Documentary production company in London
Airframe Media is a London documentary production company making observational and interview-led films for organisations, venues and public bodies, from one short film to a multi-part series. We research the story with you, film it on location and edit it for the screens it will be seen on. Crew and kit are scoped to the story and its access.
Behind the Pass, Episode 4: We Are Busy
The finale of Behind the Pass, the four-part series we produced for ExCeL London and Levy UK & Ireland, published on ExCeL London's YouTube channel. It follows a high-end banquet for 4,000 delegates in a single evening, from the pre-dawn start to service.
Watch on YouTubeTower Bridge Maintenance
A 2 minute 18 second night-time documentary that moves from Tower Bridge at city scale to the crews working across its walkways and structure after dark. It shows how we film people at work in a place that stays open.
Explore this filmEvery job is quoted on what it needs
We do not publish a headline price for this work, because two jobs of the same type rarely need the same crew, kit or edit. Send the brief and we will quote it.
How Airframe pricing works- Length and number of films
- A single short documentary, a four-part series and an ongoing set of films are different scopes. Behind the Pass ran to four films and 24 minutes 26 seconds in total.
- Filming days and access
- Observational work needs time inside the story. Behind the Pass took three filming days inside a working venue that could not stop, and access shapes how many days a story needs.
- Contributors and interviews
- The number of people we interview, and how far they travel to be filmed, add planning, filming and edit time.
- Crew and cameras
- An observational film follows people with a small, mobile unit. Interviews and set-piece scenes add sound, lighting and more camera operators.
- Archive, graphics and sound
- Archive material, animated graphics, original music and voiceover each add work in the edit.
- Versions and release plan
- A trailer, episode cuts, short clips for social and a longer cut for your website are each scoped as deliverables, along with your release schedule.
From brief to delivery
Brief and research
You tell us the subject, the audience and where the film will be shown. We research the story and agree what it is really about.
Plan access and contributors
We agree who we will film, where and when, and what each location needs from us, from permissions to quiet times.
Film
A small crew works alongside the people in the story, filming what happens and interviewing contributors in the places they work.
Shape the story
We assemble the film from the footage, building the structure, the pace and the sound, and send a first cut.
Review
You send consolidated notes. We make the agreed changes and check accuracy with the people featured where the story calls for it.
Deliver
You receive the finished film and the agreed versions, ready for your website, your channel and your events.
What we bring
- On Behind the Pass: Canon R5 C and Canon C80 cameras, two handheld cameras and one gimbal camera, with a DJI RS 4 Pro gimbal.
- DJI wireless lavalier microphones and an overhead boom for interviews, with an amaran key light and side light.
- public liability cover up to £10M.
Questions people ask before they book
How much does it cost to make a documentary in London?
We quote each documentary on its own requirements, so there is no headline price. The number of films, filming days, contributors, crew, cameras, graphics and versions all shape the quote. Send the brief on WhatsApp or read how our pricing works.
What is a corporate documentary?
It is a film that tells a real story about an organisation, its people or its work, using real footage and real voices rather than a script. It gives viewers more time and depth than a promotional film. Behind the Pass is an example.
How long does it take to make a documentary?
It depends on the story, the access and the length. Filming might take a few days, while research, review and the edit add time on either side. Tell us your release date when you enquire and we will say what is realistic.
Can you film in a working workplace or venue?
Yes. Behind the Pass was filmed inside a live venue that could not stop for the cameras, so we plan around the working day and keep the crew small. Tell us about your site and its rules and we will plan around them.
Do you write a script before filming?
Not usually. We agree the story, the people and the questions, then let events and conversations shape the film. A clear outline keeps the shoot on track without staging what we film.
Can you make a documentary series for YouTube or our own channel?
Yes. We can plan a series with several films, film them in one block where the story allows and edit them for the platform. Our YouTube production page explains how that works.
Can you use our archive footage and photographs?
Yes. We have combined new footage with selected archive material in the ExCeL London anniversary film. Send what you have and we will say how it can be used.
Tell us what you are planning
WhatsApp is the quickest way to reach us. Say what you are filming, where and roughly when, and we will come back with questions or a quote.
Send your brief
Let's Create Together
Tell us what you're making. We'll help shape the next step.