’The Hamster Stunt’: Charlie the hamster stars as truck driver in new video from Volvo Trucks
Minutes ago Volvo Trucks released the follow-up called ‘The Hamster Stunt’, which is the first Live Test after The Ballerina Stunt last year.
“I know it’s hard to believe a hamster could drive a truck, but Charlie the hamster did it. What you see in the film is the real thing” says Lars Terling, Vice President Marketing Communications, Volvo Trucks.
Exactly a year after launching viral film ‘The Ballerina Stunt’, Volvo Trucks is back with a series of new stunts. Last week Volvo Trucks released teaser-video ‘The Hook’, which has already claimed over 2 million views on YouTube. Today premiers the next daring film: ‘The Hamster Stunt’.
The film features Charlie, a tiny hamster, steering a Volvo FMX construction truck up and out of a hazardous quarry – demonstrating how easy it is to manoeuvre the 15-tonne construction truck.
“We were highly sceptical to begin with, but at the same time we could see it was a fun way to show how easy it is to steer with Volvo Dynamic Steering” says Lars Terling.
Charlie was chosen in a careful casting procedure and had undergone several weeks of training prior to the test. The supporting role is played by precision driver Seon Rogers, who has his feet on the pedals and a carrot to keep Charlie from driving them over the edge.
“It was a big challenge. The driver had to hold the carrot in just the right way so he could lead the hamster. If he held it too high or too low Charlie would lose interest,” explains animal trainer Grace Dickinson
The film was shot in a closed-off quarry at Los Tres Cunados, Spain, and was directed by Jamie Rafn, known for his one-take spot ‘Walk’. #TheHamsterStunt is part of a live-test strategy to dramatise the technical innovations of Volvo Trucks.
“More films are on the way this autumn that show our trucks undergoing tests in conditions that are unusual, to say the least,” reveals Claes Nilsson, President of Volvo Trucks.
See the film ‘The Hamster Stunt’:
See the film ‘The Hook’:
See the film ‘The Ballerina Stunt’:
Here is the media gallery:
For further information, please contact: Lars Terling, Vice President Marketing Communications Volvo Trucks, +46 706 88 69 95, lars.terling@volvotrucks.com
Marie Vassiliadis, Media Relations Volvo Trucks, +46 31 322 4127, marie.vassiliadis@volvo.com
Credits:
Client: Volvo Trucks, Agency: Forsman Bodenfors, Director: Jamie Rafn
Producer: Ray Leakey, Production company: Smuggler, Post production: The Mill
Sound design: 750, Music: Adelphoi, Animal handler: Grace Dickinson
Precision driver/Stunt coordinator: Seon Rogers
