Behind the Craft: Wētā Workshop v ZorpaZorp

Client: Wētā Workshop

Collaborator: ZorpaZorp

Role: Production, Story Development, Camera, Edit Support

Format: YouTube Video Series

The brief

YouTube creator Lachlan Linton-Kean (ZorpaZorp) partnered with Wētā Workshop to create a video series that recognisably fit his crafting channel while offering fans rare access to one of the world’s most respected practical effects studios.

The core challenge was balance:

• Maintain authenticity for Lachlan’s miniature-focused audience

• Deliver meaningful brand value for Wētā

• Take creative risks without alienating the YouTube algorithm

The approach

Working closely with Wētā’s marketing and consumer products teams, we developed a series concept built around learning from master craftspeople. Episodes explored the creative processes behind Wētā’s consumer products and featured interviews with artists who worked on The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, and The Rings of Power.

I was brought into the project early, contributing during production meetings to shape story angles that would support engagement and retention. On set, I operated the primary camera, supported interviews, and produced assembly cuts for the majority of the series.

Managing risk & platform constraints

The series marked a departure from Lachlan’s typical crafting content, which carried algorithmic risk. To mitigate this, we carefully framed each episode through Lachlan’s personal creative journey, ensuring miniature painters and wargaming enthusiasts still had a clear point of entry.

Not every experiment paid off as hoped, but this was anticipated. Overall performance validated the strategy.

The outcome

• Average viewership exceeded 100,000 views per video

• Strong audience retention despite format evolution

• Positive fan response to deeper, process-driven storytelling

• Expansion of the series following the initial release

For Wētā, the project help further humanise the brand and connect fans directly with the passion behind the work. For Lachlan, it reinforced his credibility while broadening the scope of his channel.

Personal highlight

Collaborating with Wētā Workshop was a genuine full-circle moment. Growing up immersed in behind-the-scenes features, I never imagined I’d one day be forging a sword in the Wētā armoury alongside legendary swordsmith Peter Lyon.

Client Feedback

 Lachlan Linton-Kean (ZorpaZorp)

Beau played a key role in shaping the Wētā Workshop series, contributing not just across production, but to the overall strategic direction of the project. From early planning through to delivery, he brought a level of clarity that helped shape not just what we were creating, but why we were creating it.

This project required a careful balance between audience authenticity and stakeholder expectations. Beau understood that immediately. He contributed to shaping the series in a way that stayed true to my channel and audience, while also delivering something meaningful for Wētā. His ability to think at both a creative and strategic level helped ensure the content wasn’t just well made, but purposeful and engaging.

One of Beau’s key strengths is his ability to bring people together. Working alongside Wētā’s marketing and consumer teams, he built trust quickly and communicated ideas in a way that was clear, grounded, and easy to get behind. That made collaboration smooth and helped maintain momentum across a complex, multi-stakeholder project.

From a workflow perspective, Beau was incredibly reliable. Opening assembly cuts he had worked on was always a relief. He consistently pushed things forward efficiently and to a high standard, which made the entire production pipeline run more smoothly. In an environment where deadlines and momentum matter, he delivered every time.

Beyond his skillset, Beau is simply great to work with. He’s warm, easy to collaborate with, and brings a calm, positive energy into every environment. Whether working with stakeholders, talent, or the core team, he builds trust quickly and elevates the experience for everyone involved. I’d work with Beau again in a heartbeat.