International production house Vantage Pictures has unveiled an exhilarating global launch film for the new realme C85 5G, a device positioned as the ultimate companion for young, hardworking users who spend their days outdoors. Shot entirely in Ho Chi Minh City, the spot highlights the C85’s durability, waterproof capabilities and long-lasting battery through a series of high-energy disaster-filled scenarios designed to push the phone to its limits.
Directed by Zacharia Lorenz, co-founder of Vantage Pictures, and shot by Singaporean cinematographer Kelvin Chew, the campaign taps into Southeast Asia’s working-class spirit while maintaining a premium cinematic feel. Set against the vibrant streets of Vietnam, from roadside eateries to narrow tube houses and the constant flow of motorbikes, the film captures the region’s unique rhythm and color, blended with English signage to keep it globally accessible.
“Our client wanted the phone to feel like a superhero, something that could take on anything,” says Lorenz. “So we leaned into a playful, self-aware tone for the voiceover, almost like a kid bragging on a playground. The phone talks big because it really can back it up.”
To emphasize waterproofing and durability, the team crafted a string of chaotic set pieces involving splashes, spills, storms and everyday work-site hazards. The visual language is fast, bold and kinetic, filled with dynamic camera movement, speed ramps and slow-motion liquid shots that heighten the sense of playful destruction.
Behind the scenes, the production leaned heavily into fast, flexible camera movement to keep pace with a packed two-day schedule. The team relied on Steadicam not only for smooth motion but also for speed, allowing them to move quickly between setups without time-consuming dolly tracks or jib rigs. Outdoor scenes were brought to life with full rain machines that soaked an entire Vietnamese street, creating controlled downpours that blended naturally with the city’s chaotic energy.
The tight production timeline also meant there was no opportunity for elaborate 3D animation. Everything had to be created in-camera, with only minimal VFX for cleanups and simple 2D enhancements. This approach placed even more weight on the practical effects team, who engineered custom liquid rigs to launch the phone into precise mid-air collisions with timed streams of water. These sequences were captured on a Phantom high-speed camera at 1000 FPS, resulting in dramatic slow-motion impacts that showcase the C85’s waterproof design with striking clarity. Pulling off this level of practical work on such a compressed schedule became one of the campaign’s biggest technical achievements.
“I wanted the film to feel energetic, fun and unapologetically messy,” Lorenz adds. “The C85 is built for people who work with their hands, mechanics, delivery riders, street vendors. We wanted to honor that world while elevating it with premium cinematography and stylized action.”
The client’s openness to showcasing Southeast Asian culture helped shape the aesthetic. Bustling street life, tiny plastic tables, smoky food stalls, busy local markets and the everyday grind of outdoor work become the backdrop for the phone’s heroic resilience. The result is a campaign that feels rooted, authentic and globally relatable.
