Is Making a Feature Film One of the Most Demanding Creative Challenges a Team Can Face? Teams in the movies are fascinating to watch.

Making a feature film is widely regarded as one of the most complex and demanding creative and logistical undertakings for any team. Some of the Sabre team have recently witnessed teams in the movies firsthand—and we wholeheartedly agree.

While many of our team and leadership development clients may not be aware, several ex-military members of the Sabre team occasionally step into the world of film as armourers and military technical advisors. These roles have seen us working on international productions and Australian independent films made around South-East Queensland.

This work not only provides a refreshing sabbatical for team members but also offers profound insights into one of the most high-pressure, high-stakes environments imaginable—bringing a feature film to life.

One of the most inspiring feats we’ve seen recently from a team is Primitive War, an Australian independent feature film directed by Luke Sparke and based on the novel by Ethan Pettus. Combining the Vietnam War and dinosaurs in a bold genre mash-up, this production took place in rugged Queensland locations with an international cast and crew. It’s a credit to the entire team that they brought such an ambitious vision to life.

Primitive War has already made waves, with over 10 million views of its teaser trailer online—a first for an Aussie film—and a main stage panel at this week’s San Diego Comic-Con, also a first for an Australian film.  It looks set to take the world by storm.

Having watched this and other productions go from concept to screen, we’ve gained deep appreciation for the drive, resilience, and teamwork that underpins success in this industry. It also adds an extra layer of authenticity and inspiration to our own film-themed team building experiences.

From navigating unpredictable weather and hard to access remote locations to managing budget constraints, tight deadlines, and complex logistics, the filmmaking process is anything but glamorous behind the scenes. It’s a crucible of creative and practical tension, where egos, ideas, and disciplines must find harmony fast—or risk total derailment.

It takes tremendous passion, vision, persistence, and a sheer force of will to take a great script from page to screen. The process rapidly assembles a temporary but fully functioning ecosystem of specialists—from camera and costume departments to production design, makeup, stunts, armoury and VFX. People come and go through pre-production, principal photography, and post-production, and then disband like a diaspora to their next projects.

What’s truly fascinating to us is just how vividly the Belbin Team Roles come to life in these high-pressure environments. Whether it’s the precision of a Completer Finisher in camera or continuity, the creative flair of a Plant in concept design and Direction, or the cool-headed coordination of a Co-ordinator Producer or First AD managing some of the big picture issues—film sets are like living case studies in team dynamics. Recognising these roles at play in real-time helps reinforce just how important behavioural diversity is to any high-performing team, especially under real pressure.

We’ve worked with teams across countless industries over the years, but hats off to the great teams in the movies behind the camera—who repeatedly take on one of the toughest teamwork challenges there is and make movie magic happen.

Quality teamwork proves yet again to the backbone of an industry and any successful undertaking within it.

SEE THE TRAILER OF THIS AMAZING FILM HERE