ABOUT

Her Coffee Ritual is a personal film project I conceived, produced, and directed. An intimate, stylised coffee ritual story.

I wanted a mix of approaches for this story. Some shots were designed for using Motion arm control moves alongside the Phantom Flex4k high speed camera to capture specific moments that created impact in the film. Then we also used the DJI Ronin 4D for the hand held more fashion feel moments.

I approached the direction of the film by mixing two very different visual styles to create contrast and build intensity.

For some moments with the character reveal and specific coffee making moments, we used a motion control arm with the Phantom Flex4K to capture highly controlled, high-speed shots. These sequences let us stretch time and focus on small details—movement, texture, expressions—in a way that feels almost surreal. They act as these really precise, sculpted moments that anchor the film visually.

Alongside that, we shot handheld on the DJI Ronin 4D to bring in something more intimate and emotional moments of the character. Those shots have a looser, more fashion-driven feel—like you’re inside the moment rather than watching it. That contrast between controlled and organic was something we leaned into quite heavily.

Instead of trying to blend the two styles, we cut sharply between them. That choice helped create a sense of tension and energy, where each transition feels like a shift in state rather than just a change in camera. It keeps the film feeling dynamic and a bit unpredictable, even though the structure itself is quite intentional.

We also built the pacing to ramp up over time. The edits become faster and more frequent, which increases the intensity as the film progresses. By playing between slowed-down, detailed moments and more reactive handheld shots, we were able to create a kind of push and pull in how time is felt—making the whole piece more immersive and sensory-driven. This feeling was then ramped up more with the music choice.

Our styling team was hand picked for the look I was after. The tone was muted, coffee brown, creams, glass, stain of steel.

The lighting was clean backlit feel, soft fill and minimal set style.

The main focus was always the hero film, but I knew early on that the Phantom high-speed coffee shots had a life of their own. They felt like perfect little beauty moments, so we pulled those out as standalone assets for social and web after finishing the main edit.

I’m really happy with how it all turned out. From the first mood boards through to the final cut, it feels like we landed on the look and vibe I had in mind. The sound design especially helped—adding that sense of intensity and a bit of unease that builds as the film goes on.

We were pretty intentional with how we used the Moco moves and Phantom shots—only bringing them in when they actually added something. It keeps those moments feeling special. Then the handheld shots gave us a bit of breathing room and made things feel more personal and grounded with the character.

Project Credits: Moco/Phantom High Speed filming - Ecstasy of Gold
DOP - Jake Schuhle Lewis
LIGHTING - Sam Horne
Edit/Grading/Sound - Ecstasy of Gold
Fashion Stylist - Anna Woodham
Drinks and Set Stylist - Joanna Resiak
MUA - Victoria Poland
Model - Laura from Body London