Porsche // "The Chase" by Bonaparte Films

Directed by Paul Mignot

To introduce Porsche’s new 911 Carrera GTS, Bonaparte Films and director Paul Mignot showcased the next level-ness of the luxury automobile by taking viewers on a rip-roaring, adrenaline-pumping pursuit via drone.  It’s an exciting, ambitious film made to set the viewer’s pulse racing, giving fans of the car more of what they love in the purest, most visceral form.

Filmed in a single, one-minute uninterrupted shot, Mignot tracks the iconic vehicle through dazzling dynamic mountain pass twists and speedy, elliptical turns on the open road. By using drones, the emblematic car’s essence is boldly captured in a thought-provoking, evocative, cinematic celebration to portray it as the new benchmark it is – the pinnacle of everything.   The spirit and power of the car evokes the thrill of the drive that is embedded in the car’s DNA,

Location was extremely key for this project, as the drone needed the right track to attain the crazy, defying moves achieved in the film. Just as important for the project was a high-degree of improvisation which called for uber-preparedness and open-mindedness by the entire creative team and production crew to get all of the exhilarating footage needed to cleverly highlight some of the key features of the car. Due to the varied speeds of the car and the traveling speed of the drones, each take was completely different.

The element of sound was just as vital for this project in creating the rupture effect in the film.  As it cuts from the epic elegance of the opening piece of music to something completely different, the score is replaced by the sound of the drone in the wind, the roar of the car’s engine supporting in making the chase even more compelling and dramatic.

Opening with a spectacular view of a sprawling natural landscape and filmed in epic cinemascope, viewers are treated to a scene reminiscent of an opening from a Christopher Nolan movie. Traveling through the landscape, the drone at first is slow moving set to an elegant score.  Like the car, the scene is intended to be classy -- as the distinctive, majestic shape of the car drives below.

A rupture in the movie comes -- the powerful roar of the car’s engine as it picks up speed, clearly acting as the trigger. The grade changes and the anamorphic bars disappear as the drone makes a crazy, unexpected shift in pace and tone, going from smooth and graceful into a full-on competitive mindset.

The drone makes dazzling, gravity-defying turns around the speeding car, combined with some powerful curves the car makes on the road. The car’s impressive acceleration is felt as the drone swoops closer. Touching for a brief moment, the drone ends up needing to pull away from the car just to navigate and keep up with the car.

The film closes with an epic fly-by. In a stunning wide shot of the car driving off into the horizon, the drone simply can’t keep up with the Porsche anymore. The drone ultimately surrenders to the car’s prowess, playfully suggesting that you should not mess around with those bigger and more powerful than you.