ABOUT THE WORK
In the middle of South Africa is Philipstown.
There’s not much there.
And with little opportunity, kids often turn to drugs and gangsterism.
To help, the town created the Philipstown Wire Car Grand Prix – a unique race where kids use their imaginations to build cars out of wire and discarded scrap – and then race them 3 kilometres around the town.
But for 15 years, only locals knew about it, so we asked: how do we make the world see and care about an invisible town?
In 2024, we started filming the kids’ year-long journey to the main race.
And on race day, we tracked each wire car with special sensors, showing exactly where they were at any point and time on the track.
Behind the scenes we also digitally mapped the town.
Then, we used the data to digitally recreate the race.
We turned the kids and their wire cars into real racers, just like they see it in their imaginations.
A virtual grand prix, on the streets of Philipstown.
Every straight.
Every turn.
Every crash.
Featuring F1’s official commentator Alex Jacques.
The kids’ reactions became the final act of a documentary.
Putting a global spotlight on Philipstown.
The digitally mapped town became a mobile game that generates revenue back to the community.
And an e-commerce platform launched, selling handmade wire cars globally.
Global exposure turned into real impact.
And sparked public interest and corporate partnerships.
Headquarters for The Philipstown Wirecar Foundation were established, getting kids off the streets through paid programs and securing the craft for generations.
Proving that when you make the invisible visible, it can rewire hope.
CREDITS
Client/Brand: Philipstown Foundation
Kay Fourie
Client: Eileen Menne
Client: Kenneth Yoko
Agency: Accenture Song
Chief Executive Officer: Celeste Koert
Managing Director: Jane Ashforth
Chief Creative Officer: Alistair King
Chief Creative Officer: Matt Ross
Chief Creative Officer: Tseliso Rangaka
Executive Creative Director: Cameron Watson
Executive Creative Director: Devin Kennedy
Executive Creative Director – Design: Rouleaux van der Merwe
Creative Director: Gregory Booysen
Creative Director: Tony Currie
Director: Drew Murphy
Business Unit Director: Leandi van den Berg
Account Manager: Nicola de Villiers
Creative & Design
Design Lead: David Phelan
Art Director: Tennessee Barber
Designer: Connor Holyoake
Designer: Tashreeq Allie
Designer: Megan Shaw
Digital Designer: Liezl Fourie
UI Designer: Medford Torr
UI Designer: Jack Bergin
UI Designer: Botond Fiktusz
UX Designer: Maria Burnell-Romeo
UX Designer: Ryan Williams
UI/UX Designer: Maria Isabel Campa Nieto
Experience Strategy: Josh Woods
Experience Development Director: Pete Blaszkiewicz
Title Design: Fraser Muggeridge
Retoucher: Anthony Murray
Copy & Content
Writer: Terry Mlangeni
Copywriter: Sandhya Mathura
Copywriter: Ross Sinclair
Copywriter: Zeenat Ganie
Copywriter: Meaghan Essel
Copywriter: Graeme Jenner
Copywriter: Michael Wilson
Copywriter: Drew Murphy
Community Manager: Meaghan Essel
Head of Production: Katherine Jones
Production Lead: Riska Emeran
Producer: Keyana Govender
Producer: Savannah Boltman
Producer: Joshua Michael
Producer: Lewis Harvey
Producer: Dirk van den Berg
Producer: Amy
Print Producer: Dawnelene Kings
Project Management
Technical Project Manager: Marton Helenyi
