Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation: Short Doc Series
The Gulbenkian Foundation commissioned us to produce four branded videos, exploring the organisations importance, processes and outcomes
The Brief
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation approached us to produce a series of three films, each highlighting the vital work of their flagship ocean charity partners. The goal was to explore and showcase the unique processes, distinct outcomes, and overall importance of each organisation, culminating in an in-person screening for partners and funders.
We managed the entire project from end to end handling the production, shooting, and editing for all three films.
The featured organisations included:
OneLess: A plastic bottle elimination initiative led by the Marine CoLABoration (CoLAB) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), supported by the Mayor of London.
Agents of Change: An organisation dedicated to helping coastal communities actively engage with Marine Protected Areas.
We Are Ocean: A collective of climate organisations working together to increase Ocean Literacy and foster effective collaboration.
What We Did
We took a collaborative, hands-on approach to bring these stories to life from the ground up, beginning with the scriptwriting to ensure each charity’s unique impact was clearly communicated.
With a streamlined crew of just two people, we directed and shot all three films, keeping the production agile while maintaining a high-end look on location. To elevate the final edit, we collaborated closely with talented animators, adding custom graphics and animations that provided the perfect finishing touch to the visual storytelling.
Agents of Change
Every project requires a distinct lens. Each film has a different emphasis and with our Agents of Change film, we wanted to create a human-centred approach to storytelling, interviewing different groups of people affected by the systemic challenges facing Norfolk communities. By stepping away from sterile statistics and focusing on real, raw lived experiences, this video explores the deep, transformative processes driving grassroots community development. Through powerful, intimate interviews, we reveal the tangible impact of local empowerment and the faces behind the movement.
#OneLess
While the campaign made headlines, #OneLess turns the camera on the unscripted effort behind it. I documented the organisations processes and the logistical hurdles of removing single-use plastic bottles from London. My role was to capture key wins, creating a transparent blueprint of how grassroots advocacy drives systemic change.
We Are Ocean
Centered on collective action, We Are Ocean highlights how unified effort drives real impact. Guided by their ethos of rethinking how we work together to tackle healthy oceans, I documented the movement as it brought schools together for World Ocean Day.
The Team
Built Different Media: From ideation all the way to the finish line
Additional Team: 2nd camera by Jonty Herman and Joyce Nicholls
Sound Design by Charlie Davis Miller
Have a story that needs to be told?
Human-driven stories are the most powerful way to connect with your community, engage funders, and showcase the real-world outcomes of your work. We specialise in turning complex initiatives into beautiful, cinematic documentaries that people actually want to watch.
If you’re ready to elevate your cause and share your vital mission with the world, we’d love to help you tell it.