We Belong Here
Ordinary People. Extraordinary journeys.
For a few years now I've wanted to make the leap from photography to cinematography. To create a short film.
British Exploring Society is a truly amazing charity, and one I've personally benefited from. It was such a privilege that I could make it the focus of my first short film. A project driven by real people and real stories.
The streets of Bradford or Carnforth might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words 'British Exploring Society'. But that's exactly the point.
'Exploring' and ‘Society’ are words heavy with connotation, and the charity's century-long history is intricately woven with connections to Britain's imperial heritage. It too often leads to presupposition about what British Exploring Society is today. So we wanted to create something that would confound the expectations our audience might have.
The brief was to create a film that captured the ordinary routines of a few young people who had participated in British Exploring Society's expedition programmes. To show that with support and opportunity anyone can undertake an extraordinary journey, and that the wilderness can and should be accessible to everyone.
The result is We Belong Here - a four part short documentary that charts the journey of four young people, a year after their expeditions with British Exploring Society.
Making this film was no easy feat. A shoe string budget, lots of distance to travel and a tiny window of time in which to film meant the pressure was on. I couldn’t have done it without the support of the mega talented Holly Burns (Producer).
I’m proud to have been hands on with this film from start to finish. This included the writing, camera and drone operation, the editing, sound mixing and even composition of the soundtrack. I’ve learnt a lot.
Watching it back for the hundredth time there are so many things I now wish I’d done differently. Despite that, I love that it’s a little rough around the edges.
I hope the film goes some way towards demonstrating the unique impact this small but remarkable charity can have, but more importantly I hope it does justice to Rahim, Naffie, Ali and Ellie who graciously shared their inspiring stories.
If you have a spare 30 minutes please have a watch, and I hope you enjoy!
