The Brief
Croydon High School is a leading independent day school for girls aged 3-18 and part of the Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST). Situated in an area where there is high competition from other schools, Croydon High School were looking for a film that would help them stand out in a crowded market and showcase the spirit of their school – so they approached Small Films for support in bringing their school story to life.
The Small Films team were briefed with some key objectives and messaging that Croydon High wanted to convey with their promotional film. This included raising awareness of Croydon High in the local area and positioning themselves as the natural choice for girls from aged 3 to 19, whilst also increasing attendance at their Open Days. The overarching messaging would need to convey that Croydon High girls are confident and creative, change makers both now and in the future, that they defy stereotypes and most importantly that Croydon High girls can aspire to be whoever they want to be.
Our Creative Solution
The Small Films team met with Croydon High regularly to understand their personality and mission, and it quickly became clear that there was a strong creative idea around the school empowering girls to achieve great things. The Small Films team therefore brainstormed and came up with an idea centred around the career possibilities the Croydon High girls could have after their school education
We turned the idea into a script and storyboard, and filmed for three days, shooting individual scenes with twelve girls of different ages, and ending each scene with an action shot of them in a potential future career – such as an England cricket captain, conservationist, or Nobel Prize winner. We then overlaid motion graphics and sound that brought the jobs to life.
The Result
The final video is a highly emotive and impactful film. Croydon High were incredibly happy with the outcome, so much so that they decided to run it as an advert in cinemas in the local area. The team therefore converted the film into a cinema advert format remixing it in Dolby surround sound and ensuring that it met all technical requirements for cinema release. Testament to the impact of the film, we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from not only Croydon High School but also the wider Girls’ Day School Trust.
“Big thanks to George, Tom, Tasia, Christiaan, and Harry! We’re thrilled with the outcome. The film is absolutely stunning! Right from the initial conversation I had with Christiaan, where we discussed the possibility of them pitching for the project, I knew I wanted to work with Small Films. Their pitch was outstanding, addressing every detail comprehensively. They demonstrated a profound understanding of our school and brand that surpassed all others, and it reflected in the final product. The team were a pleasure to work with and invested the time to truly understand our needs. The film’s quality and originality are truly exceptional. Thank you, Small Films!’
Katy Lee, Marketing & Communications Manager
