Written by new-contact on Nov 14, 2013. Posted in Production News

Folke Film shoots Jean-Claude Van Damme splits stunt in Spain for Volvo Trucks

Stockholm-based Folke Film shot on location in central Spain in a new stunt commercial for Volvo Trucks. The Epic Split features action movie star Jean-Claude Van Damme performing his famous splits move on the wing mirrors of two moving but parallel Volvo trucks.

Filming took place on the airfield at the closed Ciudad Real Airport and the production team spent several days rehearsing the stunt before shooting in a single take at sunrise. The shoot was serviced by Story: We Produce of Barcelona and the stunt itself was designed to demonstrate the trucks’ precision driving.

“Compared with the previous Volvo Trucks’ films, which have a documentary style, we wanted to make something more poetic,” says director Andreas Nilsson: “The film is very clean and simple – there isn’t a lot of information and we just let the stunt illustrate what the trucks can do. It’s like a slow-moving, carefully choreographed modern dance.”

If the truck can handle Jean-Claude Van Damme on its side mirrors, it will be able to handle most situations.

Per Nilsson, Volvo Trucks

“Not only is The Epic Split visually spectacular and exciting to watch, it’s also the perfect illustration of the unique capabilities of the new Volvo FM,” added Per Nilsson, Director of Public Relations at Volvo Trucks: “If the truck can handle Jean-Claude Van Damme on its side mirrors, it will be able to handle most situations.”

The Epic Split is the last in a series of eye-catching Spanish-filmed commercials that Volvo Trucks has produced in recent weeks to demonstrate its technical features. Stunts have included showcasing precision driving by chasing bulls through the historic town of Ciudad Rodrigo, demonstrating the trucks’ high clearance by driving over a technician’s head in Teruel, and spotlighting sensitive steering by enabling a hamster to steer a truck out of a steep quarry in Ourense.

“When I saw the storyboard, I thought it looked amazing. It’s very majestic and very powerful,” Van Damme added.

Credits:
Client: Volvo Trucks
Agency: Forsman Bodenfors
Producer: Alexander Blidner
Production Company: Folke Film, Stockholm
Producer: Joi Persson
Stunt Coordinator: Peter Pedrero
Production Service Company: Story We Produce, Barcelona
Producers: Ana Laura Solis and Marc Bedia
Director: Andreas Nilsson