We were delighted when Lammas Park approached us to provide archive and stock research for The Shadow Scholars, an insightful and revealing documentary written, directed and produced by Eloise King.

The film follows Oxford professor Patricia Kingori as she travels to Nairobi to uncover Kenya’s hidden “shadow scholars” – highly educated ghostwriters powering a global ‘fake essay’ industry.

Our role was to source and license footage that brought depth and context to the story. This included key moments in Kenyan history, examples of scientific progress and ingenuity, and archival material that reflected outdated and uncomfortable colonial-era viewpoints. And finally, modern day elements that helped balance the narrative and tie the story to the present.

Alongside the research, our producer oversaw the clearance process over an extended period to ensure all content was correctly licensed and ready for use.

This footage was carefully woven into the live action and interviews, grounding the film in place and history while amplifying its extraordinary narrative. We are so glad to have worked with such a talented team on a fantastic and important film.