“Revealing the Unseen” is the Webby Award–winning branded series created by Samsung and CNN Create and produced by ORBIS Production. Through large-format cinematography, underwater fieldwork, and human-centered narrative, the project exposes the invisible crisis of microplastics — and sets a new standard for environmentally conscious global productions.

“Revealing the Unseen” was conceived as a global branded content initiative by Samsung Electronics and CNN Create to spotlight one of the world’s most urgent but invisible environmental threats: microplastic pollution. The project aimed to transform a scientific challenge into a human story—one capable of reaching a mainstream international audience and driving meaningful awareness at scale.

For Samsung, the series served a strategic purpose: demonstrating how technological innovation (specifically the Less Microfiber™ Filter) can actively reduce microplastic emissions and contribute to global environmental solutions. By anchoring the narrative in real science and human experience, the campaign strengthened Samsung’s positioning as a sustainability-driven technology leader, expanded consumer trust, and brought the company’s environmental initiatives to a global audience through the credibility of CNN and the cinematic craft of ORBIS Production.

Microplastic pollution represents one of the most pervasive and least visible environmental challenges of our time. These microscopic particles—originating from synthetic textiles, packaging, and the breakdown of larger plastics—have infiltrated oceans, coastlines, food chains, and even human biology. Despite its scale, the crisis remains largely unseen and poorly understood by the general public. Samsung and CNN Create identified the need for a narrative capable of translating an invisible threat into a clear, emotionally compelling global story.

CNN Create selected ORBIS Production for its ability to handle complex multi-environment filmmaking—underwater ecosystems, scientific laboratories, aerial coastline coverage, and premium corporate settings. ORBIS’ deep operational knowledge of Italy, its sustainability-focused production practices, and its capability to capture large-format cinematic visuals made it the optimal partner for a project requiring both scientific sensitivity and elevated brand storytelling.

The project was built on a clear and universal insight: microplastic pollution is a global crisis that remains almost entirely invisible to the human eye. Because people cannot see the particles themselves or the damage they cause, the issue rarely feels urgent. The strategic approach, therefore, was to design a branded film and TVC that would make this hidden threat visible — emotionally, scientifically, and visually.

Creating a branded film and TVC that spanned underwater ecosystems, aerial geography, scientific environments, and premium product settings required a production workflow built on precision. The execution demanded deep research, meticulous planning, and field-tested technical expertise — all operating seamlessly across multiple cities and natural environments. ORBIS Production led the full on-ground execution, coordinating a multi-location shoot across Italy with the accuracy of a documentary expedition and the visual ambition of a cinematic campaign.

The project commenced with a research phase built around scientific accuracy and environmental responsibility. ORBIS collaborated with marine experts to determine the most relevant coastal areas, the behavior of microplastics in local waters, and the laboratory processes necessary to illustrate the scientific narrative.

To maintain real-time collaboration and ensure continuous media management even offshore, the main boat was equipped with a mobile DIT workstation powered by high-speed satellite internet, enabling immediate offloading, preview, and secure backup of footage directly from the middle of the sea.

With logistics, permits, schedules, and marine operations aligned, production moved into full execution.

The first day began at dawn with aerial filming over the Adriatic coastline. Sunrise provided the ideal natural light to establish the opening visual language of the film — soft, cinematic, and textural. These aerial shots contextualized the environmental setting and created the atmospheric tone for the narrative.

Throughout the day, the team captured the region’s natural beauty alongside subtle environmental details: floating debris, waterborne particles, and the interaction between human activity and the surrounding marine landscape. These sequences reinforced the core narrative — revealing the coexistence of pristine waters and hidden environmental fragility.

The second production day opened once again at sunrise, this time on the shoreline where the human impact of the story comes into focus. As the first light spread across the beach, ORBIS captured a sequence featuring children and community volunteers discovering and collecting pieces of plastic washed onto the sand. These moments conveyed a powerful emotional contrast — the innocence of youth set against the consequences of environmental neglect — creating a visually delicate yet impactful opening to the day’s narrative.

Across these combined environments — beach, town, and laboratory — Day 2 provided the narrative with its human and scientific spine, linking real-life communities with the environmental systems they depend on.

The final production day moved the narrative into a modern, controlled setting: the Samsung showroom in Milan, where the technological dimension of the story came into focus. ORBIS reconfigured sections of the showroom into polished, cinema-ready environments, using clean architectural lines and controlled lighting to create a sophisticated visual tone aligned with Samsung’s global brand identity.

Day 3 completed the full arc of the production: from ocean and community, to science, to technology — forming a cohesive, multi-dimensional narrative framework that defined the visual and emotional identity of the film.

With more than 9TB of footage captured across oceans, communities, laboratories, and the Milan showroom, post-production became the phase where all narrative threads were brought together. The editorial team crafted a seamless flow between radically different environments, balancing natural beauty with scientific rigor and technological clarity. Color grading unified the sunrise palettes, underwater tones, urban textures, and clean product visuals into a single cinematic language, while sound design blended ocean ambience, human interactions, and subtle instrumental layers to create an immersive, emotionally grounded experience.

Scientific visual effects were used selectively to reveal processes impossible to capture with the naked eye, making the story both accessible and accurate. After finalizing picture, sound, and graphics, the film was localized with multilingual subtitles and mastered in multiple formats for global broadcast and digital distribution. The result is a polished, cohesive piece of branded storytelling that moves effortlessly between nature, science, and innovation.

Creating a film about microplastic pollution demanded a production workflow that upheld the same environmental values on set. ORBIS adopted a sustainability-first approach from pre-production through wrap, minimizing impact without compromising cinematic quality. This included intentional decisions around transport, lighting, marine operations, materials, and on-set behavior.

The result was a streamlined, responsible, and fully compliant production model that respected natural environments, supported local communities, and aligned authentically with the project’s environmental message.

“Revealing the Unseen” achieved global reach from the moment it launched, airing on international broadcast channels and across digital platforms. Within the first month, the series surpassed 10 million views, generating high engagement across social media and sparking widespread discussion about microplastic pollution. The film’s blend of scientific clarity and cinematic storytelling resonated strongly with audiences, elevating awareness of an issue that is rarely visible and often overlooked.

The campaign also delivered substantial value for Samsung. By presenting the Less Microfiber™ Filter within an authentic, real-world narrative, the project strengthened the brand’s positioning in sustainability and innovation. Consumer interest and inquiries regarding the filter increased, while third-party coverage highlighted Samsung’s commitment to environmental responsibility. The film went on to receive industry recognition, earning a Webby Awards win in 2025 and several additional shortlists — reinforcing the project as a benchmark for branded environmental storytelling and a model for future impact-led content.

“Revealing the Unseen” matters because it transforms an invisible global threat into a story people can finally understand. By combining environmental reality, scientific rigor, and a practical technological solution, the project goes beyond traditional branded content — it builds awareness, inspires responsibility, and demonstrates how innovation can actively support the planet.

ORBIS Production is a leading full-service film and video production company headquartered in Milan, with operations across Italy and Europe. Since 2009, our team has specialized in delivering high-end moving image content for global brands, agencies, and broadcasters. We combine cinematic craft with precise execution, managing projects of every scale — from large TV commercials to cross-platform digital campaigns.

With a seasoned international crew network, deep local knowledge, and an uncompromising commitment to visual excellence, ORBIS provides end-to-end production support — from pre-production and permits to filming, post-production, and final delivery. We collaborate with brands that seek more than content; we help them craft stories that resonate, inspire, and create lasting impact.