Why This Charity Video Still Means So Much to Me
I love this film. To this day, it’s one of my favourites. Me and director Toby Kearton made it during one of those early-year quiet spells. Toby wrote a brilliant little script, and I just said, “Let’s shoot it.”
I knew Dominic Thompson from earlier projects, and the house we filmed in belonged to my good mate and the sound designer on this project, Connor Ashmore.
With a tiny crew—me, Toby, Ben Waldron (focus puller), and Connor—we shot the whole thing in about five hours. I also lit this whole film with one single Key Light, my whole plan was to completely draw mood from the shadows, always casting one side of the actor into darkness, this really increases the intensity of the superb performance Dom pulled off.
Toby Kearton (Director) & Louis Murrall (Cinematographer)
What I love about this charity video is how much heart it has. The subject really mattered to me. I’ve got a lot of friends who have served, and this story hit close to home. The way everyday objects were used to reflect the trauma of a veteran was simple but incredibly powerful. It connected with people then, and it still does now as views and likes keep climbing.
I sent it to a mate who was still serving at the time. I won’t share what he said, but his response was raw and honest. He told me it helped him reconnect with the real world—a world that often feels distant after tours. That one comment alone made everything worthwhile.
We offered this charity video to three charities—completely free. Two of them were stuck in red tape. The third wanted to re-edit it and have all the raw footage. It never happened. I honestly believe this film could have been a strong campaign. The two charities stuck in bureaucracy were working with big marketing agencies, and it felt like those agencies didn’t want to be undermined by a free video that actually landed with people. I can’t prove it, but that’s exactly how it felt during those conversations. At the end of the day, we asked for nothing in return.
Still, none of us regretted making it. Not me, not Toby, not the crew. It reached someone who mattered. It helped one person take a step towards help, and that was enough.
Let’s Make Charity Videos That Actually Move People
I’d love to work with more charities—especially those who really care about telling powerful, human stories. Stories that show, not just tell. When you focus on that, people feel it in their gut. That’s the impact I’m chasing.
So, if you’re a charity with a message that needs to be told—even on a tight budget—I’m here. Let’s make something that moves people. Let’s make something real.