Why We Made The Search: A Blue Sky Film

At Blue Sky Financial Planning, we’ve never believed that financial advice is just about numbers on a spreadsheet.

True financial planning is personal. It’s about your life – how it feels now, and how you want it to feel in the future. It’s about the pressure that builds when responsibilities mount. The uncertainty of life’s big decisions. The desire for more ease, freedom and peace of mind… and the courage it takes to face change, and act.

We created The Search to bring all of this to life in a completely different way.

Beyond the Boardroom

You won’t find staged handshakes or corporate talking heads in our film. From the very beginning, we knew we wanted something more cinematic, more human, more us. Something that would resonate with people on an emotional level.

Our CEO and founder, Gary Neild, had a clear vision: a short film that would take viewers on a journey. A film with atmosphere, story and symbolism.

“I wanted the audience to interpret the imagery and the prose through their own lens. I didn’t want to tell people how to feel. I wanted to spark something in them – a realisation, a sense of possibility.”
Gary Neild, CEO

Inspired by a previous short film by Rowe Films called The Storm, we connected with director Tommy Rowe. From our very first meeting, it was clear we were creatively aligned. What followed was a collaborative process of storyboarding, writing, casting and scouting — all centred around the idea of transformation.

The Metaphor of the Storm

The concept was simple, yet powerful: a man caught in a storm, weighed down by confusion, finds his way to clarity and hope through the glimmer of a distant lighthouse.

That storm represents the emotional experience many people have with money. The noise. The pressure. The uncertainty. Even when things look ‘fine’ on paper, people can feel overwhelmed, unsure what steps to take, or who to turn to.

Financial decisions are never just financial; they’re deeply emotional.

But with the right guidance, clarity emerges. The Search is about that journey – from pressure to peace, from drift to direction.

“I wanted the concept of ‘change’ to be the thread of the film because, for so many, embracing change can be extremely difficult and at times, overbearing. Inertia can reign. Yet as difficult as change can be, if managed properly, it can be the start of something truly amazing.”
Gary Neild, CEO

Bringing the Vision to Life

Filming was an adventure in itself. Our team, including director Tommy Rowe and our Marketing Manager Kate Chastey, with actor Tim Seyfert, chased weather systems across the Southwest coast, shooting on location in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset. Storm Eowyn hit in January 2025, offering the perfect conditions to capture the rawness we needed.

The inside sequences of the film were shot at Parade House in Woolacombe, and the stunning coastal sequences were captured at Portland Bill Lighthouse – chosen deliberately for its symbolic significance. The lighthouse became our metaphor for expert financial guidance: steady, reassuring, and always there to help people navigate their way through.

The voiceover was written collaboratively by Gary and Tommy. It was crafted to mirror the emotional arc of the film. It’s honest, poetic, and speaks to the heart of what we do at Blue Sky: helping people reconnect with what matters most, and build a life that feels truly fulfilling.

A Film With Purpose

We didn’t make The Search to sell services. We made it to tell the truth. A truth that often goes unspoken in the financial world: that money is emotional, and facing it honestly takes bravery.

We want this film to inspire people to take more control, and seek the kind of professional support that creates real change – not just financially, but emotionally too. We want to show that the right advice can be a turning point. A moment of hope. A signal that things can feel different.

As a Chartered Financial Planning company, nearly three years into our journey as an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), we’re proud to do things differently. We are a team of experts, all deeply invested in delivering meaningful results for our clients. We believe financial freedom creates space to dream bigger, live better, and find fulfilment… however you personally define it.