Running in cities is a completely different experience to rural locations. Every city has a unique character, which means it’s a great place to capture stories.
When we collaborated with Salomon, we looked to capture the uniqueness of urban running in a way that resonated deeply with the viewer. Although they’re best known for trail running, Salomon has expanded into road running with models like the Phantasm and Predict series, which focus on speed and maintaining energy.
This project wasn’t just about capturing runners on the go, but those moments of transcendent beauty and humanity you find in cities.
Cities provide an incredible backdrop for filmmakers and can even become a character in their own right.
The Challenge: Capturing Both the Grit and Beauty of Running
Salomon wanted a campaign that set them apart —one that was visually captivating, but also reflected their brand’s commitment to a high performing footwear worn in rugged, adventurous surroundings. Although Salomon is a brand that has its roots in the origins of the French Alps, we sought to find that same beauty in the heart of cities.
Running is a sport which can be both meditative and intense; it’s an activity for the soul along with the body.
To capture the dual nature of running, we combined the endurance of runners with the fleeting, dream-like moments that arise in urban environments. This is a campaign to inspire viewers to move, to explore, and to discover the untold beauty in their surroundings.
The Process: Turning Salomon’s Vision into Reality
Under the creative direction of Gwlym Evans and Sean Delahay, a long time director / DP duo, we brought Salomon’s vision to life over three action-packed days. Every detail—from pre-production to post—was meticulously planned and executed to create a film that was mesmerising and inspiring.
Visual Effects and Techniques
We pulled out all the stops to capture an enthralling film that stood out from the noise. Using a mix of traditional and more unusual techniques, we interspersed the high-paced editing with still moments of surreal beauty. Some techniques implemented included:
By deploying the city backdrops to full effect, along with these visual effects, we managed to capture that duality of running: its grit and grace, its hardship and elation.
Storytelling Through Visuals and Voice
Our aim was not merely to inspire people to go running; it was to encourage them to ‘be present’ in the current moment, through the power of their body. To do this, we incorporated a voiceover that captured both the physicality of running and the poetry that lies at its essence.
Above, we crafted a narrative that echoed Salomon’s ethos, while creating a film that had wide appeal for athletes at all levels.
Location Scouting and Cinematic Precision
Urban running means you get to experience a thousand stories on your journey, whether you’re running through a large capital city like New York or London or a smaller historic city with its own unique secrets. Most cities have a cinema quality which was to our advantage. However, not all have the same level of charm.
Our location scouts looked to find sites replete with stories. We enjoyed many weeks of exploration, each location had its own visual narrative. We looked to find untamed quality that reflected the nature of running.
The Result: A Film That Inspires Road Runners to Explore
We were extremely proud of the final results of our film for Saloman and pulled out all the stops to create a campaign that reflected the spirit of the brand along with the unique and exhilarating experience of running in a city.
Our team wanted to inspire the audience to view running as not just a sport, but an incredible adventure.
If you want to see the results, simply hit play now!
Why Choose Wild Gamma Film?
This project demonstrates what we do best at Wild Gamma Films: directing creative films which are edited with technical mastery and tell an engaging story that captivates and inspires.
From cinematic moments from the back of a moving vehicle, to taking the viewer into the more shadowy corners of the city, we’re committed to creating films which truly resonate and stick in the minds of the audience.
If you like the sound of our approach, why not explore our portfolio and see how we can help bring your vision to life? Let’s create something extraordinary together.
