ESCAPE FESTIVAL
Creative Kernow & Cultivator, Cornwall
Escape Festival
Project: Escape Festival
Role: Filmmaker
Client: Creative Kernow and Cultivator Cornwall
Format: Online
Talent: Rue, FARE, Milo Gore, and L I P S
Camera: Canon C300 + Fujinon Cabrio 20-120
Lighting: Small crew with LitMats
Shot with a nostalgic nod to analog aesthetics, this short film and social vignette series were commissioned by Cultivator and Creative Kernow to document New Music Cornwall as they took to the stage at The Alternative Escape—Brighton’s gritty, unofficial “noisy neighbour” to The Great Escape Festival.
The project follows four standout artists—Rue, FARE, Milo Gore, and L I P S—as they perform and reflect on their place in Cornwall’s vibrant, fast-evolving music scene. Genre lines blur as their sounds converge in an atmospheric underworld of rhythm and reverb, offering a raw, unapologetic snapshot of new music rising from the southwest.
Behind the Scenes
We shot entirely in a single, subterranean venue tucked beneath the city—a dark, cavernous space that brought its own moody character and acoustic challenges. Embracing the limitations of the environment, we leaned into a retro, analog-inspired visual language, using filtration, soft contrast, and subtle film grain to create something that felt textured and timeless.
The interviews were captured on location inside the venue, just hours before doors opened. With no access to a traditional studio setup, we transformed corners of the space into intimate pockets of light, sculpting atmospheres that felt true to each artist's identity while staying cohesive as a series.
Lighting was key to shaping the tone. Working with a small, nimble crew, we used a combination of LiteMats (ranging from 1 to 4) to create soft, wraparound lighting in tight spaces, often diffusing through layers of grid cloth and bouncing off walls or ceilings to create depth without overpowering the natural ambiance of the venue. The goal was to maintain the integrity of the location while elevating it cinematically—moody, musical, and full of soul.
Much of the vérité coverage was shot handheld, allowing us to respond instinctively to performance moments and candid interactions. The combination of stripped-back crew, minimal kit, and close collaboration with the artists gave the film an immediacy that feels both raw and intentional.
This project stands as a portrait of a scene in motion—honest, atmospheric, and creatively unpolished in the best possible way.
Vignettes
FARE is the ambient, Lo-fi solo project of Christina Smith from Falmouth, Cornwall. Inspired by musicians such as Grouper, Told Slant, Soccer Mommy and Keaton Henson, her lyrics are delicate and honest, revealing the timid approach to her music making. She is described as having an “open and effortless style” and projects a charming vulnerability when performing live, immersed in emotion through her thoughtful and reflective lyrics.
An intriguing mix of synth pop, punk and alternative rock influences, Milo Gore is a five piece collective who wonderfully harmonise smooth flowing indie-pop, with rich powerful rock riffs. After establishing the group whilst at university, the band have since generated an outstandingly dedicated following, pushing plays above 145,000 on Spotify. Their debut EPs Watch The Tide & Too Much Too Soon can be heard on all major digital platforms. Bursting with personality and raw lyricism, Milo Gore describe themselves as “rough around the edges, but forever powerful and genuine”.
Singer-songwriter Rue is all set to bring her angelic yet soulful vocals and intricate jazz guitar playing to Brighton. Armed with a batch of her own songs, prepare to be drawn in by her smooth, funky sound and melisma-filled ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ style of singing. She has supported major acts like James Arthur, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas and Newton Faulkner, but her fresh, unique style, which draws upon influences from jazz/soul, RnB and pop, stands out in its own right.
Teetering on the edge of woozy shoegaze and understated dream-pop, four-piece group L I P S balance it all out with pinpoint songwriting, moving live shows and a consistently keen eye for aesthetics. Their debut single Apartment represents a progression for the band into a well-oiled and focused, reverberant machine. The instrumentation is layered meticulously, the vocals drift elegantly with 80s pop inspired melodies and the coda crushes balefully.
