SEO London: Directors Cut | Charity-Focused Branded Series

Emotionally intelligent branded storytelling filmed across London for SEO’s flagship education and equity charity campaign.

Overview

Commissioned by SEO London, a charity dedicated to improving access to top industries for underrepresented young people, this branded series reveals the organisation’s mission through four original short films. Directed by Yohan Forbes and delivered as Director’s Cut versions, the films explore the charity’s four key programmes: SEO Schools, SEO Connect, SEO Careers, and an Overview film, each crafted to educate and move audiences about the real stories behind SEO’s impact.

Filmed on location across The City of London, this series combined narrative insight with precision techniques. We worked in partnership with Preference Studio to source a reliable, agile crew and support multi-day, multi-film production. Each film follows a structured editorial arc, combining cinematic visuals, staff interviews, and a spotlight on alumni including Joseph, whose journey through the programme gave audiences a personal window into the charity’s transformational work. These cuts offer a deeper emotional resonance than traditional promotional films, blending brand-led storytelling with documentary precision.

“We didn’t just direct these stories, we held space for real change to speak.”

Location Photography as Character

A core part of this campaign’s emotional and narrative depth came from its location photography. Led by Miftin Al-Hadithi and Yohan Forbes, the stills captured across the City of London became more than just backdrop they were character. From towering banking institutions to architectural symbols of power, these visuals reframed the city through the eyes of young people navigating access and ambition. It wasn’t just where the films were shot. It’s what those places represented: potential, belonging, and a reimagining of space.

Services Provided

• Multi-location cinematography and lighting
• Branded documentary direction
• Location photography
• On-location production planning and logistics
• Interview filming with SEO London staff and alumni
• Post-production, colour grading, and Director’s Cut edits
• Collaboration with Preference Studio core teams

Strategic Insight

Rather than simply producing a highlight reel, this approach delivered emotionally intelligent storytelling grounded in community-led narratives. The Directors Cut format gave us space to shape SEO London’s story from the inside out focused on real impact, honest voice, and stylistic clarity. This format allows charity brand films to transcend traditional expectations. Structured for multi-platform delivery (web, social, events), the campaign showcases how creative partnerships with agencies like Kumo London can translate mission into visual storytelling with genuine depth.

Credits

• Client: SEO London
• Production Company: Kumo London
• Directed by: Yohan Forbes
• Camera Operators: Benjamin Jones & Stephen Raynes
• Location Photography: Mifitin Al-Hadtihi & Yohan Forbes
• Production Manager: Mark Calendar

Featured Films

• SEO Careers: Directors Cut: Stories of graduates stepping into leadership roles.
• SEO Connect: Directors Cut: Showcasing the power of mentorship and cultural capital.
• SEO Schools: Directors Cut: A look inside classroom support and early-stage opportunity.
• Overview Film :Directors Cut: A cohesive brand story on access, excellence, and equity.

Why This Matters

Some stories are best told quietly. This wasn’t a branded content piece or campaign trailer, it was a cultural reflection that asked for presence over production. We believe in giving space to legacy, memory, and voice. And in this case, the story told itself, we simply shaped the lens through which it could be felt. "Sometimes the most powerful cut is the one that holds still."

• We understand the time required to film a legacy thinker.
• We respect the weight of cultural memory.
• And we deliver camera work that quietly holds that truth.

Let’s Build Your Next Immersive Brand Story

Kumo London partners with charities, brands, family-centred experiences, and cultural institutions to deliver cinematic clarity and fast-turnaround social formats. From creative capture to edit-ready reels, we help you tell stories that parents trust and children remember.

Let’s collaborate on your next immersive brand story, where joy meets clarity and every frame earns trust.

Looking to collaborate with a filmmaker-led team that brings emotional intelligence, visual clarity, and narrative structure to branded campaigns? At Kumo London, we craft stories that don’t just look good, they mean something. If you’re a producer, agency, or brand ready to build work that resonates with depth and purpose, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s create something that actually moves people.