Filming With ZAMST Japan: Behind the Scenes of the Prepare to Prevail Campaign!
- Alex
- Jun 10
- 6 min read
An Early Start to Urayasu for Another Filming Day in Japan
Just last week, I had been running through the backstreets of Tokyo's red-light district at 4am while filming the UK Ekiden campaign, so by comparison, this shoot already felt like it was going to be a completely different adventure.
This time, Sebastian and I were heading out to Urayasu in Chiba for a full day of filming with ZAMST, a Japanese sports performance brand known for its braces, supports, and recovery products!
The campaign we were filming for was called Prepare to Prevail, which I absolutely love. It feels strong, and very connected to sport, training and the kind of mindset you need if you want to keep showing up and improving. Love it!
Before the cameras even started rolling, I had already done a little bit of research into Zamst because I always like to understand the companies/ brands I’m working with. I knew they were a respected Japanese brand, but I didn’t realise how closely connected they were to some world-class athletes!! The big one that stood out to me straight away was Stephen Curry, who is known for wearing the Zamst A2-DX ankle brace after dealing with ankle injuries earlier in his NBA career. I also found out that Trae Young wears the A2-DX as well, and that Zamst works with athletes across other sports including volleyball, tennis, golf, and para badminton too! Insane!!
So, before I had even arrived at the shoot location, I already had this feeling of, okay, this is actually pretty cool. I’m not just turning up to run around in front of a camera. I’m working with a Japanese company whose products are being used by elite athletes around the world.
Once we arrived in Urayasu, we met up with the team and also met Hanah, who was my "co-star" for the day. Hanah is actually a friend from my runclub, a beautiful model and trail runner who regularly works with sports and outdoor adventure brands in Japan, so it was really nice to have someone there who understood both sides of the day. The "modelling" side, the movement side, and the patience required to do the same thing over and over again until the shot is right lol.
Running, Retakes, and Filming Beside Tokyo Bay
From Urayasu, the team drove us out to the filming location, which was a large park right by Tokyo Bay. It was a pretty amazing place to shoot. There was open space, long stretches of asphalt, views across the water, and a feeling that we weren't in Tokyo at all. Looking out across the bay, it felt more like a port city somewhere in Europe or North America than one of the busiest cities in Japan!
At one point, someone mentioned that the area had apparently once been used as an airstrip and may still even be used for emergency landings! I’m not sure exactly how often that happens, but once I heard that, it made complete sense. The long, open road we were filming on really did feel like a runway, and it gave the whole shoot a pretty unique atmosphere.
The first part of the day was more product-focused. Hanah and I filmed different shots wearing Zamst supports around our legs, knees and other parts of the body. Those kinds of shots are always quite precise because the product needs to be shown clearly, but it still needs to look natural and athletic.
Then came the part I enjoy most.
The running.
Once we moved into the action shots, I really started to find my groove. I was sprinting back and forth, again and again, while the producers, photographers, and creative directors gave small pieces of feedback each time.
Sometimes it was about changing my stride.
Sometimes it was about my arm movement.
Sometimes it was about the way I accelerated, or the way I came to a stop, or the energy I gave through the camera.
That is one of my favourite parts of filming. I love getting direction. I love making little adjustments. I love the process of trying to take something that looks simple and slowly making it better with each take.
From the outside, it might just look like someone running across a park. But when you're actually filming it, there is so much more going on. The camera angle matters. The light matters. The timing ABSOLUTELY matters. The body position. My facial expressions. Even the smallest movement can change the feeling of the shot.
After lunch we got back into it again. More sprinting, more movement shots, stairs, running through different parts of the park, and then some scenes with Hanah and I running together.
Prepare to Prevail and the Meaning Behind the Campaign
As the day went on, the phrase Prepare to Prevail started to feel more and more connected to what we were doing.
At first, I thought it was just a strong campaign name. But after hours of sprinting, repeating takes, making adjustments, working through the heat, listening to direction, and trying to get each shot right, it started to feel like the perfect message for the day.
Because that's what sport is. That is, in fact, what life is!
It's preparation.
It's repetition.
It's doing the same thing again and again, even when nobody is watching, so that when the moment comes, you're ready!
That message also really connects with where I am in life right now. Moving to Japan, building this businesses, training, racing, working with Japanese companies, and trying to create a real future here all require the same kind of mindset. You don’t just arrive and suddenly everything works out. You prepare, you keep showing up, you improve little by little, and eventually the opportunities start to come.
That's why this shoot felt like more than just another filming day.
I felt genuinely proud to be there. Proud to be in Japan and working with other Japanese people. Proud to be representing a Japanese company and doing my best to contribute to their brand in my small way.
That might all sound simple, but for me it means a lot.
I didn’t grow up here. I didn’t start my career here. I came to Japan because I wanted to challenge myself - I wanted to change my life, build something meaningful, and become the best version of myself while connecting with my heritage in a deeper way than just being a visitor.
So to be standing there in Tokyo Bay, filming for a Japanese sports performance brand, surrounded by a Japanese production team, trying to represent their campaign properly, was something I felt very grateful for.
Grateful for the People, the Opportunity, and Another Chapter in Japan
By the end of the day, everyone was hot, tired, and sooo ready to sit down, but the energy from the team never dropped.
That was one of the things I appreciated most. The entire crew was incredibly professional, but also positive and encouraging throughout the day. The producers and directors were vocal in the best way. When Hanah and I nailed a take, or when a sprint looked particularly strong, you could hear the excitement from behind the camera. That kind of energy makes a huge difference when you're repeating the same movements over and over.
I also really enjoyed working alongside Hanah. Filming alone can be fun, but having someone beside you makes the whole experience more enjoyable. You share the small moments between takes, have a laugh when things don't quite go to plan, and help each other keep the energy high throughout the day.
As we wrapped the final shots and started making our way back towards Tokyo, I found myself feeling incredibly grateful.
A few years ago, I was living in Perth, working FIFO in mining, running an Okonomiyaki business on the side. Today, I'm living in Japan, own and operate a tour company, training for for all sorts of sports and competitions, creating content, and occasionally finding myself filming campaigns for Japanese brands beside Tokyo Bay.
I never could have predicted a day like this.
A huge thank you to Zamst, Fuji Communications, Hanah, Sebastian, and the entire production team for such an amazing day. It was a pleasure to be involved in the Prepare to Prevail campaign, and I'm proud to have played a small part in bringing it to life.
Another unexpected chapter in Japan.
And a pretty special one.
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