Oxford North Branded Architectural Documentary
Overview
Oxford North is a new flagship £1.2 billion innovation district, developed by Thomas White Oxford, the development company of St John's College. Produced by Squint Opera, the film was commissioned to capture the energy, ambition, and forward momentum behind one of the UK's most significant new developments.
The Brief
Oxford North needed a film that could match the scale and ambition of the project itself. This wasn't a development that could be communicated through conventional property marketing, it required a film that felt as innovative and forward-thinking as the district it was representing. The brief called for something fast-paced, cinematic, and bold, driven by strong sound design and a clear sense of momentum.
The Creative Approach
The film is built around pace and energy voiceover-led storytelling, strong music, and dynamic sound design create momentum and urgency.
This is matched by a mixed media strategy weaving together CGI visualisations, VR footage, lo-fi VHS, archive material, digital video, and scale models. Each format reflecting a different dimension of the project. The VHS and archive footage root Oxford North within a longer history of discovery and ambition, while the CGI and VR push towards its future vision. Together, they communicate a development that honours Oxford's extraordinary intellectual heritage while pushing boldly forward.
The Production
Working with Creative Director Rebecca Watson at Squint Opera, I directed a fast-paced film that brought together a wide range of source material into a coherent, cinematic whole. The editing was key to the film's success, weaving diverse formats and tones into a single driving narrative without losing clarity or momentum.
Creative Director: Rebecca Watson
Director: James Dougan
Editor: James Dougan
DOP: Max Cutting
Production: Squint Opera
