The Heartbeat Timeline: a charity documentary

We produced The Heartbeat Timeline, a short documentary about the people connected with Heartbeat Charity and its 3D Heart Project. The film follows families, patients, clinicians and supporters, bringing their perspectives together within one account.

The documentary is shown above. Its focus is the people whose experiences give the charity’s work its personal context.

A story told through people

The film's subject connects personal experience with the work of a charity. Patients and families bring one perspective; clinicians and supporters bring others. That range gives the documentary a human context for the project it describes.

For a film of this kind, the people involved are central to the way the story is told. Their words and experiences need enough space to make sense, with the surrounding footage helping viewers understand the context.

Documentary work for charities

A charity film may introduce a project, explain a service or give people a way to understand the experience behind an appeal. Each purpose calls for an editorial focus and careful preparation with those taking part.

When planning a similar commission, we start with the subject and the audience. We discuss who can contribute, what can be filmed and any sensitivities that should shape the interviews or use of material. The aim is a clear account that respects the people at its centre.

Preparing the material and the review

Identify the contributors, locations and background information available. For a specialist subject, nominate someone who can check terminology and factual statements alongside the person approving the overall film.

The viewing context matters too. A complete documentary, a website introduction and a short extract may need different amounts of explanation. Include any captions, transcripts or additional edits in the brief so they can be planned with the main film.

Discuss a documentary project

Read about our documentary production or send us your brief. Share the story, the people involved and where the film will be shown. You can also email us directly.