Embrace the Potential of the Darkness with Oppo's Night-Vision Capabilities

KODE director Jara Moravec embraces the darkness in a new film for Chinese electronics and mobile company, Oppo. The film is the seventh piece of creative work as part of a longstanding working relationship between production studio, KODE and mobile phone Oppo and their associated sister company, OnePlus. Moravec’s recent work for OnePlus, ‘A Little More Than You’d Expect’, saw success across markets in Europe and Asia. 

Flaunting the night-vision prowess of their latest model, the Oppo Reno8 Pro 5g, the film demonstrates the capabilities of ‘The Portrait Expert’ device; which enables users to take ultra clear night time portraits, no matter the situation. As a solar eclipse draws in, crowds make the most of the phenomenon to experiment with what their phone can do for them. The eclipse becomes the backdrop for a number of impromptu photoshoots; with the oppo device helping to preserve the unique moment into a memory. 

James Jing Ping Li, Oppo, “Jara and KODE helped us make a film for Reno 8 that was a big departure from the usual style we’ve done before and it was a great surprise. From the epic opening, to the amazing acting, until the last shot of the old man, every moment was beautifully crafted out and shot. We did have an original vision for the film but with Jara’s direction, he really elevated what we had in mind .”

The film begins with a busy city coming to a standstill as it plays witness to the moon obscuring the sun from view. Instead of allowing the darkness to prevent the rest of the day from going ahead, the city embraces the event and thrives during it. The Oppo Reno8 Pro is a tool which guides users through the eclipse, acting as a camera,  torch, gaming device and organiser.

Suspense builds at the beginning of the spot as the darkness draws in, the mood is conveyed in the music which feels ominous and pressing. The tension is broken, however, as a young child starts to laugh, and the crowds begin to see the joy in the moment. The film, with its unique premise and fast-paced energy, differs from previous campaigns by the Oppo brand; it offers a grittier, more stylistic approach to mobile-phone advertising - a refreshing change from the often overtly polished genre. 

Jara Moravac, director, KODE, “This brief from Oppo was a big departure from what we usually get to see in phone ads. The idea of solar eclipse as a catalyst for night time portraiture, the main selling feature of this phone, was pretty exciting, especially because we decided to shoot it practically. At the same time I wanted to avoid the usual pitfalls of today’s phone advertising, relying heavily on extreme angles and camera techniques. The story was better suited for a cleaner, classic look that I associate with big blockbuster movies of the 1980's and 1990’s. I’d like to thank James and Joseph at Oppo for letting me go full on Bruce Willis style.”

Jara Moravac, director, KODE, "I always try to achieve as much as possible in camera, especially when it comes to something so palpable as a solar eclipse. We found the right street, triple checked Sun Seeker as we were about to have an hour to shoot our main wide shot while the sun was moving between two tall buildings. Weather forecast looked suspiciously good for the whole week so we bit the bullet and shot most eclipse shots in camera. Coordinating all the cars, extras and the big crane with a flag was pretty crazy, it felt like shooting a big Hollywood flick.”