Clockwise returned to the Matterley Bowl this summer for another funky, fun-filled, and flat-out busy shoot at Boomtown: The Power of Now!

As Boomtown’s official film partner for over a decade, the challenge is always the same. How do you capture the scale, the madness, and the heart of one of the UK’s most unique festivals in a single after-movie? From early concept and planning through to the final cut, we work hand-in-hand with the Boomtown team. We make sure the film doesn’t just show what happened, but makes you feel like you were there.

With a 26-strong crew, we dived headfirst into the city of Boomtown, shooting everything from the new Lion’s Gate main stage to the most fleeting, unscripted crowd moments. A production of this scale is no small feat. It involves creating individual detailed schedules, plotting access routes, syncing with stage and district coordinators, securing drone flights, and rigging cameras for over sixty thousand people. Add to that the hot, dusty chaos that coats you in festival grit after a single buggy ride. You’ve got exactly the kind of environment that pushes us to be inventive. This year, we trialled new kit, from a 360 pole cam to body-mounted rigs, to capture the raw intensity of the crowd in new ways. 

And behind the chaos, huge shout out to Rosie, our in-house producer who led the team solo for the first time – keeping everything moving in rhythm and absolutely smashing it.

Changes to 2025

This year, Boomtown itself has transformed like never before. Old Town rose to the city’s heights. Thrutopia became a haven for breathwork and deep thinking. The Rookery offered a woodland retreat for body and mind. The festival sprawled into hills, valleys, and forests, expanding the footprint and making Boomtown bigger, wilder, and more alive than ever.

It was also a year of new collaborations and fresh energy. We ran an internship with Big Team, who work to diversify the people creating, contributing, and attending festivals. Their Next Level project champions emerging talent, and we were proud to support that mission both on and off camera. Thank you to Fifi Delaney for bringing strong ideas and creative fire to the shoot.

On the tech side, we had a dedicated on-site DIT every day, backing up and labelling vast amounts of footage. This meant faster turnaround than ever before. Meanwhile, a small team focused on capturing content for Unboxed, Boomtown’s new personalised video recap, designed to give each festival-goer their own unique story of the weekend.

And because no shoot is complete without a little Clockwise flavour, we dropped new crew merch this year (big ups to Dan for the design), complete with an iconic catchphrase you might just spot in some behind-the-scenes shots.

The final film blends spectacle with intimacy; epic aerial sweeps, sweat-drenched close-ups, and those fleeting moments that stick with you long after the dust settles. It’s a time capsule of The Power of Now and a celebration of why Boomtown is unlike anywhere else.

We’re proud to continue our 17-year partnership with Boomtown, telling their story year after year. A special shout-out to Callum Whiteley, our director, whose dedication over the past decade has shaped the film into what it is today. With his sharp eye for detail, seamless transitions, and creative edit effects, this after movie is truly his passion project and a labour of love that he pours everything into. Huge thanks to our incredible crew, the festival organisers, and of course, every performer and raver who make Boomtown what it is.