Documentary films for organisations and heritage projects

We make documentary films for organisations and heritage projects, working with the people, places and material at the centre of the story. We are based in Hampshire and take enquiries for projects across Surrey, London and further afield.

The starting point is editorial focus: whose perspective matters, what can be shown and what the audience needs to understand. Those decisions give the research, interviews and filming a clear purpose.

Finding the focus

An organisation may have years of history or a complicated subject to communicate. A single film cannot always cover everything. It helps to decide which part of the story matters most for the audience you want to reach.

Share the background material you already have, along with the people, places and dates that are important. We can discuss a focus for the film and the practical material needed to support it.

Interviews with a purpose

An interview is most useful when the contributor knows the subject and has space to explain it in their own words. Planning should establish the topics to cover without making every answer sound like a script.

Tell us who is available, why their perspective matters and any sensitivities around the subject. Access, sound and the location of the interview need attention too. These practical details influence the filming plan as much as the questions themselves.

Showing the subject

Interviews are only part of the material. The places, objects and activities connected to the story help viewers understand what someone is talking about.

During planning, identify what can be filmed and when. A process that only happens occasionally, a building with restricted access or an object that needs special handling should be accounted for before a shoot date is agreed.

If archive photographs or other supplied material are part of the brief, identify them early and discuss the permission required for their intended use.

Heritage work in Winchester

Our Heritage Open Days films in Winchester provide an example of work built around local heritage and the people connected with it.

The films explore Winchester businesses including Kingsgate Books & Prints, Hayward Guitars, The Colour Factory, P&G Wells and The Winchester Bindery. Their different crafts and histories give each film a specific subject.

Our Heartbeat Timeline documentary offers another example, centred on the people connected with Heartbeat Charity and its 3D Heart Project.

Editing and different audiences

The edit brings the filmed material into a coherent account. The intended audience and viewing context matter here: a visitor introduction, an online documentary and an extract for social media may need different versions.

If you need captions, a transcript or shorter edits, include those requirements in the enquiry. They should be discussed as part of the scope and schedule, rather than assumed to be included in every commission.

Who should review the story?

Identify the person who can check names, dates and specialist facts, alongside anyone responsible for the overall commission. Those are sometimes different roles. Agreeing how feedback will be brought together helps keep factual review clear without losing the film’s focus. If contributors need to approve particular material, explain that requirement at the start so it can be reflected in the production and review schedule.

Starting a documentary project

You do not need a completed script to get in touch. A description of the subject, the reason for making the film and the audience is a useful starting point.

Send any key locations, contributor availability, funding or publication deadlines, and the films you expect to need. Tell us about the project or email us. We can then discuss what is practical and what further preparation would help.