An Ilminster filmmaker is attracting strong interest online with a new military documentary.
Louis Skupien, 24, produced the film in partnership with the British Army, British Army South West, and the Royal Wessex Yeomanry to showcase the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank through a civilian perspective.
The documentary has already generated more than 1,100 watch hours in its first two days online.
Mr Skupien said: "This project means a lot to me because it’s exactly the sort of opportunity I dreamed about as a kid growing up in Ilminster.
"To go from watching military documentaries to actually working alongside the British Army to create one is something I’m incredibly grateful for.
"The Challenger 2 is an amazing piece of engineering, but what really stood out to me were the people behind it.
"The professionalism, teamwork and pride shown by the crews were genuinely inspiring."
Mr Skupien was given behind-the-scenes access to the tank and its crew, learning about the vehicle, experiencing life inside it, and even driving the 70-tonne machine.
He said: "Very few civilians ever get the opportunity to get this close to a vehicle like this, let alone drive one, so I felt a real responsibility to create something that represented both the tank and the soldiers properly.
"The response has been fantastic.
"To see over 1,100 hours watched in the first two days shows there’s a real appetite for this kind of content, and I’m hugely grateful to everyone who has taken the time to watch and support it."
Mr Skupien produces documentaries through his Full Throttle platform and hosts the TALK4 Podcast.
His work often explores military and aviation environments.
Previous films have featured flying in an F-16 fighter jet at California’s Edwards Air Force Base, documenting military helicopter operations in the United States, and training on the Gravity Jet Suit.
The full Challenger 2 documentary is available to watch on YouTube.
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