DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM BY COPTERSAFETY
Coptersafety proudly presents the captivating short documentary film, From the Ground Up.
Most Hollywood movies don’t paint a realistic picture of the helicopter industry. We want to change that. The short film From the Ground Up debunks misconceptions about helicopter safety and features stories of seasoned pilots.
Andreas Hjert is an air ambulance pilot for Norwegian Air Ambulance working in northern Norway. Flying in different mission types, Kristian Krog works as an aerial work pilot flying sling-load operations for Pegasus Helicopter. Marthijn over de Linden operates in the wind energy sector with HeliService, flying and hoisting wind turbine technicians in the North Sea. While flying helicopters is their primary job, they also oversee training their crews in and out of the simulator at Coptersafety.
“As training and safety are core of our being, it has been rewarding to be able to produce this documentary about our customers to share the stories of their day-to-day life as a helicopter pilot,” states Hannu Marjoniemi, Coptersafety’s Commercial Director.
A FILM FOR THE ROTOR INDUSTRY
“I grew up moving around the world for my father’s career in aviation, and helicopters have been part of my life since I was a baby. I was tired of the false narrative Hollywood movies paint about helicopters,” says Isabella Presnal, Coptersafety’s Marketing Manager. “Creating documentaries that educate and evoke emotional responses is my passion, and I knew I needed to make a film about the rotor industry’s most important factor – safety – with the actual lives of helicopter pilots.”
The film was made together with No-Office Films, an award-winning production company based in Helsinki and Los Angeles. “I’ve always been inspired by people who pour their hearts into something. While our film may revolve around helicopters and their pilots, at its core, it’s a tale of unwavering passion.” says director Vertti Virkajärvi, co-owner of No-Office Films.
From the Ground Up is for the rotor industry to accurately represent the industry on the big screen, but it’s also for audiences unfamiliar with the industry to gain a new perspective. As Hannu Marjoniemi shared “We would hope this film encourages aspiring pilots to seek career opportunities in this unique industry where the safety and wellbeing of pilots, their families, and the rest of the crews and customers are not just essential, but the core of their operations.”
The short film was filmed in Finland, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and The Netherlands showcasing a diverse variety of helicopter operations. No Finnish film has ever featured such a diverse array of helicopters before.
MAKING OF THE DOCUMENTARY SHORT FILM
A big thank you to all who made this film possible, from No-Office Films, our supporters TRU Simulation, Fais Finland, and Lähitaksi, the operators, and especially Andreas, Kristian, and Marthijn.
