The Shot-for-Shot Craftsmanship of This Safari Porsche Short Film Is Impressive

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      While I am a writer, I'm acutely aware of the limitations of language. I can evoke different feelings with my rhythm, using poetic devices to modulate the voice in your mind. I can resonate with your feelings through casual phrases like "oughta" or "gotta." Depending on how directly I engage you, I can either comfort or motivate you. However, words have their constraints.

      Fortunately, art manifests in various forms to stir different emotions. If I wrote an insightful essay about the experience of driving a Safari-modified Porsche 944, you would only grasp the aspects that I described. Alternatively, you could watch a short film titled Jaunt, which features that very car and elicits feelings that I cannot express as effectively.

      Jaunt has been presented worldwide as part of the Banff Centre Mountain Film World Tour, among other venues. It is a creation of Blk Elk Co., a creative studio situated in the Ozark mountains of Northwest Arkansas. They are exceptionally skilled with all types of cameras, but cinematography goes beyond just that.

      They provided me with an early viewing of Jaunt, and now it's available on YouTube. I spoke with them to understand how they made me feel what I felt during my first viewing, so the rest of this piece will focus on that. But first, you should watch the four-minute film:

      JAUNT | A Porsche 944 Safari + MTB Short Film

      Pretty impressive, right? Although it's brief, there's a lot happening to engage your senses. I'm quite inexperienced in the technical aspects, which is why I asked the film's director, Daniel Mitchell, to elaborate.

      Instead of merely telling me, with words and their annoying limits, Mitchell annotated some still images of his favorite scenes.

      That’s a Sony FX6 with a Sirui anamorphic lens on the dolly, along with Aputure lights positioned above and beside. Blk Elk Co.

      Let's begin with the initial shot. There’s not just a main camera operator responsible for the correct positioning using the stabilizing Dana dolly; there's also another crew member on the right dedicated to keeping the shot in focus with a tool known as a focus puller. He uses a wireless device with a rotating knob to adjust the focus as necessary.

      Establishing the right environment requires effort. Choosing the right props is crucial; the crew was able to enhance the dull office space theme with thrift store finds. A CRT monitor without a visible logo made the atmosphere feel extra generic, coupled with a standing book that has "Real World, Here I Come" written on its spine.

      Essentially, it’s the kind of setting where you might expect to find someone faced with a pile of paperwork.

      On the left: The same Sony FX6 with a Sirui lens, a Black & Decker drill, and a black sheet. In the middle: A mobile Aputure light, DJI RS4 Pro gimbal, and an impressive rally Porsche constructed by 944 Safari. At the bottom: DJI RS4 Pro gimbal. Blk Elk Co.

      Analyzing these scenes side-by-side makes sense as they launch the narrative. Upon rewatching the film, I was curious about how they made the flip clock turn so quickly. It seemed improbable that they artificially sped up the frames since sequentially moving the cards would have been tedious. I was amused to find out they used a power drill to speed through time rapidly.

      The jazzy soundtrack for this scene contributes significantly to the heightened energy. Nothing gets you moving quite like brass instruments, interspersed with energetic percussion that doesn’t hold back on the cymbals. A piano master carries the melody forward.

      Mitchell expressed particular pride in their successful execution of the transition shown between the two scenes. The pitch-black setting in the initial part of the film was staged inside the 944 Safari shop, which also functions as a modification workshop. It was filmed in a single take to transition viewers from the mundane desk environment to one bustling with activity. The sounds of pneumatic impacts and tools echo as the actor climbs into the Porsche.

      This particular model is an exemplary build by 944 Safari. It features a naturally aspirated engine, but as any 944 owner will tell you, it's not the engine that makes them special. The front-rear layout is the most distinctive feature, and unlike the more powerful 928, these models are lighter and much more agile. Daniel Davis, the Porsche owner and shop proprietor, has crafted a solid formula to leverage these strengths: a taller suspension for increased clearance, more aggressive tires suited for gravel, and Hella lights for both aesthetic appeal and visibility. Racks are included to enhance usability because a stock 944 has limited space for a mountain bike or full-size spare.

      As the P-car exits, the scene benefits from natural lighting. It is chased out the door by the