Gregory Porter
Gregory Porter is a giant of modern soul, so when filmmaker Douglas Bernardt came to us with a concept for the music video for his track 'Revival,' we knew the visuals had to convey his unique visual style and technical execution while carrying the soul and emotion of the track.
The story focuses on a young man oppressed by his environment, who finds release and growth through music.
The treatment set out to balance rich historical realism with a fantastical concept that plays with scale while placing a magnetic modern dance performance at the centre of the action. Every single frame needed to echo the song’s gospel-infused uplift, translating Porter’s soaring vocals into a tangible visual metaphor for liberation and emotional resilience.
Visual research formed the backbone of the pitch, looking at everything from mid-century editorial photography to vintage film and surreal dance choreography. Our treatment design centred on a rich interplay of colour and texture, using an elegant serif typeface that echoed the timeless heritage of soul music. Careful art direction ensured these elements hung together in chemistry, mapping out key references to paint a clear picture of the cinematic tone, mood and narrative flow of the final film.
Collaborating on treatment design always requires a delicate balance, aligning a director's raw artistic vision with the visual clarity needed to green-light a project. By establishing a distinct aesthetic language during the pitch phase, we helped bridge the gap between the early creative sparks and full production.
Seeing the final video come together was an absolute "chef's kiss" moment for our team. From the choreography, to the interplay of scale, and the striking atmosphere - watching Douglas' vision manifest on screen was deeply satisfying. We're really proud to have been involved in the development of Douglas' concept early on.