DIRECTOR HARRIETT MAIRE Catches Magic for OPPO
- Dec 12, 2024
- 2 min read
The day Director Harriett Maire tossed her smartphone away and caught magic for OPPO.
“Who throws a $2000 phone in the air just to make a point?” says film director Harriett
Maire.
As part of the international launch of the Find X8 Pro, the flagship top-of-the-line
smartphone from OPPO, Film Construction was tasked with doing just that. Director
Harriett Maire, a performance director known for her creative casting, made an energetic
film to demonstrate the smartphone's durability and ease of use. The concept was cheeky
– the phone is literally tossed from scene to scene - a metaphor for the device's ease of
use and smooth integration with modern life. The result is a cinematic treat that's as much
about contemporary life as about the technological features.
"We wanted to show that great technology doesn't complicate life – it amplifies it," says
OPPO Marketing Manager Eduardo Sampaio. "Everyone can take a great photo. Everyone
can be creative. This is more than a phone; it's a creative companion. And we wanted to
speak to the New Zealand way of life.”
“When OPPO approached us," says Belinda Bradley, Executive Producer. "they wanted a
story that showed the effortless use of some very high-tech gear. The Hasselblad lens and
the integrated AI on this phone impressed even the hardened photographers and
filmmakers at Film Construction.”
Behind the scenes, the shoot was a testament to trust. “I held my breath every single time
the phone left an actor's hand—part terror, part exhilaration,” says Harriett. It went against
the grain for the actors to throw the phone in the air - trusting that the props team would
catch it. Each catch required multiple takes and a level of coordination. “To be honest,
there were a few spills, but the phone survived them all without a scratch.”
"Tim Flower's cinematography captured the essence of our campaign with his exceptional
eye for organic movement and shaping natural light,” adds Harriett, “Pete Ritchie's colour
grading and David Liversidge's sound design brought nice depth and nuance to the final
piece."
The campaign speaks directly to urban, creative professionals aged 25-45 – individuals
who see their smartphone as an extension of their creative toolkit. The phone's
specifications tell their own story: 50-megapixel lenses, Gorilla Glass protection, water and
knock-proof resistance. But Maire's direction transforms these technical details into
moments of fun, each catch a celebration of life.
The campaign was completed with photographer Matt Hurley capturing the Key Visuals,
maximising Film Construction’s creative offerings.
The Catch - OPPO Find X8 Pro
Campaign Still - Matt Hurley
Behind the scenes.
CREDITS:
OPPO Marketing Manager - Eduardo Sampaio
Film Construction
Executive Producer - Belinda Bradley
Producer - Leah Oram
Director - Harriett Maire
Editor - Perry Bradley
Photographer - Matt Hurley
DOP - Tim Flower
Colourist - Pete Richie
Sound - Radiate Studios
Online - James Hutchinson
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