Staging a football match in the rainforest canopy presented a unique set of challenges. Working closely with an expert stunt team, production tested a range of rigging systems and movements to create action that felt both safe and spectacular. Equally critical was protecting the forest itself during filming. Special scaffolding was installed above the vegetation to minimise environmental impact while providing a safe working platform for cast and crew.
Balancing the physical constraints of the rigging systems with the need for dynamic, high-energy movement required close collaboration between the creative and stunt teams. Every sequence demanded precise timing, choreography and coordination between performers, rigging operators and camera crews, ultimately helping to shape the film’s distinctive visual language.
From Sil van der Woerd & Jorik Dozy, co-founders and directors, Studio Birthplace: “So much environmental communication is built around loss and urgency, and while those realities are important, we wanted to approach this story differently, with positivity. Team Forest is about inviting people in rather than confronting them. By celebrating the beauty, power and wonder of forests through the universal language of football, we hope to inspire people to feel connected to what they’re protecting.”
