Let The Light In

What makes the new flagship Philips OLED+ TVs extra special? We enlisted an Olympic gymnast and Abbey Road Studios to show what they’re really made of

- James Williams

Dawn breaks over the grounds of a leafy country pile in Hampshire, as Eythóra Thórsdóttir revs the engine of a gobstopper-red 1960s Volvo P1800, the kind Roger Moore drives in The Saint. An instructor leans in to explain the gearbox – surely, the greatest driving lesson anyone could wish for?

The 21-year-old knows automatics but the clutch of a classic car calls for a certain firmness of touch. That’s no pressure for Eythóra who, as an Olympic gymnast, knows better than most about footwork. The moment the director calls action, she pulls away and motors up the driveway. And there’s a mischief in her eyes that the camera seems to love.

I’ve been invited onto the set of Let The Light In – a film created to show off the picture and sound quality of the new flagship 934 and 984 OLED+ models from Philips. Viewing this later will be a truly immersive experience, which is why the crew here are equipped to shoot in 4K Ultra HD at up to 1,000 frames per second (see box). And why all around us the dusty antiques and old-world furnishings are in direct contrast to deliberate dashes of colour.

A Dutch gymnast with Icelandic heritage, Eythóra is a European silver medalist and has competed at Rio 2016 – now with her sights set firmly on Tokyo 2020. Jetting in specially for the shoot, she’s brought along her own choreographer to curate a bespoke performance. Dressed in a flowing red chiffon dress, she clutches a bouquet of vivid violet hydrangeas.