Documentary production for Irish brands
Longer, observational films that build real trust in a brand. Up to 30 minutes, like the Castle Freke Gin documentary. Quoted to scope.
Most Irish brands never commission a documentary because they assume it is for RTÉ. The truth is less romantic. A brand documentary is simply a longer piece of film built around real people, with time to let the story breathe. The payoff is trust at a depth no ad or feed post ever earns.
HYPE makes brand documentaries from Cork for Irish brands who have a founder, a craft, a place or a moment worth that length of attention. Up to 30 minutes, like our Castle Freke Gin documentary. Delivered in-house, from treatment to final grade.
Who it's for
- Founder-led businesses where the person behind the brand is a bigger asset than the product.
- Craft and heritage brands whose story takes longer than a 60-second ad to land.
- Food, drink and distillery brands where the making matters as much as the finished product.
- Property developers and architects whose finished schemes deserve more than a listing film.
What's included
- Treatment and development. A written treatment with the story arc, cast, locations and look, agreed before any shoot days.
- Observational shoots. Usually several days, often returning on multiple occasions so people stop performing to the camera.
- Interviews and voice. On-camera interviews instead of scripted VO, grounded in your real team and customers.
- Finished film to 30 minutes, colour graded, music licensed, titled, delivered master-and-social.
- Two rounds of edit revisions included in the fixed price.
- Short-form cuts: trailers and social edits so the documentary earns its keep on your channels and in paid campaigns.
How it works
- Story call. We find the real spine of the film: the person, place or craft the documentary is built around.
- Treatment. A written plan with the arc, people, locations and visual language.
- Shoot. Multiple days, often spread across a longer period so moments unfold naturally.
- Edit and delivery. About six weeks from the final shoot for films over 15 minutes, plus the social cuts.
Recent work
- Castle Freke Gin. A brand documentary around the people, place and craft of the distillery. The reference project for anyone considering longer-form.
- Tommy "The Governor" Hyde. Documentary-grade character films on the Cork boxing legend, over 50,000 views.
- The Shelbourne Bar. Film and social for five years, our longest partnership.
Pricing
Documentary projects are quoted to scope, from €3,300 + VAT. Most documentaries over 15 minutes land well above the minimum, depending on shoot days, locations and finishing. You get a fixed price before we start, not an hourly bill. Travel outside County Cork is charged separately.
Why HYPE
- Award-winning. Cork Digital Marketing Awards 2020, Best Use of Digital by a Start-Up, in our first year.
- A Cork team. Treatment, shoot, edit, grade and finish all in-house.
- Film and social media under one roof. The team that makes the documentary can keep it alive on your channels.
- Every message answered within 24 hours.
- 22+ active clients across hospitality, leisure, retail, food, drink and property.
Documentary production FAQ
How long is a brand documentary?
From 5 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the story. Our Castle Freke Gin documentary sits at the long end of that range. We agree the final run time at the treatment stage, before the shoot.
How long does it take?
About six weeks from the shoot to delivery for documentaries over 15 minutes. Shorter observational pieces land closer to the three-week timeline of a short brand film.
What's the difference between a brand documentary and a brand film?
A brand film is a two to three minute hero piece that explains what the business is. A documentary is longer and more observational, built around real people over several days. The brand film convinces; the documentary earns trust at depth.
Do you work from a script?
No. We write a treatment with you and interview people on camera instead of having them read lines. The point of a documentary is that it does not feel scripted.
How is it priced?
Documentary projects are quoted to scope. Minimum engagement is €3,300 + VAT, and most documentaries over 15 minutes land well above that depending on shoot days, locations and finishing. You get a fixed price before we start.
Where can you shoot?
Across Ireland. Travel outside County Cork is charged separately. Multi-location productions are planned to scope.