Pathways: 34 Higher Education Documentary Films
A 34 film documentary series for HEPP&Co, using contributor stories and a consistent cinematic format across eight South Yorkshire providers.
Thirty four films with one educational purpose
HEPP&Co commissioned 34 short documentary style films about the breadth of higher education provision in South Yorkshire, with Alex Bairstow as executive producer.
The series needed to engage people aged 14 and over from different backgrounds while maintaining a recognisable identity across contributors and eight education providers.
A consistent cinematic format built around lived experience
We used a 2.39:1 frame, static interviews and handheld cutaways to create a shared documentary language across the series.
Contributors’ own stories carried the message. All eight providers gave very positive feedback, and the films were used across South Yorkshire to promote higher education pathways.
In numbers
Thirty four personal routes into higher education
HEPP&Co commissioned 34 short documentary style talking head films about the breadth of higher education provision in South Yorkshire. Alex Bairstow was the executive producer.
The series was created to engage and educate people aged 14 and over from different backgrounds. Contributors’ own experiences gave each film a personal route into the choices, places and possibilities connected with higher education.
A consistent documentary format across eight providers
A 34 film series needs a clear visual system. Working closely with Alex, we developed a repeatable documentary approach that could connect many contributors while allowing every person’s account to remain individual across the full commission.
The format carried across eight education providers. Consistent framing and a shared production language made the films feel part of one campaign, while the stories supplied the variety and human detail. This also gave the participating organisations a coherent set of films for use across the wider Pathways programme.
A cinematic 2.39:1 frame
We chose a 2.39:1 aspect ratio to give the films an immediately recognisable cinematic look. The wide frame helped establish a strong visual identity across the series.
This decision was part of the storytelling system. It gave every interview and location sequence a common shape, helping audiences recognise the Pathways films as connected pieces even when the contributor and provider changed.
Static interviews and handheld cutaways
Static interviews gave each contributor a stable place to explain their experience. Handheld cutaways introduced movement, location and the details surrounding that account.
Bringing the two together created a concise documentary rhythm. The interview carried the meaning, while the cutaways helped viewers see the spaces and activity connected with the contributor’s route through higher education.
Personal experience carried the message
The creative brief called for films that could encourage people of different ages and backgrounds to consider higher education as a possible pathway. Personal testimony made that ambition concrete and relatable.
Each contributor could speak from lived experience, giving the audience a human example of higher education and its benefits. Our documentary video production kept those voices at the centre of the series.
Positive feedback across the provider group
At the time of the original project, all eight education providers gave very positive feedback. The films were being used across South Yorkshire to promote higher education pathways to people aged 14 and over.
The Pathways overview remains public on our YouTube channel, while examples of individual contributor stories remain on HEPP’s channel. Together they provide a direct record of the wide screen interview and cutaway format developed for the complete series.
For practical planning advice, read our education video production guide. Explore our Nominet Trust and Action for Children location filming for related production work.
Frequently asked questions
How many films did we create for Pathways?
We created a suite of 34 short documentary style talking head films.
Who commissioned and executive produced the series?
HEPP&Co commissioned the series, and Alex Bairstow was the executive producer.
How did you create a consistent visual style?
The films used a 2.39:1 aspect ratio, static interviews and handheld cutaways.
Who were the Pathways films created for?
The films were used to promote higher education pathways to people aged 14 and over across South Yorkshire.
