The brief
Charity Storytelling Through Video: Telling the Untold Stories of Those Left Behind
In September 2017, Lamar Stewart was murdered at a party. He had done nothing wrong, yet his life was taken in an act of violence that left his family and friends devastated. But the tragedy of Lamar’s death did not stop with him. It rippled through the lives of those who loved him—his mother, his twin sister Lashawna, his wider circle of friends, and even those with loose connections to him. This profound and ongoing impact, coupled with the lack of meaningful support for those affected by homicide, is what Safer London and Karen Stewart wanted to highlight in this powerful charity impact film.
Despite their grief, Karen and Lashawna bravely chose to share their story in the hope that it might help others facing similar losses. We were honoured to be entrusted with telling their story. The brief was simple yet profound: to share this experience in a way that was both sensitive and powerful, ensuring that it not only conveyed the pain and loss but also served as a call for change. The film needed to highlight the urgent need for better, more meaningful support for those left behind after a homicide.
What we did
Creating an Impactful Charity Film: Our Approach
The foundation of this project was building a relationship with Karen and Lashawna. If we were going to tell their story, it had to be as collaborators. Establishing trust was essential so that they felt comfortable sharing such a deeply painful experience. Our priority throughout the process was to ensure that they felt safe and supported, doing everything possible to prevent retraumatisation.
To create the right space for these conversations, we brought Karen and Lashawna to a neutral, comfortable setting where they could speak openly. We wanted them to feel unrushed, allowing them to share in a way that felt right for them. It was important that the film did not just focus on Lamar as a victim of homicide, but also on who he was as a person—his personality, his dreams, and the life he lived. That was a crucial aspect of the story.
Alongside these conversations, we captured b-roll footage with Karen, Lashawna, and other members of Lamar’s family. The challenge was to ensure that these moments felt natural and authentic while also enhancing the narrative. We needed to find a balance between raw storytelling and creative cinematography, making sure that the visual elements of the film strengthened its emotional impact.
Post-production was a critical stage in ensuring this film met the highest standards of non-profit video marketing. Every decision—when to reveal certain details, how to create narrative progression, and how to give space to Lamar’s story—was made with extreme care. Every decision—when to reveal certain details, how to create narrative progression, and how to give space to Lamar’s story—was made with extreme care. Our aim was to craft a compelling and emotionally resonant charity film, aligning with best practices in non-profit video storytelling to ensure impact without exploitation. Every frame, every cut, and every pause was considered to honour the trust Karen and Lashawna had placed in us.
The technical
Pre-production
Pre-interviews
Story planning
Interview planning and questions
3 days of filming
Studio hire
Post-production
Music licensing
The result
How Charity Storytelling Through Video Creates Impact and Awareness
This film is one of the pieces of work we are most proud of. No one will ever do more to create change than Karen and Safer London, but knowing that our work can play even a small role in amplifying their message is deeply meaningful. We were privileged to be part of this project and are so grateful that this film is now out in the world. Seeing it resonate with audiences and knowing it contributes to a larger conversation about meaningful support for those affected by homicide makes every challenge we faced in making it worthwhile. And being shortlisted for a Charity Film Award was a pretty special moment too.
