Morgan & Balvenie: The Story of Some of the Last Remaining Craftsmen
Heritage, passion, dedication and an unwillingness to sacrifice craftsmanship for newer technologies: The collaboration of The Balvenie and Morgan Motor Car Company celebrates the coming together of two venerable British institutions, both with a fascinating affinity with crafting hand-made bespoke products.
Despite the unlikely matching of whisky and cars, the values and ethos of these craftsmen made this the perfect partnership – Morgan Motor Car Company, a world-famous quintessentially British sportscar company with a history spanning over 100 years, and Balvenie, a 123 year old distillery based in Speyside that has preserved the fine art of traditional whisky making in the Scottish Highlands.
The Making of the Film
When Rogan Productions was asked to produce a film about a bespoke Morgan 4-seat Roadster that was to be commissioned by The Balvenie to transport their whisky to their customers, we were incredibly excited to be a part of this unique project that would capture the dedication and skill of these British craftsmen.
Our Director John Gutierrez commented on how he brought the values and stories of these historic institutions to life:
“From the first meeting with the craftsmen at Morgan you get an immediate sense that you’re encountering a family. Usually for a short film you want one or two good characters, but I couldn’t choose any one person to focus on because there were so many interesting people. The craft that goes into making a Morgan is similar to the making of a Balvenie whisky, it’s not just one pair of hands that makes a Morgan, it’s hundreds. I felt it was more important to find a way to make the family the central character. To show the breath of the family I structured the film with three Morgan “family” members at different points in their careers. Lewis Potter a young apprentice, Ben Jones mid-career, and Mick Evans who’s close to retirement. In doing this I discovered the common theme was how dedicated and passionate these people were about their craft and working at Morgan.
The Coming Together of the Finished Balvenie Morgan
Morgan’s impressive family-owned factory in Malvern is made up of skilled craftsman who push the boundaries of how long-established techniques can stand the test of time, creating hand-crafted cars that are both unique and historic.
But how was this bespoke car built? This short-film shows James Buntin, the Balvenie ambassador as he visits the Morgan factory in Malvern as the commissioned car comes to life, capturing the intricate processes of the team and the shared family ethos of these British institutions.
The style of the film parallels the construction of the Balvenie Morgan. As the car moves closer to being finished, the more refined and choreographed the camera work is. The hand held camera reflects the raw beginnings of the car, and the more controlled camera reflects the completed polished form of the car.
Don’t miss this inspiring short-film from Rogan Productions. Follow the link below to find out more about the story behind the team that crafted this exclusive product and the coming together of the finished Balvenie Morgan.
