“I’ve admired the work of Thornberg & Forester for years and was thrilled to be able to collaborate with them on a critical project. They delivered exceptional work in support of the Army IERW trainer for Robinson Helicopter Company. The strategic thinking, collaborative approach and clear storytelling was evident, skillfully capturing the emotional core of this important project. We particularly appreciated their commitment to both visually appealing creative coupled with informational accuracy. Remarkably, this was our first experience working with a creative partner where no revisions to master edits were necessary – a true testament to the T&F experience and commitment to quality work. We look forward to engaging them on additional projects in the future.”
– Robyn Eagles, VP of Global Marketing and Communications
The Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) is an American helicopter manufacturer that was founded by Frank Robinson in 1973 and is based in Torrance, CA. Robinson produces four helicopter models – R22, R44, R66 and the recently unveiled, R88. Last year, RHC developed a campaign entitled ‘Climb Higher’ to show that real people use their aircraft to get tough jobs done.
We were engaged by RHC to film and produce two 3-minute films that would focus on the R66 with a hero goal of arming the U.S. Army with 200 units for Army pilot training.
The films would include interviews with several U.S. Army veterans, many of which own flight schools with fleets of Robinson helicopters. We would also have the opportunity to film air-to-air, and document several elements of the incredible RHC manufacturing process.
The Robinson team initially provided us with a trove of background and technical material. Strategist and copywriter Nathan Lackie distilled the information, crafted structure and developed initial questions for us to ask each veteran. We titled the films ‘Pilots of Tomorrow’ and ‘American-Made Readiness’. Both would become an extension of the ‘Climb Higher’ campaign and focus on different aspects of the company and the R66 itself.
Through the R66 platform, Robinson has a unique opportunity to help the U.S. Army ensure the next generation of Army aviators is mission-ready—to fight and win in complex operational environments. As the Army modernizes its Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) training program, It needs a platform that not only builds fundamental flight skills but also prepares pilots for the advanced aircraft they will fly in the future. To meet this need, the right training aircraft must be:
/ Engineered to develop pilot instincts from day one— Reinforcing core competencies like stick-and-rudder proficiency, power management, and environmental awareness.
/ Designed to create a seamless learning curve— Equipping pilots with modern avionics and real-world training features that prepare them to transition smoothly into larger, more complex aircraft.
/ Built for long-term fleet readiness— Delivering cost-effective, U.S.-manufactured reliability to support the Army’s training pipeline for decades to come.
The R66 is the only American-made helicopter in its class, offering unmatched availability, reliability, and military-grade performance to meet the Army’s evolving aviation needs.
These two connected films position the R66 as “The Next Generation of Army Aviation” — showing how the R66 is not just a training aircraft, but the key to preparing future Army aviators and ensuring long-term fleet readiness. Together, these films make the case that the Army needs a training solution built for tomorrow’s pilots and tomorrow’s missions—and the R66 delivers exactly that.
Film 1 “Pilots of Tomorrow”
Chapter 1: Training the Best Pilots
Chapter 2: The Right Aircraft for the Training Mission
Chapter 3: Training The Future Fundamentals
Film 2 “American-Made Readiness”
Chapter 4: All-American
Chapter 5: Innovation-driven Performance
Chapter 6: Proven Safety, Unmatched Reliability
Tactically, these films are designed to be effective when viewed in any order or context. As standalone sales tools, they are effective on their own for targeted engagements. When used together, they create a compelling, holistic narrative.
We filmed accordingly to produce each film at 4k in four formats – UHD, 1×1, 4×5 and 9×16.
Thank you to the Robinson executive team for the opportunity to craft these incredibly important films. This project was a true honor for us…as it was for the entire crew.
We’d like to express deep gratitude to the remarkable people we filmed, and for their service to our great country.
Dream projects deserve dream teams. We pulled together a true dream team from New York, Georgia, Pennsylvania and California. T&F Chief Creative Officer, Scott Matz, selected his great friend and incredible director, Ben Orisich, to direct the live-action. Ben’s eye for detail, filmic beauty, ability to see the big picture of a two-day production, and ability to warmly engage with those he films, was paramount. Also from Atlanta, came Director of Photography, John Taggart and our U.S. Military Advisor, Grant Sutherland. Thanks to B-Unit Director of Photography, Hilton Goring, we were able to capture a gold mine of beautiful shots from all over the massive Robinson factory (and air-to-air shots) as Ben, John and Scott focused on filming the talent. Two more great friends of T&F’s are the phenomenal Producer, Anthony Hartman and Production Manager Marc Chenail. These guys made it all happen (as the always do), and did an absolutely amazing job.
Special thanks to our post team as well. T&F friend and ally, Henry Hayes did an outstanding job cutting the films, infusing both with wonderful flow, cadence and impact. Tristan Kneschke did a great job on color grade, especially with balancing temperature from a variety of different cameras and lenses. Thanks to T&F Head of Production, Javier Gonzalez for jumping in on mix and to T&F Senior Animator and Designer Jase Kim, for his trained eye and for cleaning up several shots.
Director: Ben Orisich
Creative Director: Scott Matz
U.S. Military Advisor: Grant Sutherland
Producer: Anthony Hartman
Production Manager: Marc Chenail
Director of Photography: John Taggart
B-Unit DP: Hilton Goring
Gaffer: Shane Salyards
Sound: Juan Nunez
Make-up: Claire Alexandra Doyle
Producer: Javier Gonzalez
Editor: Henry Hayes
Color: Tristan Kneschke
Design & Animation: Scott Matz
Cleanup: Jase Kim
Mix: Javier Gonzalez
