Shot by DOP Beatriz Delgado Mena and directed by Ben Ogunbiyi.
When DOP Beatriz Delgado and Director Ben Ogunbiyi wanted to get more creative with their lens testing in-house by creating a short film, we were keen to help bring their idea to life.
“I’m endlessly fascinated by how glass can transport the viewer – shifting us into another time or place. Its ability to bend light and alter colour mirrors how our own perspectives of the world are shaped and transformed” – Ben Ogunbiyi
Both Beatriz and Ben had only a rough idea of what they wanted to achieve with our lenses in only a few hours. They arrived with actors who had only just met each other, but with creative direction, improv, and Beatriz’s skilled camera moves, their lens test turned into an experimental short.
“The power of how a lens shows reality is always mesmerizing. I’m always more inclined to use certain lenses as a way of escapism rather than the raw and blunt reality so for me, using Hawk lenses has always been a goal”
– Beatriz Delgado Mena
Ben and Beatriz brought together a small and collaborative crew: 1st AD Henry Heffner, camera assistant Zana Piber, and the actors Lucia Saavedra and Henry Davis, who were up for the creative test that turned into “When We Collide”
To answer our question of why the duo decided to shoot this test using the Hawk lenses, Beatriz answered:
“I had already worked with the Hawk V-Lite anamorphic on my two previous projects and my experience has always been wonderful. So I wanted to explore other sets and Hawk London was amazing and super accommodating in giving me that opportunity”
The director Ben Ogunbiyi delves into their creative and practical thought processes:
“Bea and I wanted to take a different approach to a lens test – something more imaginative than simply filming in front of a lens chart. When Steven and the HAWK team mentioned we could shoot outdoors, our curiosity was instantly piqued. We asked ourselves: what if we could explore a couple’s relationship not through words, but through movement, using a documentary-style approach to capturing physical expression in a real-world environment
The idea for the dance aspect came about quite spontaneously.
After being shown around an empty warehouse on-site, we were instantly inspired by the space and knew we wanted to shoot something there. Our brilliant actors, Harry and Lucia – who had only met that morning – were incredibly open and collaborative, embracing the chance to explore the environment and improvise some movement together.
Visually we wanted each section to stand on its own and yet feel cohesive. We opted for a 2:40.1 aspect ratio, using the 6:5 mode in 6K on the Sony Venice 2. We shot the outdoor section in 2x anamorphic with the class-X, combining the beautiful flares and rigid framing for a more intimate look at our characters. For the dance sequence, we shot on the Hybrid MiniHAWK lenses to give us more freedom with the camera and allow the actors to improvise without spatial constraints, along with using the lenses’ impressive close-focus capabilities.
When We Collide explores the highs and lows of a relationship, revealing how our deepest fears can be weaponized and transformed into poison. It’s also a reflection on how love can lift us – just as pain and insecurity can pull us under.
These creatives also have some lovely comments about HAWK London and the team. Ben Ogunbiyi states:
“The wonderful team at HAWK London was fully onboard, not only offering their equipment but also their time, expertise, and support – helping with everything from location moves to the camera setup. Their professionalism and passion left a real impression on me from that very first shoot. Since then, I’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with them on several more projects and I’m excited to continue building this relationship in the future.”
It was a pleasure to facilitate this one-of-a-kind lens test for Ben and Beatriz, and we can’t wait to see what they are up to next!
If you wish to take an in-depth look at our lenses with a project in mind, or if you want to do a specific test, please get in touch! We would love to see how we can facilitate you and your creative ideas.
