“If the first few months of 2025 for Turps Film are anything to go by, we’re in for a cracking year. From night-time parades and public health shoots to secret product launches, public sector animations and heartfelt industry testimonials, we’ve barely had time to come up for air (not that we’re complaining). Massive thanks to all our brilliant clients and collaborators – it’s a joy doing what we do with such a canny bunch. Have a nosy below at what we’ve been up to!”
Luke Holland, Managing Director, Turps Film
Well said, Luke!
We’ve hit the ground running in 2025 with a proper variety pack of video projects; from community celebrations and awareness campaigns to corporate testimonials and hush-hush product reveals. In this Q1 roundup, we’re shining a light on the people, places and stories we’ve helped bring to screen.
Whether you’re a long-time follower or just finding us, here’s a look at the top projects and behind-the-scenes moments that made the first quarter of the year so memorable.
Shining a Light on Dementia Awareness – Wellburn Care Homes
This is our sixth year collaborating with the lovely team at Wellburn Care Homes, this time on a campaign that needed a bit of a different approach. The focus was young onset dementia, something that needed a tremendous amount of sensitivity and creativity to bring to light in the most appropriate way for our client.
We cast professional actors to portray realistic scenarios that families and individuals affected by young onset dementia might face. We worked closely with Wellburn to make sure the tone struck the right balance between emotional weight and clarity. The film not only explains the challenges but also promotes the brilliant work being done by Wellburn to support those living with the condition and their loved ones.
Visually, we opted for a naturalistic style with subtle camera movement, warm lighting, and tight framing to create intimacy and allow the performances to shine. It’s a beautiful film, with some incredible performances from talent sourced right on our doorstep!
Back in January, we saw the release of the film and the response has been incredible, both internally at Wellburn and across social platforms. We’re proud to have played a role in helping raise awareness in such a meaningful way.
Check out the final video below.
A Testimonial with Impact for Forfusion
We know the power of a good testimonial video especially when it’s grounded in truth and well-executed. In March, we teamed up with Forfusion, a North East-based digital transformation specialist, to film a client testimonial that hit all the right notes.
The shoot was a tight day with back to back interviews and b-roll but with good prep, we maximised every minute. Using a two-camera setup and some absolutely beautiful lighting setups, we elevated a classic talking-head format into something polished and authentic. The client interviewees were brilliant on camera. There might have been a few nerves initially, but Luke is brilliant at making sure he gets everything in the brief from every possible perspective when he’s interviewing someone… great for the content, but not so great for our poor editor, sorry Dominic!
We can’t wait to share the final result after seeing the behind the scenes reactions from the company!
Championing Careers in Public Health
This quarter, we worked on a couple of short films aimed at promoting careers in public health with a particular focus on the role of public health practitioners.
One video showcased an apprentice during their journey, sharing their experience of training, learning and getting stuck into the world of public health. The others spotlighted practitioners already working in the field, giving honest and insightful perspectives on what the job involves, what they love about it and how others can get into the role.
These films are all about visibility showing that public health isn’t some distant department but a career path that makes a genuine impact on communities. Each film was shaped around real voices. No corporate content here, real stories using a relaxed, documentary style to keep things authentic.
Filming took place in Newcastle and Sunderland.
The videos were shown during a public health conference and will be featured on the UKPHR website in the future amongst other platforms and for other uses. A great example of how Turps Film’s video services can support both storytelling and sector growth.
Here are the final films:
Animating Ashington: A Festival of Community
One of our most colourful projects in Q1 has been documenting the Animating Ashington programme – a series of creative events bringing light, cultural experiences, art and local pride to the streets of Northumberland.
In January, we filmed the Light Night celebrations. LED drummers, fire performers, community choirs and whole families turning out in the cold to light up the dark. We captured fireworks and various pyrotechnics, close-ups of resident reactions and the warmth of the crowd all wrapped in scarves and smiles. Side note: when filming at night…wear gloves! Focusing gets pretty tricky when you can’t feel your fingers.
March brought the Torch-Lit Procession, another visually stunning event we covered with a mix of documentary-style coverage and cinematic b-roll. These films aren’t just records of the events; they’re tools for funding, promotion and celebrating community.
These shoots are also a good example of our ability to work fast and flexibly. With moving crowds, unpredictable weather and very little rehearsal time, we had to stay sharp and agile. Hats off to Jamie and Liam for grabbing vox pops during such a busy event!
There’s more to come with Animating Ashington later this year and we can’t wait!
Here’s our social edits to give you a preview of what went on at the events:
A Sunderland Workshop for Enthusiastic Media Students
In early March, Turps Film hosted an intro to filmmaking workshop at Sandhill Academy, Sunderland, bringing together aspiring young creators to learn the basics of filmmaking, animation and editing. This kind of project speaks to our mission to demystify video production and make it accessible to more people.
We covered everything from concepts and storyboarding, types of animations, interview techniques to basic editing and sound design.
As part of the workshop, the students helped us review a script and imagery for an upcoming vaping animation with Sunderland Public Health. Their ideas and input were fantastic and were taken on board for the final messaging of the film!
We had a cracking afternoon with the group and we hope to see them again soon to obtain some voiceovers for the film!
Shhh… Secret Product Shoot in the Works
We also wrapped a confidential product shoot for a major client. While we can’t share the juicy details just yet, we can say this: it involved a workshop, fancy-pants lighting, Adam’s favourite camera movement and some very slick macro shots – oh and an AMAZING colour grade.
The final film will launch in May, and we’ll be shouting about it when the embargo lifts. This project is a great example of how our commercial work can blend high production values with strategic messaging.
Blogs You Might Have Missed!
Q1 also saw us being busy on the writing front! If you’re new to commissioning video (or just want a peek behind the curtain), these blogs are a good place to start:
How Much Does a Video Cost? – A full breakdown of what goes into budgeting for video production, from pre-production to delivery. There’s a little more to a video than just filming and editing..
Maximising a Shoot Day – Our top tips for getting the most out of your time with a crew and get content that lasts for a very long time!
Looking Ahead with Turps Film
Now that Q1 is out the way, we’ve got an insanely busy few months coming up, with video projects lined up that span a boat load of different sectors. If you’re thinking of commissioning a video in 2025, whether it’s a campaign film, animation, case study or something a bit off the wall, give Turps Film a shout.
We’re based in North Shields, Newcastle, but our video services take us all over the UK. We work with care providers, councils, brands, charities, engineers, artists, and plenty in between.
And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s fine too, this is what we do. Give us a call, and we’ll come prepped with ideas – just tell us your goals and we’ll handle the rest!
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