We have a track record of partnering with organisations to deliver a body of work, culminating in a film that is designed to produce wider objectives than the film itself. We’ve helped local government to listen and engage with their residents, we’ve mentored college students in learning about their local heritage through documentary filmmaking, and we’ve enabled marginalised ethnic and LGBTQ+ groups to have a voice through expressive short films.
Successful project outcomes often come from the journey, not the end result, and we know how you can make a real, positive impact in the communities you serve.
We treat projects that impact the cultural and community sectors differently because often the objectives come from the process, not the product.
At Millstream we don’t just make videos, we create environments for communities to be heard. Our clients are not marketing managers. They are teachers, governors, politicians, museum curators, heritage organisations, change-makers, and civil servants. But all of our clients have one thing in common: to change mindsets and encourage action. We are experts in delivering community-led film projects with support at every stage.
Before we can commence with your project, you’ll need to secure funding. There are a number of grants available depending on your project aims. If funding doesn’t yet exist but the idea does, our team can support with bid writing to attract funds from bodies like the National Lottery Heritage Fund. We can help you frame compelling cases aligned with the funders’ priorities such as community engagement, accessibility or conservation.
This stage is crucial as we know what makes for a successful project that culminates in a film. We will advise on how to best convey your objectives either on screen or through the production process.
Before the cameras roll, we work directly with your community to hear authentic voices and make sure the work we are delivering meets the needs of the stakeholders. Whether that’s working with a group of students, residents or marginalised groups, we get on the ground and become part of your community for the duration of the project.
After the project has been developed, the sessions have run, and the voices have been heard, we embark on film production. This can be anything from our professional crew capturing the content and mentoring a group of students in creating a film, to creating an animation. What’s really exciting about projects like this is just how flexible the end product can be.
Our involvement doesn’t end after the film is delivered, we work with you during the evaluation stage to make sure all aims were met to meet the requirements of the funding, ensuring a successful project from start to finish.
We often collaborate with schools and colleges to work with their students in producing high quality film through project-based learning. Over the course of the project, the students will learn new skills including collaboration, technical skills, and research skills, as well as improved confidence, work ethic, and the ability to engage with people from other backgrounds.
