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200 Years to 20 Minutes

From sparse historical footage to a story that just flows

Live-Action & Motion Graphics Production Video Editing Editorial/Documentary
Collage of research material: a close-up violin, an aerial view of Casa Musicescu, a historical street map, a violinist performing, portraits of historical figures tied to the building, and the on-camera host on location
Collage of the shoot and edit: on-location filming with the host, the video editing timeline, an After Effects motion tracking composition, and a drone aerial of Iași
Case Studies

Eneredge

Eneredge, a real-estate developer from Iași, Romania, had just finished restoring the historical Casa Musicescu, but even though the revival was spectacular, they hadn't yet found a way to tell that story in a way that resonated with the general public.

We helped them by producing a documentary film that made audiences care about the restoration and the rich history behind the site by combining live-action production, explanatory journalism-style imagery and a custom-made music score.

The Services

  • Video Production Strategy
  • Live-Action Production
  • Motion Graphics Production
  • Video Editing
  • Editorial/Documentary Production

The Deliverables

  • A 20-minute long documentary film
  • A 1-minute long trailer

The Collaborators

  • StudioAlb - equipment and principal photography
  • Musket - script & production assistance, voice-over, live-action hosting
Sketch illustration of Casa Musicescu over historical documents
Documentary shooting script and shotlist for Casa Musicescu

The Process

Charting the Gaps

The challenges we faced were significant: we quickly found a long list of noteworthy events and famous people that were related to the building, but they were too disconnected to one another to reveal an overarching story. On top of that, we had almost no historical imagery of the building, and the photos from Eneredge's restoration were sparse.

We started by conducting interviews to piece together the narrative. Vlad Vieriu, the restoration engineer, shared the challenges of preserving the building's heritage, while historian Sorin Iftimi recounted the events and lives that unfolded within its walls.

Add to that a voice-over to bridge any remaining gaps in the story, and we had a complete draft edit that we then tested in audio-only format with selected audiences until it held their attention for the entire runtime.

Camera on tripod filming Casa Musicescu at dusk
On-camera host presenting Casa Musicescu

Proper Coverage

But interviews and voice-overs alone aren't enough to make a film, so we got a host to tell the story on-camera, along with sweeping drone shots and b-roll of the building and its surroundings. To honor the musical heritage, we filmed a string quartet performing in the main hall.

String quartet performing in the main hall of Casa Musicescu
Film crew operating a camera gimbal on location
Camera tripod on a desk with historical documents
3D model of Casa Musicescu being built in Blender

The Missing Archives

The lack of historical imagery remained a challenge, but our VFX and motion-graphics expertise saved the day here. We were able to recreate the historical feel with animations and motion graphics, but we also managed to track down the few existing archival materials to enrich these visuals in an authentic way.

Motion tracking markers over archival courtyard footage
Historical handwritten document about Casa Musicescu
Audio editing timeline with the film's original music score

The Original Music Score

It was at this point that a new idea popped up thanks to Musket's previous documentary-making experience: what if we gave the film an original music score? So we got in touch with Antonius Slubczakowsky, whose beautiful songs gave the film a lively emotional pulse, uplifting the beats of Casa Musicescu's remarkable story.

The Big Moment

After we showed the final film to our client, they just couldn't believe they watched a 20 minute long documentary without looking away from the screen once. Eneredge released the video publicly and, to this day, it still serves as a proud reminder of their crowning achievement.

TV screen showing a black-and-white historical photo of Casa Musicescu with a Romanian caption
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"What was remarkable about collaborating with INX Films was the team's professionalism and creativity. From the planning stage to final delivery, they managed the entire video production process with impeccable attention to detail and a deep understanding of the project's cultural value. Through visual storytelling, interviews, and creative elements, they conveyed the cultural significance of the project to our partners and highlighted why the restoration deserves both support and recognition."

Cristian Pascal

CEO • Eneredge

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