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SmallRig x Andyax | Survival Toolkit for Filmmakers
SmallRig 2024-12-25 19:16:39
Anders Øvergaard is a renowned Norwegian filmmaker with more than 18 years of experience and the founder of the Andyax YouTube channel.
Morten Rustad is a professional time-lapse photographer and the CEO of the Norwegian film production company VJUS.
Andyax is an educational YouTube channel focused on filmmaking, led by Anders and the Norwegian film production company VJUS. It serves as a hub for learning how to create visually appealing, engaging, and enjoyable video content.
As filmmakers, the entire team often spends extensive hours on set. Anders and Morten acknowledged that at times, they have had to craft their own tools, such as sliders or cablecams, to overcome various challenges. Initially, when they launched the channel, financial constraints prevented them from acquiring certain equipment. However, as the channel grew, the primary reason for crafting tools became the inability to find products that met their specific requirements.
The Andyax team had been developing a "survival toolkit for filmmakers" for a couple of years before SmallRig proposed a collaboration. They revealed that this toolkit was an essential item aimed at addressing a specific challenge.
It's a bit embarrassing to admit, but we do occasionally forget items needed for shoots, shared Anders
They confessed to attempting to create a toolbox that could accommodate all the small components necessary during shoots, with customizable slots, but encountered challenges. Issues ranged from screws and small parts getting misplaced to difficulties in achieving the desired quality for their product. Consequently, when SmallRig approached them for a collaboration, Andyax knew precisely the product they wanted to co-create.
Based on our prior experiences, we were confident that SmallRig could deliver the quality needed for us to entrust it with our brand, mentioned Anders.
Morten presented several 3D renders of the toolbox as a reference for the final product's design, which the team at SmallRig embraced and promptly initiated development.
Before production commenced, decisions had to be made regarding the tools, materials, and sizes to be used. Morten traveled from Norway to Shenzhen, China, to better acquaint himself with our team and finalize these details. Our product managers showcased Morten rough prototypes of tool cases and tools varying in size and materials. Together, they selected the tools Andyax desired to include, enabling our designers and engineers to begin developing the product.
Two weeks before the NAB show in LA, Andyax received the final product. Given their background in filmmaking, they filmed the unboxing and reactions, which can be viewed on their YouTube channel.
What's exciting is that this wasn't just a finished product stamped with our logo; it was our idea and vision brought to life, expressed Morten
The tool kit comprises all the essentials - colored and black duct tape, wrench set, HDMI data cable, 7-in-1 foldable multi-tool, screw set, memory card case, cleaning pen, dust blower, microfiber cleaning cloth, Velcro straps, compartment for scripts, and customizable storage space!
As a team, Anders and Morten traveled to LA to launch the product at NAB. They admitted to feeling nervous before presenting the product to the audience at such a significant event but were confident that if they believed in it, others would too.
Following the presentation, they remained by the product to observe people's honest reactions. Over time, more attendees flocked to the stand, allowing Anders to finally relax, while Morten utilized the multi-tool to address any immediate fixes.
And suddenly, people started borrowing things from the kit. It was as if word had been spread at the exhibition that we had a 'survival kit' at the SmallRig booth. And it proved that there was something about this product that made it indispensable - Anders
Feedback was collected post-show through an e-questionnaire and by directly gathering opinions from attendees. The majority of requests centered around creating different form and size variations. As a result, Andyax has already started considering how to enhance this toolkit to be utilized by a more professional audience.
Initially conceived as an emergency backup for small crews like theirs, but the more they showcased the toolkit, the more they realized its potential to benefit larger teams.
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