The Hull production partners with four million views on films like Alfie's Story

Campaigning health and social issue short films made by a Hull-based production partnership have been watched over four million times in a year.

Companies eskimosoup and Storyboard Media, who co-located into shared offices with a studio last year, have collaborated on short campaign films on behalf of the Home Office, police, NHS and all four local authorities in the Humber area.

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The collective viewing time of the films exceeds 260,000 hours, which equates to more than 30 collective years of viewing time, say the companies.

Iain Thompson, director of Storyboard Media (right), on the set of Alfies Story. Picture: supplied by eskimosoup.Iain Thompson, director of Storyboard Media (right), on the set of Alfies Story. Picture: supplied by eskimosoup.
Iain Thompson, director of Storyboard Media (right), on the set of Alfies Story. Picture: supplied by eskimosoup.
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All cinematography and editing has been carried out by Iain Thompson, director of Storyboard Media.

Mr Thompson, who has been making films for the past 17 years, said: “A year ago we set out with lofty ambitions, and I’m delighted to say, in many ways, these have been surpassed.

“It’s taken a lot of hard work from a dedicated and talented crew along with investment in new equipment to help us up our production values. This paired with high calibre clients who’ve had the vision to give us creative freedom on productions has paved the way for such high reach and impact.”

One of the most viewed collaborations between the companies is a series of short films called Alfie’s Story, part of the 'Not in our community' campaign.

Iain Thompson, director of Storyboard Media and John Gilbert, director of eskimosoup.Iain Thompson, director of Storyboard Media and John Gilbert, director of eskimosoup.
Iain Thompson, director of Storyboard Media and John Gilbert, director of eskimosoup.
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Alfie’s Story is a four-part drama telling the story of a boy who is groomed and criminally exploited by an organised criminal gang as part of a County Lines drug dealing operation.

The film has been viewed in over 90 countries and has been distributed throughout the UK as a resource for schools, police forces and youth services.

The series of films were written and produced by John Gilbert, director of social marketing agency eskimosoup.

He said: “Being able to turn real life experiences into film is a great honour for us. When a survivor of a harrowing experience chooses to come forward to share their story, their motivation is always to help prevent what they have been through happening to someone else.

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"It is that important, and we take seriously the need to tell a story with authenticity and purpose.

“We’re delighted at the way audiences have responded in the past year, and that we continue to get opportunities to tell the stories that matter.”

The companies are in post-production with a documentary about organised crime and have been producing a short film made with mobile phones in actors’ homes that highlight the increased risks created during the COVID-19 lockdown period.

All films produced are viewable on YouTube by searching eskimosoup or Storyboard Media.