HEIFER USA

Built Wild

During the filming of "Built Wild," we embraced the unexpected, seizing every opportunity to push creative boundaries in each setup. Our diverse cast and epic locations were just the beginning; the true essence of the film came to life in the margins. Our goal was to innovate and capture fresh, unsuspecting moments, infusing the footage with an energy that could have easily been lost.

Creative Direction

The film had a clear objective: to experiment with the female gaze and push the boundaries of traditional gender roles. This tone poem reimagines the relationship between women and cars, portraying vehicles as empowering tools that enable women to explore and interact with the natural world. “Built Wild” invites viewers to envision a world where women take the helm, showcasing the power, strength, and freedom associated with embracing their wild side and pushing the boundaries.

Inspired by the work of Sally Mann, our extensive scouting landed us at two rural locations in Virginia where we’d have access to classic Fords and miles of open road. We built a giant fire, and we were gifted heat lightning. We sourced an Olympic equestrian, a falcon and a woman so comfortable spinning doughnuts, she didn’t want to stop when we cut. When production went down for weather, we captured macro raindrops which became textures in the final piece. Every setup was an opportunity to push the limits and create more than we originally envisioned. This creative adaptability was the magic of this shoot.