Banzai Originals
Documentary Series — Creative Direction & Video Production
2025 — present
About
Banzai Originals is the Archive of the Real — a short documentary series born out of the Banzai Collection retainer, conceived and produced by Studio Babka. Each episode is a portrait of someone who found their own way through craft: woodworking, skateboarding, surfboard shaping, or something entirely their own.
It isn't about the medium. It's about what drives a person to become a more authentic version of themselves. Filmed raw and observational — no narration, no performance.
The idea
Banzai is a brand built on craft and authenticity. Rather than produce content about the brand, we turned the camera outward — toward the craftspeople and makers who embody the same values. Originals is what happens when brand storytelling becomes actual storytelling.
Scope
Concept & Series Development
Originated the Originals format — short portrait films built around authentic craft, not performance. Defined the editorial voice: raw, observational, no narration.
Creative Direction
Subject selection, visual language, shot list, location scouting, and on-set direction for each episode.
Video Production
Full production pipeline: pre-production, on-location shoot days, post-production editing, colour, and sound.
Distribution Strategy
Release cadence and platform optimisation for Instagram Reels and YouTube — each episode structured for native vertical and horizontal formats.
The series
Two episodes released. Each a stand-alone portrait. Filmed on location, cut to feel like a memory. The subject never looks at the camera.
Videography: Tomek Wolak
Creative Direction & Production: Maciej Chmielewski / Studio Babka
BTS Photography: Dominika Jaworska
