Little Elevations
National Trust | Documentary, Visual Poem
Brief
We were commissioned by the National Trust to produce two companion films — a short docupromo capturing the significance of a poet’s residency in the Tyntesfield woods, and a visual poem bringing one of her works to life through cinematic imagery and sound. The films formed part of the National Trust’s wider ‘Women in Power’ programme.
The project’s significance stemmed from the woodland itself — a landscape once frequented by poet and playwright Hannah More (1745–1833), whose political writing and advocacy for women’s rights inspired the residency. Themes of female empowerment, creative expression, and connection to place underpinned both films, aligning closely with the National Trust’s campaign message.
Our aim was to create two legacy pieces for the Tyntesfield Estate, celebrating its historical landscape while inspiring new audiences to visit, explore, and take part in the residency’s poetry workshops. The target audience included National Trust members, poetry and arts communities, and online viewers interested in culture, history, and nature.
Approach
From our initial conversations with the National Trust, it was clear that the ‘Women in Power’ theme would serve as the emotional and narrative foundation for both films. This informed our interview structure and guided the tone of the docupromo — grounding the story in history while reflecting its continued relevance to the landscape and to women’s creative voices today.
We chose not to film the poetry workshops directly. Instead, we wanted the films to act as an invitation — evoking solitude, reflection, and imagination rather than documentation. By leaving visual and emotional space within the films, we encouraged viewers to interpret the woodland, and the poetry, in their own way.
Visually, we used wide, open shots and slow, flowing camera movement to immerse viewers in the landscape and suggest a sense of calm exploration. As Holly Corfield Carr, the poet-in-residence, walked through the same woodland that once inspired Hannah More, we drew a triple connection between Holly, Hannah, and the viewer — linking past, present, and imagination.
We recorded the natural sounds of the woods and layered them in post-production to create a textured, hyper-real soundscape. This was interwoven with a bespoke musical composition, helping to blend realism and dreamlike reflection.
The chosen poem, Wood Ear, featured in both films but in distinct ways:
In the docupromo, we incorporated footage of Holly reading the poem to ground it in reality and context.
In the visual poem, we removed the direct act of reading, allowing the words, imagery, and sound design to carry the emotional rhythm — creating a more abstract, meditative experience.
Recording Holly’s reading of Wood Ear in the woods helped preserve authenticity, allowing the performance to feel grounded in the environment that inspired it.
Result
Both films were used by the National Trust to celebrate the residency online and at on-site events. They were praised for their lyrical tone, sense of place, and ability to connect art, nature, and women’s history.
Together, the films captured the spirit of the residency — bridging the past and present through poetry — and deepened the connection between creativity, women’s empowerment, and the natural landscape at Tyntesfield.
Client feedback:
“We all agree that the film is shot beautifully and the soundtrack works wonderfully.
The film is spot on!! I love it, thank you so much. It’s really powerful and beautiful and totally fulfils the brief.
Can’t wait to show it to Trust New Art and beyond!”
- Alexandria Smith, National Trust