Shiplake College - Brand Film

The brief

Shiplake College commissioned a brand film to capture the breadth of opportunities across the school while marking its transition to co-education. With a strong existing reputation, the challenge focused on shifting perception, attracting more female applicants, and presenting the full scope of school life without diluting clarity or extending runtime.

The film needed to feel confident, modern, and energetic, balancing scale with personality and maintaining a strong creative point of view.

My role

Self-Shooting Producer Director

I led the project end-to-end, combining creative authorship with production leadership and hands-on shooting. My responsibilities covered concept development, scriptwriting, research, crew leadership, on-set direction, camera operation, post-production oversight, and final colour grade.

Creative development

I originated the split-screen concept as a solution to the brief’s central tension, showing as much of the school as possible while keeping the film short and punchy. The idea allowed two parallel scenes to play simultaneously, linked through matched movement, rhythm, and visual symmetry.

This approach doubled the narrative density without increasing runtime, while reinforcing themes of balance, inclusivity, and variety. Extensive research informed scene selection to ensure the film reflected the full academic, sporting, and cultural range the client wanted to communicate.

I wrote the script and structured the film to be driven primarily by visual storytelling, supported by voiceover from the Head, whose broadcast background added confidence and warmth to the delivery.

Production and direction

The shoot was technically demanding, requiring precise choreography, timing, and camera control to ensure the split-screen compositions aligned seamlessly. I led a crew comprising an Associate Producer, AD, 1st AC, Gaffer, and Spark, working under the oversight of the Creative Director.

I operated camera throughout, shooting this as a self-shooting producer director while directing talent and managing complex blocking across multiple locations. Two units worked in parallel to maximise coverage and efficiency, with careful coordination to maintain visual continuity across paired scenes.

Post-production and delivery

I managed a team of editors, setting clear direction on pacing, rhythm, and visual alignment to preserve the integrity of the split-screen concept. I personally colour graded the film, ensuring consistency, contrast, and energy across the final piece.

Outcome

The finished film delivered a polished, inventive, and high-energy brand statement that captured both the scale and individuality of the Shiplake experience. It successfully supported the school’s transition to co-education and is now used across the website, social channels, and events.

Client feedback was extremely positive, with the school highlighting the ambition of the concept, the depth of understanding shown, and the professionalism of delivery. The film has become a cornerstone asset in Shiplake College’s ongoing brand evolution.