exhibition in Shanghai. The animation added another dimension of excitement by making it seem like you were watching something that was real instead of just hearing about it from someone else. It really made you feel like you were there in person, seeing everything that was going on around you. Die Animation verlieh dem Ganzen noch eine zusätzliche Dimension, indem sie den Eindruck erweckte, man würde etwas Reales sehen und nicht nur von jemand anderem darüber hören. Man hatte wirklich das Gefühl, selbst dabei zu sein und alles zu sehen, was um einen herum geschah.
03 The Result
Despite not receiving funding, the films were a success. Chairman Bill Gates specifically praised the films in his opening speech at the Shanghai exhibition, calling them a masterpiece. The films captured the essence of Helbling's innovation and commitment to sustainability, and connected with the audience on a deeper emotional level. The combination of Swiss engineering and cultural sensitivity was a challenging but successful project for our company.
