During the Roparun 2022, an enthusiastic team of Nike employees ran from Enschede to Rotterdam. Creative Director and founder of EMPIRE Film, Steijn Leijzer, was tasked with capturing this remarkable achievement. Alongside photographer Aaron Zwaal, driver Daan van Wezel, and the Wattsun Dock, he embarked on a journey in his van to shoot an exciting video.

About Steijn Leijzer and EMPIRE

Steijn works as the creative director and D.O.P. at the young Amsterdam-based film production company, EMPIRE. Along with his team, he primarily focuses on commercial assignments in the sports and fashion industries. “People in these sectors are our favorite clients. The content that brands in the sports and fashion industry desire aligns with the core values of EMPIRE.”

Nike x Roparun

One of the recent assignments Empire Film received was from 1KG (creative consultancy) to create an aftermovie featuring Nike employees participating in the Roparun, a 520 km relay with the aim of raising as much money as possible for charity. “We followed the team with our van on the route to film everyone. We scouted several beautiful locations beforehand to wait for the Nike team and capture shots. Then, we moved on to the next spot. It was a lot of fun to do.

Wattsun in the Van

The biggest challenge for Steijn was to ensure that all the essential equipment didn’t run out of battery. “We were filming almost day and night, constantly on the move. Charging while driving was and is the only solution. A generator is not an option for me due to emissions. The Wattsun provides a perfect alternative for this.”

Always a Full Battery

While his team followed Nike’s runners, all the equipment could be charged silently. “This includes batteries for our drone, photo camera, phones, V-lock batteries for the Arri, and our MacBook Pros. It’s ideal that you can charge everything you have in the car. This way, you work much more efficiently and save valuable time. It’s truly a lifesaver.