showcase nordic europe issue 807

Jul 2020

Hero Production Iceland: Reykjavik location service and scouts

"Summer is here in Iceland with open borders for filmmakers thanks to the actions and responses of Iceland’s director of health. They seem to be working beyond our greatest hopes giving us a reason to be cautiously optimistic from this point on.

Due to the foreign travel restrictions to Iceland, the whole country is now literally empty and offers a unique opportunity, even more so than normal and that’s saying something. The biggest tourist attractions and hotspots are now free of all human interference in pristine surroundings.

Hero has access to state of the art camera equipment that can be utilised by local crews capturing scenes and landscapes never thought possible in complete safety and according to all government containment rules and health regulations.

We are allowing social groups up to 50 people. Studios and production houses now need to embrace a new reality in times of an opponent facing all mankind. This reality enforces a new set of rules on the production industry to ensure safety for all individuals.

We at Hero use those rules as an opportunity to exercise our creativity in film, TV and ad productions focusing on new solutions to drive safe content creation in Iceland.

Using restrictions as an innovative force is our forté and the current situation is no exception."

Fotonokka: Helsinki Photo Production

FOTONOKKA is a Helsinki-based photo production studio. Fotonokka was founded in 1972, and has since successfully produced photoshoots and campaigns for both the domestic and global market. Fotonokka teams take care of the whole production from the idea to results, bringing together the best crew and finally photoshoot and retouch.

"Food has always been close to our hearts. This particular Showcase, by photographer Elvi Rista, is all about our food and still life. Elvi’s creative talent is trusted by brands like Alko, (Finnish national alcoholic beverage retailer), Helsingin Sanomat -Finland’s largest daily newspaper- and Valio, a manufacturer of dairy products."

Elvi’s sensitivity to her surroundings is visible in her work. She has an outstanding ability to find fresh and unexpected ways to shine light on the best qualities of her subjects. She values teamwork, and her trademark is a unique way of seeing through strong, relentless vision.

Republik Film Productions: Iceland Photo & Film Production and locations

Republik Film Productions is a powerhouse production company in Iceland offering quality film and photo service and production. The company specialises in TV commercial productions and photo-shoots.

Reasons to consider Iceland and Republik as your shooting partner:

• Iceland is now open for film and photo shoots. Foreign crew can travel to Iceland without having to go into quarantine.
• The health and safety of cast and crew remains the top priority: "We take great precautions and follow guidelines from health officials".
• Republik offers full service, from locations & casting to post production and online and everything in between. They also offer remote shooting if needed.
• Extraordinarily beautiful locations that are easily accessible.
• Aside from the nature landscapes, Iceland can also offer more generic urban and interior locations, even studio builds.
• Over 20 hours of daylight in the summer months!
• The exchange rate on Iceland's currency, Krona, is more favorable now.
• Republik’s production crew is resourceful and motivated with years of experience servicing shoots of all shapes and sizes.
• Iceland is known for its hard working and professional crew and talent.
• Republik boasts of an impressive directors roster of internationally renowned and award winning directors that are based in Iceland.

Ilja C. Hendel: Oslo corporate & industrial photographers

Ilja C. Hendel works as a corporate, documentary and portrait photographer in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. He covers a broad spectrum of topics but always with the same approach: to discover the motifs in actuality and on location. 

This way of working results in a documentary feel to his pictures - even though they are for corporate use in annual reports, new visual identities, portraits, reportage or travel features for magazines.

Ilja works for international corporate clients, corporate publishing houses as well as leading magazines on assignments in Scandinavia and abroad. Moving to Norway from Germany in 2006, he speaks Norwegian, German and English. Recent commissions and work in progress can be seen on his website and Instagram.

Mark Hobz: Helsinki - Dubai Commercial Directors

Mark Hobz, an Australian cinematographer and member of the Prestigious ACS (Australian Cinematographers Society) has been locked down in Dubai and unable to return to Helsinki during the global COVID19 crisis.

He has been involved in an array of projects since, feature films, commercials and music videos. Working with international directors Pedros Temizian, James Almuhanna, Charlotte Evans and Lloyd Bishop, Mark has fortunately been able to lens for clients such as Emirates NBD, ADCB, National Bank Kuwait, Dermaqual, Zomato, Nikon and Government of Dubai.