Short Documentary, Big Shift
Your purpose is powerful... But your audience needs to feel it.
Character-driven documentaries that make supporting you feel inevitable, winning deeper commitment & lasting impact.
You've chosen the harder climb - the meaningful work that restores nature, protects communities, creates good.
I made it my mission to support you on this path.
I help you tell stories that turn your audience into believers who buy, donate, support, invest and so much more...
Trusted by purpose‑led organisations including
Your Challenge
You’re spearheading work that saves habitats or changes lives- yet the world is saturated with noise. Numbers prove your impact, but numbers alone rarely move people. Customers choose your competitors, donors hesitate, talent moves on, volunteers scroll past, and policy doors stay closed.
Without a way to communicate with audience on a deeper level, the success of your business or NGO is at risk.
How It Works
Storyfinding
This is the essential first step in crafting powerful, authentic stories. It’s a deep dive through research and meaningful conversations with various people in the story space to find the most powerful story to tell.
Defining Objectives
We do this with 5 Story Keywords that act as a compass that guides every creative decision in your story. These carefully chosen words distill the purpose, tone, and intention of your film to ensure we are fully aligned going forward.
Character Selection
The heart of your story, determining its emotional connection to the audience. The strongest characters are those with deep, relatable desires, compelling motivations, and something that makes them unforgettable.
Storyboarding
In this final step before we film, your story takes shape, transforming ideas into a clear, intentional plan to grab and keep the attention of your audience from hook to call to action.
A Typical Production Includes
Strategy & Discovery
2 Full Days of Professional Filming
Complete Post-Production
2 Rounds of Revisions
8-Week Production Timeline
Delivery of Your Main Film and Social Media Edits
Ready to Transform Your Impact into a Compelling Story?
See It In Action
Case Study — European Public Health Alliance
Series title: New Fuels, Same Problems – The Reality of Alternative Fuels
Challenge
EPHA wanted EU decision-makers to drop any allowance for “bio-” and other combustion fuels in the 2050 Green Deal rules for heavy trucks. Their policy papers proved that burning liquid fuels would still worsen climate change, air and noise pollution, and planetary-health damage, but the evidence felt abstract. They asked for four short documentaries (≈ 6 min each) - one film per impact - to show the human stakes behind the data.
The Approach
Human-level stories – For climate, air, noise and planetary-health we found one character each whose life is already shaped by truck pollution (e.g., asthma sufferer Kjeld; Irish villager Bridie kept awake by freight noise).
On-location realism – Filmed in homes, in nature and roadside towns along freight corridors, capturing the low-frequency roar and exhaust haze policymakers rarely see.
Deliverables
4 × 6-minute story-driven docs.
Social media shorts to boost engagement and traffic.
English captions
Year-long server archive of raw interviews for future reuse.
Immediate Impact
Campaign centrepiece – EPHA embedded every film in its “New Fuels, Same Problems” campaign page, making the stories the first thing MEP assistants and journalists see.
These four six-minute films transformed complex, technical policy into vivid human stories that EPHA can now deploy in every advocacy touch-point - from web pages to parliamentary screenings - demonstrating how a single production can power months of high-impact outreach.
See more of my work: https://shiftvideoproductions.com/portfolio
Still have questions? - Check the FAQ
-
Q: What's a typical investment for a documentary film?
Every documentary package is tailor made to fit your needs. Lets jump on a call to find out about your goals and storytelling potential, and I will create a detailed proposal for you.
Q: How long will my documentary be? A: Your documentary will be 4-8 minutes in length, which is the sweet spot for engagement while thoroughly telling your story. This length works exceptionally well for online platforms, presentations, and fundraising events.
Q: Do you travel for filming? A: Yes! We simply charge travel and accomodation at cost.
-
Q: What does the 8-week timeline look like? A: The process includes: Weeks 1-4 for strategy, storyfinding, and the three creative milestones; Week 5-6 for filming; Weeks 7-8 for editing, final revisions and delivery.
This timeline obviously depends a bit on availability of potential characters during storyfinding as well as filming.Q: What is this storytelling framework that you use? A: The storytelling framework is a proven storytelling methodology that focuses on four key elements: storyfinding (research and discovery), keywords (goal alignment), character selection (finding authentic voices), and strategic structure (crafting a compelling narrative arc).
Q: How involved do we need to be in the process? A: Your input is crucial during the initial strategy and storyfinding phases, as well as during the revision rounds. However, I handle all the technical aspects of production and post-production, making the process smooth and efficient for busy organizations.
If you want to learn more about the process, I have a short video series where I share more details. Click the link “The Process” in the footer section of this page. -
Q: Who owns the rights to the final documentary? A: You do! Your organization receives full usage rights to the documentary for all platforms and purposes except theatrical release and broadcast.
Q: What results can we expect from our documentary? A: While specific outcomes vary, clients typically see increased engagement from supporters, more effective fundraising efforts, stronger partner relationships, and improved ability to communicate their impact. The documentary serves as a powerful tool for building trust and empathy with your audience.
Q: How many projects do you take on? A: To ensure the highest quality and personal attention, We only accept one documentary project per quarter. This limited availability allows me to fully commit to each project.
-
Q: How do we get started? A: The first step is to book a free strategy call where we'll discuss your organization's needs and goals. This conversation will help us determine if we're a good fit to work together.
Q: How quickly can we book a project? A: Due to limited availability (only one project per quarter), I recommend booking your project at least 1-2 months in advance. However, it's always worth checking current availability as schedules can change.
Ready to Put Your Mission on Screen?
We partner with only one organisation per quarter to keep every film personal and focused—secure your slot now.