Adaptis partnered with the Ukrainian film "KILLHOUSE". In this project, we took full responsibility for providing the film crew with stable satellite internet. Most importantly, our solutions helped to create a complete picture that accurately reflects the realities of modern warfare in Ukraine.
Thanks to Adaptis' adapted terminals, the team was able to instantly send filmed material for editing and synchronized the work of all departments in real time.
Adaptis on and off the big screen
Making a film in Ukraine today is a real challenge. Especially when it's about war.
"KILLHOUSE" is based on real events, so the filmmakers aimed to convey reality as accurately as possible. The plot of the film is based on a real operation to rescue a 14-year-old girl from occupation, carried out by forces of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, SBU, and HUR.
The filming took place in remote locations: open fields, forests, and abandoned industrial sites. In such places, traditional communication usually works unstably or is completely absent, which creates risks for coordinating the film crew and adhering to the filming schedule. This is where Adaptis solutions, namely the adapted Starlink Gen 3 (now Standard 4X), which we provided for filming, proved useful. Communication was used for the director to quickly review playbacks, instant synchronization between different departments, and transfer of filmed material for post-production. Thanks to this, editing and visual effects specialists received footage for processing on the same day it was shot. In addition, stable internet allowed for conducting working meetings with partners via video calls directly from the locations, which significantly optimized the project's time and budget.
A separate challenge was working with drones. "KILLHOUSE" is the first Ukrainian action film where FPV drones became an integral part of the filming process and the plot itself. Since many unmanned systems and communication equipment were operating simultaneously on set, the question of their compatibility in one location arose. We helped the team to correctly position the equipment and configure it so that all systems worked harmoniously.
The visual aspect of the project required a special approach to props. The events of the film take place during a period when Starlink Gen 2 was most commonly used by the military. Therefore, for filming, we chose these specific terminals in our adaptation. We advised the producers and art director on the appearance of the equipment to ensure everything looked as authentic as possible. This decision added authenticity to the film, as the audience saw in the frame the very equipment used by our special forces in real combat missions. We also provided training for the film crew so that they could independently and quickly deploy the system at each new location.
"KILLHOUSE" Private Screening by Adaptis
The official premiere of the film took place on April 23, and a week later, we organized a private screening of "KILLHOUSE" for our team, partners, and regular clients. The event was also attended by the film's director, actors, and crew members, who shared stories about how the film was made.
However, we also managed to combine business with pleasure, as a significant event of the evening was a charity auction. It featured unique artifacts from the filming of "KILLHOUSE."
Our guests donated 255,000 hryvnias, and we, in turn, doubled that amount. Thus, through our combined efforts, we directed 510,000 hryvnias to support the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The entire amount has been officially transferred to the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation to meet the technological needs of our defenders. We thank everyone who contributed to this result.
Conclusion
For us, the partnership with "KILLHOUSE" is about contributing to and supporting modern Ukrainian cinema. Supporting projects of this level allows for the implementation of new production standards, where, in particular, stable communication becomes the basis of creative freedom. We are genuinely happy to be part of a team that sets such a high bar for the entire industry. Every successfully realized film and every high-quality shot proves that Ukrainian cinema has enormous potential.
