A Heartfelt Brief from Golin Agency At the tail end of 2024, just before the Christmas break, an exciting brief landed on our desk from our long-time partners at Golin Agency. They were looking for a production company that could move quickly and efficiently, and the project was nothing short of inspiring. Golin had teamed up with Specsavers to shine a light on the unpaid carers of the UK and promote their home visits service. The creative vision? An award-winning portrait artist, Colin Davidson, would paint the portrait of an unpaid carer, with the painting representing the symbolic value of £184 billion – the estimated cost of unpaid care, in the UK. Telling an Authentic Story Clockwise’s role was clear: we needed to capture the key emotional moment – the reveal of the portrait. But before that could happen, there was a lot of work to do. At the heart of the project was the need to tell the story authentically and respectfully, as this was a deeply personal journey for both the carer and the artist. Building rapport with the contributors was essential, and we worked quickly to gain their trust, helping them open up about sensitive topics. The Art of the Sitting Session Creatively, we were eager to capture the painting’s creation – something we’d never done before. It was fascinating to witness how Colin, as an artist, brought a masterpiece to life, and it was a rare documentary moment. Colin had to learn Jaycee’s story fast, just as we did, to make her the focus of the portrait. As he sketched, he asked her questions, weaving her narrative into the foundation of our film. This established the groundwork for the reveal shoot, where both Colin and Jaycee were comfortable with the cameras and the crew, knowing we had their best interests at heart. A Minimalistic Reveal The first shoot set the tone for the final reveal. We knew we wanted the setting to be minimal – a space that allowed the viewer to focus on the protagonists and the artwork. The location was chosen carefully: large glass windows, exposed brick walls, and high ceilings gave a simple yet intimate atmosphere, perfect for the emotional moment ahead. An Emotional, Authentic Moment By the time the reveal shoot arrived, both Colin and Jaycee had a deep understanding of the project’s themes. The moment the portrait was revealed, the conversation flowed naturally between them, full of authenticity and emotion. While the minimal setting may have appeared simple, it was the careful collaboration between Golin, Clockwise, the cast, crew, that made this moment possible. It was a joy to film, and we’re excited to share this meaningful experience with the world. A National Platform for an Overlooked Story Following the emotional reveal, Jaycee’s portrait became the centrepiece of a national campaign honouring the UK’s unpaid carers. It was first unveiled at the Saatchi Gallery before being displayed to the public at London’s South Bank, where it was housed in a secure glass case and guarded around the clock. The public exhibition helped draw attention to the often-overlooked role of unpaid carers and promoted Specsavers’ home visit service. For Clockwise, it was a privilege to be part of a project that brought such a personal story to a national stage, using the emotional power of film to elevate voices that were too often unheard.