Built around precision choreography, motion control, and a striking central performance, Torn explores repetition, reflection, and the tension between identity and continuation.
Directed by Julius Hayes, the video brings a tightly coordinated crew together around a technically demanding concept — executed under significant time pressure.
Below, Hayes walks us through the making of the video, from scale and planning to on-set challenges and narrative intent.
A Compact Crew with a Singular Focus
Despite the complexity of the visual concept, the production remained deliberately tight, relying on close collaboration and a committed lead performer.
In total, we were 27 people involved in the production of Torn. Cobrah is one of the most professional people I’ve ever worked with.
She stood in her high heels for an entire day and gave her all, take after take and never complained.
Building the Effect Through Rehearsal
Much of the production timeline was spent refining choreography and technical execution before cameras ever rolled.
We made it in about a month, and a large part of the time was spent planning how we would achieve the effect of duplicating Cobrah and having her follow a choreography with herself.
Many of the days were spent bringing the DoP and myself into the dance studio together with Cobrah and the choreographer Christin Olesen.
Time Pressure and Technical Setbacks
As with many technically ambitious shoots, the biggest obstacles emerged once production was underway:
Time, as always when you make a film. You always have such big ambitions, but unfortunately there isn’t always as much time as you would like. We shot the entire film in 8 hours, since our motion control system malfunctioned a lot and ate up our time.
The Image That Sparked the Project
One specific moment became the visual anchor for the entire piece; an image that existed long before the shoot.
I love the scene when she stands up and the reveal of her replica. It was the first image I saw very clearly in my mind when I heard the song, and I immediately started sketching it out.
A Hint at What Comes Next
Rather than closing the story, Torn leaves the viewer with an open thread.
Keep an eye out at the end, and you’ll get a little hint about the next chapter.
Watch the music video below.
CREDITS
Director — Julius Hayes
Director of Photography — Sara Dehlin @saradehlin
Production Company — Camp David Film @campdavidfilm
Executive Producer — Per Welén @therealperwelen
Producer — Hampus Gunnarsson @hampusgunnars
1st Assistant Director — Will McDonagh @will.mcdonagh
Production Designer — Guldfabriken @guld.fabriken
Styling — Ana-Marija Knezevic @_anamarija_knezevic
Make up artist — Johanna Nordlander @johanna_nordlander
Hair — Nikola Grozdic @nikola.grozdic
Choreographer — Christin Olesen @christinolesen
Body double — Alexandra Gennvi @alexandra.gennvi
Monster — Lucas Wallenberg @lucas_wallenberg
1st Assistant Camera — Arnar Hlíðberg @arnarhlidberg
2nd Assistant Camera — Markus Fältmark @marcusfaltmark
DIT — Trausti Birgisson @zarkopef
Trinity — Nestor Salazar @arritrinity_sweden
MoCo — Teodor Görtz @photeyograph
Gaffer — Mike Wahlberg @glodljus
Electrician — KA Segerberg Electrician — Joakim Arenander
Editor — Julius Hayes
Colorist — Didrik Bråthen @didrikbrathen
Sound — Martin Mighetto @mrmighetto
Vfx & Online — Tomas Wall, Cinegrace @cinegrace
Production Assistant — Rut Nykvist @rutabrahamsson
Production Assistant — Sara Rockborn @sararockborn
Thanks to — @ljudbildmedia@independentstudios
