C4 and Honda chronicle The Evolution of Stunts in new All 4 series

14 November 2016

 

Channel 4 has partnered with Honda to launch a brand new original series for All 4. The Evolution of Stunts will see stuntman Damien Walters re-enact some of the most memorable movie stunts across the last ten decades back-to-back in one ambitious stunt with the help of a tumbleator (treadmill), 3D projection and some fellow stunt performers.

As part of Honda’s sponsorship of Film on 4, the three-part series includes: the main feature which shows Damien and entourage preparing for the stunt culminating in its impressive ‘one take’ execution; a history of the stunts featured presented by BBC Radio 1 film critic Ali Plumb; and a standalone film of Damien performing the stunts.

Damien’s performance begins with a homage to the silent film era and Harold Lloyd dangling from the hands of a skyscraper’s clock before recreating Buster Keaton’s close shave with a collapsing house. Iconic stunts from classic movies like North By Northwest, Indiana Jones, The Matrix and 300 feature throughout the film.

The Evolution of Stunts launches on All 4 on Saturday 26th November and will exclusively receive a linear broadcast the same day during the first ad break of The Fast and the Furious 6 on Channel 4. The series was produced by Little Dot Studios and commissioned by Lizzy Keene, Editor, Channel 4. Dentsu Aegis Network’s Entertainment Business The Story Lab facilitated the project.              

Simon Wells, Partnership Controller, Funded Content & Creative Solutions, Channel 4 said: “This epic new All 4 series created in partnership with Honda is an ambitious, and entertaining tribute to some of the greatest stunts in movie history, and a relevant and exhilarating series that embodies Hondas ‘Power of Dreams’ Brand spirit.”

Angus Mitchell, Agency Principal, Channel 4 said: “I think that these films perfectly build on Hondas sponsorship of Films on 4 and show our ambition to create stand out content that positions Honda firmly as an innovative and ground-breaking brand which will resonate well with Channel 4 viewers."

Philip Crossman, managing director at Honda UK, said: “The Evolution of Stunts showcases a clear link between Honda’s challenging spirit and stuntman Damian Walters’ need to constantly push to the next challenge. Honda has a reputation for creating iconic brand advertising and this new series with All 4 takes it to the next level.”

Robbie Ashcroft, Group Account Director, The Story Lab said: “Brands and channels increasingly want to create the same type of entertainment. The Evolution of Stunts is cinematic, quality short-form content; we know Channel 4’s audience will absolutely love, and it can only have come from Honda.”

The partnership was managed by Simon Kearney, Project & Production Lead and Alexandra Bird, Group Partnership Manager at Channel 4. The Evolution of Stunts was briefed and overseen at Honda by Jennifer Shuker, marketing manager, to maximise Honda’s sponsorship of Film on 4, which was announced in March 2016. Honda were announced as the new sponsors of Film on 4 in March 2016. Their sponsorship was brokered by Melanie Ball, Partnership Account Manager, together with Robbie Ashcroft, Group Account Director and Scott Paige, Senior Manager from The Story Lab.

Ends.

 

Notes to Editors

Creative Credits

Production Company: Little Dot Studios

Executive Producer: Selma Turajlic

Creative Director: Tom Hemsley

Director: Chris Turner

Producer: Hal Arnold

VFX: Projection Artworks

 

The full list of movie stunts that inspired the series are:

1.            Safety Last – Clock Dangle

2.            Steamboat Bill Jr. – House Fall

3.            Dodge City – Bar Fight

4.            North by Northwest – Crop Duster Dodge

5.            Raiders of the Lost Ark – Truck Drag

6.            Terminator 2 – Bike Chase

7.            The Matrix – Timeslice High Kick

8.            300 – Sword Fight

9.            Thing From Another World – Explosion and Burn

 

About Honda

Honda (UK) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honda (Japan).

One of the top 20 brands in the world, Honda manufacturers a broad product range encompassing cars, motorcycles, power equipment (including marine, energy, lawn and garden and ATV) and aviation and was the first Japanese automobile manufacturer to release a dedicated luxury brand, Acura, in 1986.

Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than 14 million internal combustion engines each year.

Since 1986, Honda has been involved with artificial intelligence/robotics research and released their ASIMO robot in 2000. Honda has also ventured into aerospace with the establishment of GE Honda Aero Engines in 2004 and the Honda HA-420 HondaJet, which began production in 2012.

Honda has over 55 years of World Championship Racing. Today, Honda is an active participant in Formula One, motorcycle, touring car and ATV racing and draws upon its proud racing heritage in every aspect of business.

 

About The Story Lab

The Story Lab is the global content and entertainment division of the Dentsu Aegis Network.  Working with brands across the group, we create powerful content solutions that help brands tell their story, gain cultural traction and drive true business value. 

The Story Lab was launched to help brands reach and deepen their connections with consumers in a world where the points of connection, engagement and transaction are converging around content. Being at the heart of a media network means that we can marry the art of great story telling with the science of consumer behaviour and media convergence. The Story Lab empowers brands to meaningfully break through today’s competitive media landscape and move beyond the category and into the culture. 

The Story Lab UK team is comprised of 46 people with multi-disciplinary talent that includes content & media partnership specialists who create, curate, negotiate and manage integrated solutions for brands with content across all consumer touch points.