Dutch Mill goes behind the scenes on a Covid shoot

This finished TV spot for Dutch Mill Selected Rich Espresso Milk is only the tip of the campaign iceberg. 

In this brilliantly illuminating five minute online film, we peek behind the scenes at the trials and tribulations faced by the client, agency [Wunderman Thompson Bangkok], crew and director [B1 Films' Bhakpong Skonvitayanon]. 

While the Covid-19 situation is improving in many countries Thailand remains in heavy lockdown and, under the governmental policy, commercial shoots are restricted to no more than five people on set, which poses a huge challenge to all production crews. Into this situation came Dutch Mill, a leading Thai dairy brand, which had to film a commercial for a new product. The commercial planned to use a Rube Goldberg machine to demonstrate the journey of fresh milk and espresso coffee but, due to lockdown, this complex shoot could only be achieved with five people behind the camera.

While we get to see the finished TV spot towards the end of the film it's the documentary footage, which was released as a campaign online, that cleverly, humorously and honestly portrays the production crew's Herculean task of engineering and filming this complex machinery with a five-member crew over three months, that really engages. 

“In this lockdown situation, it is tough for all of us but especially for freelance workers who are not on a payroll," commented Raviwan Mahakachaporn, Marketing Director of Dutch Mill, who said the brand wanted to show support for the industry in these tough times. "They need all the support they can get, and we are happy to be their working partner. We hope this video will cheer you up and fuel your strength to fight another day.”

“We’re trying to prove that it’s possible for brands to launch communication under this five-person production limit," added Thasorn Boonyanate, Executive Creative Director of Wunderman Thompson Thailand. "Not only did we commission the crew to make this documentary to promote themselves, but we also diverted a portion of our agency fee to hire 70 production staff who are currently out of work. The truth is we all need each other to get through Covid-19 together.”