Fresh Film director/photographer Harry George Hall shot and photographed a series of films and sensitive portraits for the NSPCC telling the moving stories of the helpline staff who answered that crucial first call.

To generate the stories and get the casting started, Harry met with helpline practitioners across the UK to hear their stories first hand. Interview them to understand the reality of their roles, being on the phone, and what it really means to often be the first person someone reaches out to.

The search not only found the cast and created inspiration for three films: the stories of Hannah, Annie and Lauren, but also created a series of staff portraits for an OOH campaign.

Harry designed each film to have two key parts: an interview and an abstract visualization of the call. Choosing actors to bring the other characters and visible emotions to life, he then used clever lighting, textures and cutaways to bring the viewer to the emotional center of the story.

Hannah’s story takes place in a family bathroom, so steam and condensation were used to accentuate the atmosphere that Hannah was able to pick up from the neighbor who called the helpline. Annie’s story was moving due to time sensitivity, so cutouts of wall clocks and timers were used to visualize this. Lauren’s story was about the struggle of being a new mother, referenced in cutaway montages of toys and bottles in the family home.

Harry noted of the experience: ‘It’s no exaggeration when I say the people we met were some of the most inspiring I’ve ever met. It’s been an inspiring and emotional roller coaster bringing to life the vital work of the NSPCC and the truly amazing people on the phone.”

The hard-hitting films are live on social media and the OOH campaign is live across the UK.