Behind the Scenes: Crafting the KYN Films – A Story of Care and Creativity
At Here Now Films, we love creating projects that challenge us to dig deeper, tell meaningful stories, and deliver visuals that resonate. Our recent collaboration with KYN, a luxury care provider based in London, gave us the chance to do exactly that—and more.
Tasked with creating a suite of brand films and micro-documentaries to showcase KYN’s revolutionary approach to elderly care, we embarked on a journey that was as rewarding as it was intricate.
This is the story of how we worked hand-in-hand with KYN to bring their ethos to life, told through the lenses of expert contributors, beautifully designed spaces, and a passion for care.
Adam Ellis - Designer for Kyn Homes
Who Is KYN?
KYN isn’t your typical care provider. They’re setting new standards in later-life care, blending thoughtful design, pioneering approaches to dementia care, and a team of world-class experts. From bespoke interiors to tailored nutrition programs, KYN’s attention to detail is as meticulous as it is heartfelt.
Our job? To capture this essence on film.
A Creative Collaboration
At Here Now, we don’t just take a brief and run with it—we work with our clients to refine, reshape, and reimagine their ideas. From the first conversations with Rosanna, KYN’s Group Brand & Marketing Director, it was clear this project needed to reflect their extraordinary vision.
Rosanna had one initial request:
“We want these films to feel as premium as the care we offer. Can you help us bring that to life?”
We responded with a production plan that was detailed, ambitious, and, most importantly, tailored to KYN’s needs.
Adam Ellis in his London Studio.
Step One: Shaping the Story
The first thing we tackled was the structure. What stories should we tell, and how could we tell them in a way that connected emotionally with the audience?
We honed in on two key deliverables:
A hero film to capture KYN’s overarching ethos.
Five vignettes, each focusing on a key area of expertise—like nutrition, care, and design.
Each film would be designed to stand alone while also contributing to a cohesive narrative about KYN’s groundbreaking work.
Step Two: Organising the Shoot
Pulling off a production like this is no small feat. It involved:
Coordinating interviews with contributors like designers Nina Campbell and Randle Siddeley, and chef Tristan Welch, across multiple locations.
Blocking six full days of shooting at KYN’s residences, local markets, and contributors’ workspaces.
Working closely with KYN’s team to refine scripts, align on visual style, and ensure we were capturing the essence of their brand.
Behind the scenes, this meant a lot of spreadsheets, countless Zoom calls, and even more cups of coffee. As our Head of Production, Morgan, put it:
“The planning alone was like solving a Rubik’s Cube—but when it all came together, it was magic.”
Step Three: Filming
The shoot days were where the vision started to come alive. From early mornings at bustling markets with Tristan, to quiet, light-filled moments in KYN Hurlingham’s beautifully designed spaces, every shot was carefully considered.
One standout moment was capturing Nina Campbell in her element, walking us through her design philosophy for KYN. Seeing her passion and attention to detail reminded us of why stories like this matter.
Step Four: Post-Production
Editing these films was where the magic really happened. This phase was a collaboration in the truest sense, with regular feedback loops between us and the KYN team.
Rosanna’s input was invaluable. At one point, she flagged a potential conflict between two contributors’ perspectives on color:
“Nina talks about stimulating color being important, but Emma says the opposite in the dementia film—can we make this consistent?”
It was a single comment that as stand alone contributions worked great across the two different films, but as a body of work, it meant we had a conflict of message.
It’s this kind of attention to detail that helped shape the final cuts into something everyone could be proud of.
Adam Ellis being interviewed in his studio.
The Finished Product
The films were unveiled at KYN’s quarterly staff meeting—and the response couldn’t have been better.
Rosanna summed it up perfectly:
“WOW!!! I absolutely love it! I’m feeling a bit teary even.”
From the hero film to the vignettes, the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The films didn’t just showcase KYN’s care—they became part of it, helping to inspire staff and connect with future residents.
What We Learned
Collaboration Wins
From initial brainstorms to final tweaks, the partnership with KYN reminded us that the best work comes from working together.Details Matter
From adjusting quotes to reworking voiceovers, every choice made the films stronger and more aligned with KYN’s message.Care First
At its heart, this project wasn’t about film. It was about care—both the kind KYN provides and the kind we brought to every step of the process.
Final Thoughts
This project was a joy to work on. KYN’s team challenged us to think bigger, dive deeper, and create something truly special. We’re grateful for their trust and look forward to more collaborations like this in the future.