Technical Project Manager: Ntando Sicam
Traffic Manager: Yumna Jacobs
Traffic Manager: Emma Rasmussen
Traffic Manager: Carla Slater
Earned Media Practice Lead: Michelle Berman
Earned Media Account Manager: Aissa Sithole
Earned Media Account Executive: Samukelisiwe Hashe
Paid Media Strategist: Clayton Gilbert
Paid Media Specialist: Robyn De La Cruz
Paid Media Specialist: Stefan Manuel
Creative Tech Director: Alexander Bosman
Development Lead: Ilith Sher Schwartz
Developer: Róbert Székely
Developer: Bence Konecsny
Developer: Gáspár Balázs
Developer: Theo Scott van Zyl
3D, CGI & VFX
3D Art Lead: Luigi Russo
3D Artist: Norbert Oravec
3D Artist: Emese Tót
3D Artist: Lajos Mazlo
CGI Director: Dima Lochmann
CGI Producer: Laura Mestel
CG Supervisor: Mikko Max Reim
CG Editor: Julian Jacobi
CG Animation Supervisor: Sebastian Hofmann
CG Environment Lead: Nikolaus Kinder
CG Lead Vehicle Designer: Adam Wesierski
CG Lead Vehicle Artist: Alexander Ricker
CG Character Lead Artist: Malte Lauinger
CG Compositing Lead: Daniel Beckmann
CG FX Lead: Christian Zilliken
CG Studio Lead: Tobias Lawrenz
CG On Set VFX Supervisor: Andre Eksteen
CG Key Visual Coordination: Bernhard Schröcker
CG Film Offering: Dominic Bitu
CG Consulting: Markus Huber
CG Digital Artist: Max Wesner
CG Digital Artist: Philipp Allard
CG Digital Artist: Marius Plock
CG Digital Artist: Marcus Kitschke
CG Digital Artist: Bardia Afchar
CG Digital Artist: Felix Reinsberg
CG Digital Artist: Alessandro Caragnini
CG Digital Artist: Manuela Schrewe
CG Digital Artist: Mano Büttner
CG Digital Artist: Jannik Mentzel
CG Digital Artist: Martin Wellstein
CG Digital Artist: Albert Abad Gutierrez
Visual Effects Supervisor: Rob van den Bragt
CEO & Legal: Nosipho Maketo-van den Bragt
CGI Supervisor: Tiaan Franken
Lead Compositor: Johan Wentzel
Compositor: Sven Hohmeier
Compositor: Jean Du Plessis
Compositor: Alistair Johnson
Senior VFX Producer: Tracy-lee Portnoi
3D and VFX: Tegan Theron
3D and VFX: Mpho Vukea
3D and VFX: Sam Visser
3D and VFX: Lloyd Bischoff
3D and VFX: Taija Hartwig
3D and VFX: Taryn Jordan
Animator: Jeffrey Booysen
Animator: Zahier Isaacs
Animator: Thomas Christian
Post Production
Editor: Thabo Nhlapo
Editor: Anthony Lee Martin
Additional Editor: Xander van der Westhuizen
Assistant Editor: Farren Simon-Wolfe
Trailer Editor: Paul Speirs
Sound & Music
Audio: Thabang Madia
Sound Design: Giacomo Garoffolo
Sound Operator: Ray Akim Manda
Supervising Sound Editor: Stephen Webster
Sound Designer: Stephen Webster
Sound Effects Editor: Jodi Jacobs
Foley Recordist: Jodi Jacobs
Dialogue Editor: Michael Botha
Re-Recording Mixer: Michael Botha
Audio Producer: Jenna LangeMusic Director: James Matthes
Music Supervisor: John Fishlock
Lead Composer: Elben Schutte
Lead Composer: Cobus Schutte
Additional Composers: Andries Smit, Keith Kavayi, Jordan Sterling, Tyron Woods
Vocals: Muneyi
Choir Master: Bongani Magatyana
Choir: Sisipho Gwele, Nomfundo Siphunguzulu, Esihle Onica Pingilili, Uviwe Gabayi, Anele Jack, Mncedi Mhlanga, Andile Solani, Nosiphiwo Magoqwana
Photography
Director of Photography – Social: Jonathan Pinkhard
Stills Photographer: Nick Van Renen
Photographer’s Assistant: Tetenda Chidora
Photographer’s Assistant: Lerato Ntiso
Photographer’s Producer: Sarah Waltes
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