SWEDISH ARMED FORCES - MIN VÄG

My way in Swedish Armed Forces // Min väg i Försvarsmakten

Through four distinct mini-stories, we are introduced to four individuals who made the decision to enlist in the Swedish armed forces, each hailing from diverse backgrounds and driven by unique motivations.
These films aim to broaden our understanding of why young people choose to pursue military service and offer insights into how individuals experience their time in the army differently. They reveal how each person grew and developed as a result of their experience.

These films serve as an excellent example of a typical S/ND-film project, demonstrating that a small production crew can generate great storys.

CLIENT:
Försvarsmakten

CREW:
Agency: Volt
Director/Edit: Mattias Andersson, S/ND
Cinematography: Henning Sandström, S/ND
Music: Patrik Öberg @Nakatomi

CREATING EIGHT AUTHENTIC MINUTES

Contrary to a project like Enklare, this was a non-fiction project. As such, it didn't require extensive previsualization or meticulous planning. Instead, this project necessitated a longer filming duration.

Originally, these four films were intended to be broadcasted for two years. However, they were subsequently extended by the Swedish Armed Forces for additional two years due to appreciation of the quality of the films.

To deliver four films, each lasting two minutes — amounting to a total of eight minutes — we required a substantial amount of content and time spent with our talents to generate authentic material. It was essential to streamline our team down to its core essence in order to squeeze additional shooting days from the budget.

To free up extra shooting days, we streamlined the team down to its very core. The schedule was organized as follows: Day 1 for reconnaissance (recce), and Days 2-3 for filming, with each film amounting to 2 minutes. This pattern was repeated for four films, resulting in 4 days for recce and 8 days for filming.

Throughout the pre-production, filming, and post-production stages (with the exception of external music), we worked with a team of exactly two people, Mattias and Henning. We consequently divided the various roles - including Producer, Director, Cinematographer, Drone Photographer, Camera Assistant, Editor, and Grader - between these two individuals.