Barking Squirrel Media

Rocket Systems Manufacturing Reels

Manufacturing Video Production for Rocket Systems

In the world of advanced manufacturing video production, few projects demonstrate the fusion of technology and visual storytelling as clearly as our collaboration with Rocket Systems. As one of the Midwest’s leading health and wellness manufacturers, Rocket Systems has been at the forefront of producing supplements that reduce inflammation, promote recovery, and support healthy living. Barking Squirrel Media was tasked with producing six high-energy manufacturing reels that showcased automation, precision, and innovation—all without a single spoken word.

These visually striking sizzle reels rely solely on imagery, rhythm, and music to communicate Rocket Systems’ message: American-made quality, powered by modern automation and guided by science.


The Power of Cinematic Manufacturing Video Production

Our objective for this project was simple yet challenging—create six manufacturing reels that tell a story through motion, sound, and light. Without narration or dialogue, every frame had to carry meaning. The movement of robotic arms, the shimmer of polished stainless steel, the rhythm of capsules filling and conveyor belts running—all had to feel purposeful and alive.

Manufacturing video production is about more than showing how something is made. It’s about revealing the intelligence of the process—how precision, timing, and human ingenuity combine to create something of real value. Rocket Systems wanted to show not just the machines, but the mastery behind them.


Understanding Rocket Systems’ Mission

Rocket Systems’ purpose extends far beyond product output. The company is committed to helping real people live healthier lives through science-based supplements and sustainable production. Their manufacturing facilities embody this commitment through cutting-edge automation and cleanroom efficiency, meeting and exceeding FDA current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards.

As a video partner, Barking Squirrel Media sought to visually capture this dedication to both quality and human impact. Our team’s deep experience in manufacturing video production helped translate technical precision into cinematic language.


Pre-Production: Technical Discovery and Visual Planning

Before cameras rolled, our production team conducted a comprehensive technical scout of Rocket Systems’ facility. We collaborated closely with engineers and operations managers to understand every aspect of the process—from raw material blending to encapsulation, bottling, and quality testing.

During this discovery phase, we evaluated lighting conditions, airflow, equipment spacing, and camera mobility within the manufacturing floor. These insights helped us design an efficient shooting plan that respected safety protocols while optimizing shot composition.

Because this project was filmed entirely as visual reels, pre-visualization played a major role. We mapped camera paths, movement arcs, and gimbal transitions to ensure that the final footage would be dynamic and fluid. Each sequence was built to visually express Rocket Systems’ most important message: innovation through motion.


Filming the Automation Process with Canon C-70 Cinema Cameras

For this project, Barking Squirrel Media chose to film entirely on Canon C-70 cinema cameras—a decision that blended cinematic quality with unmatched mobility. These cameras’ Super 35 dual-gain sensor delivers exceptional low-noise performance and dynamic range, while their compact form factor makes them ideal for mounting on gimbal systems.

Because Rocket Systems’ manufacturing space was both tight and sterile, the lighter Canon C-70s allowed our team to move swiftly through the production line with minimal disruption. The cameras’ electronic ND filters and Canon Log 2 profiles made it possible to capture consistent exposure and color fidelity under mixed industrial lighting conditions.

The use of gimbal stabilization created smooth, sweeping shots that glide through automation sequences—mirroring the rhythm of the machinery itself. This combination of technical precision and cinematic motion produced a visual experience that feels both industrial and artful.


Cinematic Lighting in Industrial Environments

Lighting plays a critical role in every manufacturing video production, particularly in environments dominated by reflective stainless steel and glass surfaces. Our cinematographers used a combination of diffused LED panels and directional lighting grids to control reflections while preserving the sparkle and clarity that signal modern innovation.

To evoke a sense of cleanliness and sophistication, we emphasized cooler color temperatures—giving the final visuals a sleek, scientific tone. Each frame was graded to accentuate contrast, polish, and depth, transforming ordinary machinery into something aspirational.


Editing and Sound Design: Turning Machinery into Music

Since these manufacturing reels had no narration, the edit and music design became the core of the storytelling. The edit rhythm was crafted to follow the pulse of automation—fast cuts during high-speed filling operations, long, sweeping takes during inspection and packaging sequences.

