When the world’s strongest man needs surgery alternatives, you don’t send an amateur with a smartphone. Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, known as “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones and the current deadlift world record holder at 510 kg, came to Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine for stem cell treatment. Our job? Capture everything.
Thanks to Delucia Media, VG Creations was brought in to produce a full content package for this high-profile shoot.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- How Delucia Media connected us to this project
- The 2-person crew setup and gear we used
- Photo gallery, podcast, and social reel deliverables
- Our ongoing content partnership with the client
At VG Creations, we handle video production, photography, and social media content for brands that need more than just basic coverage. This shoot was one for the books.
How Delucia Media Connected Us to This Project
Great work doesn’t happen in isolation. Relationships open doors. And this one opened because of Devin at Delucia Media.
Devin had already established a working relationship with the Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine. When they landed a shoot featuring Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson, he knew the project needed extra hands. So he made the call.
Why Collaboration Matters
Solo creators hit capacity. It happens. The smart move isn’t to turn down work or overextend yourself. It’s to bring in people you trust.
Devin trusted VG Creations to:
- Match his quality standards on set
- Handle social media content alongside the main production
- Deliver without needing micromanagement
That trust didn’t come from nowhere. It came from years of building a reputation, showing up prepared, and treating every project like it matters. When you operate that way, other creators want to work with you.
The Assignment
Devin brought us in to capture content for a high-profile patient visit. Hafþór Björnsson, better known as “The Mountain” from Game of Thrones, was at the clinic for a stem cell procedure to treat a pectoralis muscle tear.
This wasn’t a standard corporate shoot. The client needed:
- Professional photography for their gallery
- Podcast-style video content
- Social media reels for ongoing marketing
Two of us flew in. One photographer. One videographer. Lean team. Big output.
The 2-Person Crew Setup and Gear We Used
Big productions don’t always need big crews. Sometimes, two people with the right gear and chemistry can outperform a team of ten.
For this shoot, VG Creations sent a videographer and a photographer. No assistants. No extra bodies getting in the way. Just two professionals who knew exactly what needed to happen.
The Gear Lineup
When you’re filming someone like Hafþór Björnsson, you can’t show up with entry-level equipment. The man has 4 million Instagram followers. The content needs to look the part.
Here’s what we brought:
| Role | Camera | Purpose |
| Primary Video | Sony FX6 | Main footage, podcast, interviews |
| Secondary Video | Sony A7S3 | B-roll, alternate angles |
| Photography | Sony A74 | High-resolution stills for gallery |
| Audio | DJI Mics | Clean wireless audio capture |
The Sony FX6 is a cinema workhorse. It handles low light beautifully and delivers broadcast-quality footage straight out of the box. Paired with the A7S3 for additional coverage, we had flexibility without redundancy.
For audio, DJI Mics kept things wireless and clean. No cables to trip over. No bulky equipment interfering with the medical staff.
Working Lean
A two-person crew forces efficiency. There’s no room for wasted motion or unclear communication. Every setup, every shot, every transition has to be intentional.
Pro tip: Smaller crews work best when both people can operate independently but sync seamlessly. You’re not waiting on each other. You’re anticipating each other.
Photo Gallery, Podcast, and Social Reel Deliverables
This wasn’t a one-and-done shoot. Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine needed a full content ecosystem. Something they could pull from for months.
We delivered exactly that.
The Photo Gallery
Stills matter. Especially in healthcare, where credibility is everything. You can’t slap a blurry iPhone photo on your website when you’re treating world-class athletes.
We captured the entire patient experience, from arrival to procedure to recovery. These images now live in a dedicated gallery:
👉 View the full photo gallery
The shots showcase Dr. Thomas Nabity working with Thor, the clinic’s state-of-the-art facilities, and candid moments that humanize the patient experience. This kind of imagery builds trust with prospective patients before they ever pick up the phone.
Podcast Production
Beyond the procedure itself, we filmed a full podcast episode. Thor sat down to discuss his treatment, his recovery goals, and why he chose regenerative medicine over traditional surgery.
The setup included:
- Individual camera angles for host and guest
- Professional lighting to match the clinic’s aesthetic
- Broadcast-quality audio via DJI wireless mics
One conversation. Multiple pieces of content. The full episode lives on their channel, but clips from it continue to fuel their social feeds.
Social Media Reels
Short-form content drives reach. Platforms reward it. And Michigan Regenerative’s Instagram needed fresh reels to stay competitive.
We produced multiple social-ready clips during the shoot:
- Behind-the-scenes moments
- Quick soundbites from Thor
- Procedure highlights (patient-approved, of course)
Each reel was formatted for Instagram and designed to stop the scroll. When your patient is literally “The Mountain,” you have built-in attention. Our job was to package it properly.
Our Ongoing Content Partnership with the Client
The shoot ended. The relationship didn’t.
That’s the difference between transactional work and partnership. Michigan Center for Regenerative Medicine still has hours of footage from our production. And they keep coming back to use it.
How It Works Now
The client reaches out when they need a new reel. They describe what they’re looking for. We pull from the existing footage library and edit something fresh.
No new shoots required. No additional production costs on their end. Just smart repurposing of assets we already captured.
This model works because:
- We organized the footage properly from day one
- The raw material is high quality and holds up over time
- Communication stays simple with clear creative direction
They request. We deliver. The content keeps flowing.
Why This Matters for Clients
Most brands underestimate how much value sits in their unused footage. They pay for a shoot, use 10% of what was captured, and let the rest collect dust on a hard drive.
We help clients squeeze every drop of ROI from their investment. That Thor Bjornsson shoot? It’s still generating content months later. And it will continue to as long as the footage stays relevant.
Need Medical Video Production? VG Creations Delivers
Filming a world-record-holding strongman at a regenerative medicine clinic isn’t your average Tuesday. But that’s what happens when the right collaboration meets the right opportunity. Devin at Delucia Media made the call. We showed up ready.
Key takeaways from this project:
- Strong industry relationships lead to high-profile opportunities
- A 2-person crew with professional gear can deliver enterprise-level content
- One shoot can produce photos, podcast episodes, and ongoing social reels
- Properly organized footage becomes a long-term content asset
- Ongoing partnerships beat one-time transactions every time
At VG Creations, we specialize in video production, photography, and social media content for healthcare, corporate, and high-profile clients. Whether you need full-day coverage or ongoing reel edits from existing footage, we make it happen. Let’s talk about your next project.
