Veeam

At Irresistible Studios we love briefs that ask us to make complex ideas feel simple and human. Our latest work for Veeam and creative agency alan did exactly that. The task was to help cyber leaders show their executives what they can already see very clearly the real cost of not taking data resilience seriously.

Rather than talk about abstract threats, we invited the audience into a meeting room they might recognise. It is late, everyone is tired, and the CFO is proposing cuts to the cyber security budget. Outside the glass a masked killer waits with two knives raised. Only the CISO can see the danger. That is how our clients tell us their role often feels.

The film is part of the Be Resilient platform, which puts Veeam at the heart of conversations about preparation and recovery. For this chapter we created two films that live in the same world. One story tackles underfunding, the other tackles low cyber literacy, where confused executives are suddenly replaced with calm alien visitors who find every technical phrase perfectly clear. The tone stays playful, but the underlying truth comes straight from real conversations with CISOs.

We had two weeks between final approval and the shoot date, and one production day to deliver both stories plus shorter edits. To make that work we built a focused plan. We found a boardroom and office space in London that already had strong character, and then designed everything else around that space. That allowed us to keep cast and crew in one location while still giving each film its own identity.

Director Chip worked closely with Director of Photography Miguel Carmenes to create a look that felt like a premium drama. Practical ceiling strips and floor lamps shaped the frame while we added layers of colour and reflection to keep the world rich and tense. The camera moves between the calm faces of the executives and the threat outside the room, always keeping the audience on the side of the CISO.

Our creature work was all created in camera. Special effects artist Soaf Wyatt designed masks and prosthetics for both the masked killer and the alien visitors. Performer Daniel Bruce brought both roles to life, switching between looming presence and slightly awkward comedy. On the day we were not able to use atmospheric haze, so in post we added subtle rolling smoke to give the corridor a spectral quality and to tie the elements together.

Cast performances were central to the finished films. Sasha Latoya gives our CISO a mix of authority and disbelief that many cyber leaders will recognise. Michael Cahill and the board keep a relaxed, almost bored rhythm to their meetings even as danger gathers just out of sight. That contrast is where the humour sits, and it is the reason the film feels so familiar even with creatures in the corridor.

From production side, the project was a true team effort. Producer Niamh Macdonald and Head of Production Harriet Kate McKean led a tightly planned schedule that brought together a skilled crew in a GB style set up, making every pound of the budget work hard on screen. Music from Hugo at Brother and a rich grade from No 8 completed the cinematic finish.

We are proud that Veeam and alan trusted us to push the tone this far while keeping the story grounded in real insight. It shows what is possible when a business to business campaign embraces strong storytelling, confident visuals and practical craft. If you are facing a complex brief and want to explore how film can unlock a fresh angle, we would love to talk.

Credits

Client: Veeam
Agency: alan
Production Company: Irresistible Studios
Director: Chip
Executive Producer: Iseult McNamara
Head of Production: Harriet Kate McKean
Producer: Niamh Macdonald
Director of Photography: Miguel Carmenes
SFX Artist: Soaf Wyatt
SFX Assistant: Melanie Ayres
HMU Artist: Amy Whyard
Music: Hugo at Brother
Edit: Chip
VFX: Caitlyn Argles
Grade: No 8