YT CAPRA
It was a privilege to be asked by production company Smuggler to support director Otto Bathurst and his team in developing the script for a launch film promoting the new YT Capra mountain bike.
The concept was being billed as a "sequel" to the launch film for the previous model, which had gone viral in mountain biking circles. The creative team at YT Capra wanted to build on that runaway success and create a launch film that ran with the concept of a mysterious half-man, half-goat character. To add cinematic gravitas, atmospheric tension, and a level of craft far beyond the industry norm, they brought in a genuine Hollywood director to helm the ambitious project.
BAFTA-winning film and television director Otto Bathurst put together a bold treatment for the explosive sequel, 'Return of the Goat II: New World Order.' Our studio's writer, Ed Roberts-Graver, worked closely with Otto to develop the script for the 20-minute cinematic short. The narrative leaned heavily into a playful 'B-movie' homage; packing the story with suspense, high-octane action sequences, eerie folklore, and perfectly timed jump scares. Every scene was crafted to blur the lines between commercial promotion and genuine feature-length thriller, giving the bike's raw capability a legendary narrative backdrop.
Watching the completed film land on screen as a spectacular, blockbuster-scale short was an immensely rewarding experience. The story was rounded off with a masterstroke of casting, with Danish megastar Mads Mikkelsen making an unexpected, commanding cameo in the closing scenes to anchor the narrative's climax.
Collaborating with Otto and the creative team at Smuggler to develop the story was a fantastic opportunity, a major professional and creative milestone, and undeniable proof that even the most niche product launch can be elevated into a genuine cinematic event through premium, uncompromising, and deeply engaging storytelling.