HELIOS TOWERS SAFETY FILMS
Pre-production and production
We wrote a dramatic script that included all the key elements of negligence at work requested by the client. The film had to feel realistic, natural and a ‘safety’ wake up call for its audience. Helios Towers owns and operates telecom towers across several countries in Africa - but we decided to shoot the film in Ghana - making sure that it resonated across different cultures.
The film follows a normal day at work for fictional employee Kwame, a rigger who services mobile telecom equipment on the towers. Working with his taciturn supervisor Samuel, he cuts corners throughout the day. He ends up taking a call from his wife on his mobile, who is impatient for him to be home. As he talks to her, he swerves to avoid a pedestrian and crashes into a motorbike taxi - sending the motorbike careering off the road.
We worked with a local crew in Accra, over a week to produce three films. We had to deal with Ghana traffic, irritable snakes and sudden downpours. The team worked to ensure we overcame all challenges and remained on schedule to deliver the films on time, obtaining all the coverage required.
About the FILM
Sketch was commissioned by the African focused telecom company Helios Towers to produce a series of safety films, designed to help educate its staff and contractors on the importance of life saving procedures and standards at work. These films needed to provide a ‘jolt to the system’, to remind the audience of the severe and tragic consequences of negligence and cutting corners. For Helios Towers, there are several challenges in its markets. Its employees need to service and maintain telecom towers in remote locations that are difficult to access. Its engineers drive thousands of miles every year. There are three key risks for their activity - driving, working at height on the towers and electrical work. We were tasked with producing three short films highlighting each one of these risks.
The aim was to create realistic sequences and credible characters which would resonate with our audience. The film needed to be simple, tense and accessible with limited dialogue. Working with a local production company in Ghana, So Fraiche, we completed pre-production over several weeks, finding locations, cast and crew - and at the same time navigating fast changing Covid travel restrictions.
“I have had the great opportunity to work with the team at Sketch Films for the last 12 months to produce our Helios Towers safety culture engagement film. Jeremy and Sketch team were highly professional throughout, successfully overcoming numerous challenges, particularly during Covid, to shoot in five markets resulting in this highly impactful media tool”
“Producing this film was fun, challenging and a new experience. We were working in Accra with Ghanaian actors in English. We had to use all the resources at our disposal to make sure we could tell the story properly and get the technical details correct. It was a joy to work with the team at Helios Towers”