The musical score blended electronic textures with percussive elements, echoing the hum and rhythm of modern production lines. We layered in subtle sound design—mechanical whirs, piston hisses, and conveyor hums—to create a sense of immersion without literal realism. The result is an emotional yet technical soundscape that transforms Rocket Systems’ process into art.


Visual Data and Motion Graphics

To support Rocket Systems’ marketing team, Barking Squirrel Media integrated minimal motion-graphic overlays into select reels. These included numerical process indicators, batch identifiers, and temperature control graphics—all designed to visually convey the scientific discipline behind the automation.

By keeping the motion graphics clean and understated, we maintained the visual integrity of the cinematography while giving engineers and investors an instant understanding of the precision involved.


Six Reels, Six Perspectives on Innovation

Each of the six manufacturing reels focuses on a distinct stage of production:

  1. Raw Material Intake and Weighing – emphasizing traceability and purity.

  2. Mixing and Blending – showing the controlled synchronization of large-scale mixers.

  3. Encapsulation and Tableting – close-up shots of automated precision at work.

  4. Inspection and Quality Assurance – slow, deliberate pacing that conveys accuracy and accountability.

  5. Packaging and Labeling – a kinetic rhythm that matches Rocket’s branding energy.

  6. Distribution and Innovation Highlights – concluding with macro imagery and product pride.

Together, these six pieces form a cohesive visual identity package that Rocket Systems now deploys across its website, trade shows, and investor presentations.


Why Manufacturing Video Production Matters

High-quality manufacturing video production serves as a strategic asset for companies like Rocket Systems. It communicates capabilities, compliance, and innovation to multiple audiences—customers, partners, and investors—without requiring heavy text or narration.

These visual assets not only increase engagement on digital platforms but also enhance credibility in a market where Made in the USA is a defining value. According to Statista, the U.S. supplement industry continues to expand, and consumers increasingly seek transparency in production. High-quality manufacturing visuals deliver that trust instantly.


Why Rocket Systems Chose Barking Squirrel Media

Rocket Systems selected Barking Squirrel Media because of our deep technical literacy and proven expertise in manufacturing cinematography. Unlike typical corporate video producers, we understand how to navigate regulated environments, coordinate with EHS protocols, and maintain cleanroom standards while achieving cinematic results.

Our smaller crew structure and Canon C-70 gimbal workflow provided the flexibility and efficiency Rocket Systems needed. The result was a streamlined production footprint—fewer people on-site, faster setup, and no interruption to daily manufacturing operations.


Results: Visual Impact That Drives Business

The completed six-reel package has elevated Rocket Systems’ brand presence across digital channels. Website dwell times increased, trade show booths attracted higher engagement, and the reels have become a standard element in sales presentations to new clients and distributors.

Beyond marketing, the videos now serve as training and recruitment tools, showing prospective employees and partners what precision manufacturing looks like at its best.


Why Barking Squirrel Media Leads in Manufacturing Video Production

At Barking Squirrel Media, we believe that manufacturing video production is not just about documenting machinery—it’s about celebrating the artistry of making. Whether filming at Rocket Systems, Shepherd Chemical, Celanese, or Q Labs, our mission remains consistent: to create cinematic stories that showcase the human intelligence and technological excellence driving American industry.

We take pride in helping manufacturers translate complexity into beauty—revealing the elegance of automation, the rigor of quality control, and the passion behind every process.


Conclusion: Innovation in Motion

The Rocket Systems project stands as a powerful example of how cinematic manufacturing video production can elevate perception, communicate precision, and inspire confidence. Through agile Canon C-70 camera work, carefully crafted lighting, and rhythmically edited visuals, Barking Squirrel Media transformed complex automation into a story of innovation and integrity.

For manufacturers seeking to attract customers, partners, and investors through the power of film, Barking Squirrel Media offers the expertise, efficiency, and storytelling vision to bring technology to life.

Producer/Director: Dr. David K Bray
Director of Photography/Editor: Dan Marque
Gaffer/ Cam Op 2: Noah Vaniglia
Grip: Alex Ding
Photographer: Christine Marque