How to make corporate business case study films

At Paper Films, one of the most common types of video production work we’re asked to do is the corporate business case study film. They’ve been around for years, and you’re probably bombarded with video case studies every day across social media.

That’s part of the problem. People are:

● Bored through over-exposure – there are so many corporate and business case study films out there now that it’s easy to switch off.

● Increasingly cynical – the state of the internet has made people more suspicious of corporate video content and less inclined to believe what they’re being told.

● Short on attention – audiences are primed to abandon business videos that don’t land a clear message in the time it takes to watch an Instagram story.

And yet, video has never been more important.

People want to buy into companies that feel real. They want authenticity, care, and something recognisably human. If your case study videos don’t demonstrate these qualities, your customers willl find someone else who does.

Good business case study films need more than fancy cameras and visionary creative direction. They rely on sensitive, journalistic interview techniques, and on creating an environment where people feel comfortable enough to be themselves. In many ways, the best approach to case study video production sits somewhere between journalism and filmmaking.

So how do you actually achieve that?

At Paper Films, we’re experts at understanding what makes a business tick, and choosing a case study film approach to fit.

Sometimes that means creating a documentary-style case study: a slice of real life. Someone walking the dog, making toast at the kitchen table with their family, or turning out for their local five-a-side team.

Other times it’s about pulling together a whole range of voices, each contributing a single, believable moment — different people, different settings, all mixing into something richer and more dynamic.

Occasionally, it’s about drilling down into a single hour of lived experience. Capturing exactly what a day looks like. Lots of customer interaction. Smiles. Laughter. The bits that usually get left out.

And sometimes you might want something purposefully lo-fi. A user-generated content feel, but with a bit more thought and control behind the scenes.

We work with you to figure out why you want a case study video in the first place — whether it’s for your website, stakeholder engagement, pitch films, social media, or as part of a wider video campaign. We help develop the style, brief your participants, and manage the shoot day.

Our interviewers immerse themselves in your business to understand what drives it and what messages need to come through. Then they do what they do best: have calm, warm conversations that get people to relax and speak honestly.

We also make sure they enjoy the experience. It shows.

Northstowe Neighbours: Uncovering a community’s stories

Homes England approached Paper Films to create a 30-minute documentary film for the UK’s largest new town development Northstowe. This film aimed to tackle negative messaging in the media about the strength of the town’s community and change the conversation. The feature length film was screened for residents and shared online, but to support it’s roll-out we created a series of Northstowe Neighbours stories, to give each person a chance to shine.

It demonstrates how, with no more than a couple of hours to spend with a person, we can create a case study film with a compelling narrative and strong emotional connection.

Unlocking the future: how technology can transform businesses

Paper Films works regularly with BCN, one of the UK’s most trusted digital transformation specialists. Over the past year, we’ve produced a series of short case studies showcasing their work with businesses across the country. These films appear on BCN’s website, and we also create ultra-short soundbites designed for sharing on social media. Each case study features one or two engaging interviews, supported by dynamic cutaways that capture the businesses in action. We focus on delivering BCN’s key messages clearly while keeping the films authentic, giving viewers a genuine sense of the people and stories behind each business.

A warm community: creating a case study film for Peabody Housing Association

In 2024, Paper Films worked with Peabody Housing Association to create a mini case study film focused on Gallimore Lodge, a Peabody-run care home, using material captured during a wider organisation-wide shoot in London.

The film centres on a member of the Gallimore Lodge team, offering an honest and human insight into care home life. Naturalistic visuals, authentic voice-over, and thoughtful sound design were used to reflect the rhythm of a typical day and celebrate the people behind the care.

This case study film was shared online and formed part of a wider video production campaign, demonstrating how a single shoot can be creatively repurposed to maximise impact while telling meaningful, people-first stories.

MRSA Action UK Case Study Film

Paper Films created a powerful case study film for MRSA Action UK to highlight the urgent and growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The film tells two personal stories, using human experience to communicate the real-world consequences of drug-resistant infections.

Designed to be hard-hitting and dramatic, the video production combines cinematic visuals and controlled pacing to engage a professional medical audience. The completed case study film was screened at an international conference for doctors and healthcare professionals, where it helped drive awareness and discussion around AMR.

This project shows how focused charity video production and case study filmmaking can deliver complex medical messages with clarity, impact and emotional weight.

From our base in the North West, we create business case study films and corporate video production for organisations across Manchester and beyond. As a video production company in Manchester, we work with clients including Homes England, Made Smarter, Manchester Inward Development Agency, BCN, Peabody Housing Association, ITV Tonight, Anti-Microbial Action and others.

We deliver a full-service video production offer, as well as providing video editing services (and pre-production tips) for user generated content.

Across every project, the principle stays the same.

Putting people at ease, and giving them space to speak openly and honestly, is the only way to make video case studies that people actually believe.

And if people don’t believe them, what’s the point?