Insight
Simon Case
Story-driven films for engineered products, built from the technical specifications.
Introducing Harkenn: films built to engineering specification
This week we’re delighted to launch Harkenn, a new sister company to Chromatic. Harkenn makes story-driven films for aerospace, automotive, engineering and marine firms, built directly from technical specifications.
Filming engineered products is harder than it looks. A new vehicle or vessel often exists only as CAD data until late in development, so there is nothing to put in front of a camera. The audience raises the bar further, because the people watching are often engineers who will spot any inaccuracy. And until now, showing these products well has meant choosing between a costly CGI build or generic footage that falls short of what those engineers expect.
Harkenn is built to close that gap. We start with the engineering specification, so accuracy is built in from the first frame. Our writers and directors then shape that accuracy into a story people want to watch.
A studio and a platform
Harkenn has two parts that work as one. Harkenn Films is the studio, and Harkenn Tech is our own AI-first production platform behind it, running each project from brief to delivery in a single environment.
Every asset we build stays in a library for the next film, so it can be adapted across audiences and campaigns, e.g., for a new market or product variant, without starting from scratch each time. The studio proves the platform in real productions, and the platform makes the studio faster with every project.
The people behind it
Chromatic has co-founded Harkenn with Craig McDonald. As the founder of Flaming CGI and Form Films, and also of Evari Bikes, Craig knows product films from both sides of the camera, as the filmmaker and as the maker of the product itself. He is now leading the development of Harkenn's production platform, and he brings that experience to every project.
The first films
Our first films, for CORE POWER and Komma AG, have already met the standard we set ourselves. When marine engineers at a global energy conference saw the CORE POWER film, they assumed it had been shot conventionally. That is the test that matters to us.
What it means for Chromatic clients
Chromatic carries on as before, with the same team and the same focus. The two companies sit naturally together, so a brand we build with you can now be carried into film with the same care and attention to detail.
You can see our work at harkenn.com. If you'd like to talk through what Harkenn could do for your products, let us know when you're free so that we can catch up.
Enjoy your week,
The Chromatic team
About Harkenn
Harkenn makes compelling, narrative-driven films for aerospace, automotive, engineering and marine firms, built to engineering specification. Harkenn Films and Harkenn Tech work together as one system: production proving platform, platform sharpening production. Harkenn is part of the Chromatic Brands group.
Media contact