Creative Direction And Narrative For A Documentary Hero Film For Chris Bumstead

Newkid collaborated with award-winning director Mark Bone to announce his documentary on Chris Bumstead, the six-time Mr. Olympia Classic Physique champion. Tasked with crafting the narrative and leading creative direction for a hero film titled The Standard, newkid shaped a concept around Bumstead’s nickname and ethos, contrasting his inner benchmarks with those imposed by the bodybuilding world. Shot in classic black and white by Bone, the piece was intentionally restrained to stand apart from the arena’s typical slick, bombastic style, foregrounding discipline, vulnerability, and mental health alongside physical achievement. The resulting film positions Bumstead as both subject and symbol, using minimalism and precise pacing to elevate character over spectacle and set the tone for the forthcoming feature documentary.