Here’s a question I get asked a lot when people see my setup: is that a solar panel on your roof? Yes. Yes it is. And no, I’m not about to launch into a lecture about saving the planet — though that’s a solid bonus. This is about something much more practical: keeping batteries charged, kit running, and not getting caught short on a location in the middle of South Yorkshire with a flat drone battery and two hours of shoot left.

Let me break down how I’ve got things set up — both in the office here in Doncaster and out on the road with my mobile Jackery rig.

I work across feature documentaries, narrative features, short films, and videography. Some days I’m developing a six-month commission around a community story. Other days I’m shooting corporate content or an event. The camera changes. The crew size shifts. The budget breathes differently. But the question that keeps coming up—usually from potential clients or people curious about what I actually do—is this: am I a filmmaker or a videographer?

What Does It Actually Mean to Be a Documentary Filmmaker?

People ask me this more than you'd think. Usually at events, usually after I've explained what I do for the third time in a row. "So you make documentaries? Like the ones on Netflix?"

Sort of. Not exactly. Let me explain.

Filmmaking in Doncaster is thriving, mixing grassroots creativity, documentary storytelling, and innovative digital art in a city that often flies under the radar of the UK film map. Doncaster’s mix of industrial heritage, new city status, and growing creative infrastructure makes it a surprisingly powerful base for a filmmaking career.

Documentary filmmaking rewards planning, patience, and curiosity. Done well, it turns real life into powerful stories that stay with your audience long after the credits roll.​

Whether you are starting your first film or refining your craft, these practical tips will help you move from a rough idea to a compelling finished documentary.