Irresistible Photographer/Director Sophy Holland chats about her approach to visualising the spirit of one of the world's most influential speakers. On the exclusive Audible podcast, MIND BODY ZONE with Deepak Chopra, Oprah Winfrey, Jon Baptiste, and ten other visionary speakers tell their stories of realising that in order to break free, first, they had to dive deep. The 60- and 30-second spots tap into the universal truth that we all set our own limits but can also be the architects of our own liberation.

Speaking about the challenge Sophy said: “I approached the campaign holistically to create a striking visual narrative that supported the words and ethos of Deepak Chopra. I took the challenges of self-reflection and unboxing yourself and represented them on-screen through performers in abstract sets fighting against the spaces. We drew on universal experiences for these. Feeling consumed by the fear of failure, the distortion of appearances, and the weight of expectations.

In every set, we built limitations: tall stairs, suspended 3D boxes, and a tube of fabric. We then filmed performers in their 'worlds' as they found their way out. As with all attempts at self-realisation, we witness each stage. Being consumed, glimpsing the path, beginning to find their way, battling self-deception and achieving liberation. 

Using a trinity rig and dolly track, we captured the visceral movements in a free-flowing, intimate way. Wider, heroic viewpoints were then used to evoke scope and scale. As a director, colour was key to me. So I created a palette based on opposites within the colour wheel. Pairing muted, pastel tones against bold, vibrant hues to create contrast.”