When Rugby School approached us to capture one of the most significant moments in its history – the admission of the first female students – we knew this story needed to be told with honesty and sensitivity. The resulting film, 50 Years of Girls, reflects on the courage of those pioneers and how their experiences helped shape the inclusive community the school is today.
Project overview
The brief
Rugby School wanted a documentary-style video to mark this turning point in its heritage. The story needed to acknowledge the challenges faced by the first girls, without softening their experiences, while also celebrating how the school has evolved. The aim was to create a piece that was heartfelt, reflective, and true to the voices of those who lived it.
Our approach
Pre-production
Our work began with in-depth planning and discussion to ensure the tone, visuals, and structure would do justice to the story.
We visited Rugby to complete a detailed recce, where our producer toured the site to identify potential filming locations. These included historic buildings and contemporary spaces that could visually link Rugby’s past with its present.
We held multiple calls and online sessions with the client to refine messaging and logistics, ensuring that the film would capture the school’s identity while handling its history with respect and care.
Production
The shoot spanned two days and combined dynamic campus filming with an intimate, multi-camera interview.
Day one: focused on capturing the spirit of modern Rugby life. Using a Sony camera on a Steadicam rig, Director of Photography Chris Pavey filmed sports, music, and daily activities across the campus – creating fluid, immersive footage that gives the audience a sense of place and energy.
Day two: centred around an interview with Jill Parker, the last surviving member of the original three girls. The conversation took place in Dean House, chosen for its warmth and character. Jill was filmed with three 6K cameras, giving us multiple framing options and the flexibility to shape a powerful visual narrative.
To help Jill feel comfortable, our team spent time with her before filming – a small but important step that allowed a natural, heartfelt interview to unfold.
Additional b-roll followed Jill revisiting her old lodging house, shot using an EasyRig setup for freedom of movement while maintaining a sensitive distance. We also filmed archival materials – including old photographs and newspaper clippings – using a 50mm lens to evoke a tactile, timeless feel.
Post-production
Editing began with a rough narrative cut based entirely on Jill’s interview, allowing the client to shape the story collaboratively. It was important that the tone remained balanced: acknowledging the difficulties Jill faced without overemphasising them.
Once Jill and the client approved the structure, we refined pacing, added archival visuals, and created social media cutdowns for wider distribution.
Colour grading
Our colourist developed a warm, natural grade inspired by Dean House’s wood panelling and green accents. The palette blends heritage tones with gentle contrast, adding depth while maintaining a soft, reflective mood. This consistency across interviews and b-roll created a cohesive visual identity that mirrors the film’s emotional journey.
Film Print Emulation (FPE) Look & feel
To achieve a warm, cinematic look, we applied a carefully crafted film print emulation (FPE) grade to the footage. This included shaping the frame into a widescreen format, softening edges, adding gentle highlight bloom, and introducing subtle film grain to create a more natural, organic feel. These elements helped move the visuals away from a purely digital look, supporting the nostalgic tone of Jill’s story and her time at Rugby School.
Colour palette
Inspired by classic cinematic colour styles, we developed a consistent and refined colour palette that introduces warmth into the highlights and cooler tones into the shadows. This added depth and visual separation across the film while keeping the school’s natural colours vibrant. Maintaining this consistency across interviews and supporting footage created a cohesive visual identity that strengthens key moments and reflects the emotional journey of the story.
Before & after
Key highlights
- Sensitive storytelling for a historically significant subject
- Multi-camera 6K interview setup for flexibility in post-production
- Dynamic Steadicam and EasyRig filming across campus
- Warm, cohesive colour grade enhancing emotional tone
- Collaborative edit process with client and interviewee
- Social cutdowns created for wider audience engagement
The result
The 50 Years of Girls stands as a moving tribute to courage, change, and progress. It honours the resilience of Rugby’s first female pupils while celebrating the inclusive culture that now defines the school.
