Having just finished the 10th episode of The Passion Project, I found myself reflecting on the series so far and my overall journey as a film maker.
I wasn’t someone who wanted to get into film from an early age. I actually got into it through a chance encounter. Back in late 2004 i was invited out by some friends who thought it would be fun to film some pranks in a local nature spot. Shortly after that we came up with ideas for other things to film and in 2005 i discovered that i really really like filming.
For the next few years, I made short ridiculous action movies and comedy videos. Just a bunch of friends having a laugh with lots of guns and dark humour. Everything we made was a mixture of rubbish and ridiculous but they were bloody good fun to make.
At that point in time, the idea of working in the industry was so alien that it wasn’t even on the edge of what seemed possible.
Fast forward to 2023 and I’m now co-owner of Clear As Day Productions. Over that time we’ve produced all sorts of content, from TV title sequences and brand films to music videos, podcasts and everything in between.
I feel incredibly fortunate to make a living working in this industry.
But there is a difference between being creative in your job and being creative for the simple joy of creating something. No briefs, no deadlines, no clients and no real pressure.
And that is something that has been missing from my life.
In 2023 I also became a dad to twin girls.
As you can imagine, that puts a strain on everything, and for the last few years life has mostly been a juggling act between parenting and work.
In the early months of parenthood, one of my twins would wake up screaming from midnight until 4am. She did this for what felt like months.
During those long nights I’d sit with her and end up disappearing down nostalgic YouTube rabbit holes.
I found myself rewatching old football matches, seeing classic kits and moments I’d loved as a kid. Somewhere along the way I rediscovered my love of the game.
At the same time, I was watching a lot of documentaries.
Something I’ve always loved is great interview photography. The kind where you can pause on a single frame and instantly understand something about the person you’re looking at. Their environment, their personality, what makes them tick.
All of this started feeding a desire to make something.
I didn’t know what. I just knew I needed to create something just for the joy of creating something.
Years earlier, at Clear As Day Productions, we’d started a project called The Passion Project. The idea was simple: 15 minute documentaries about people and the things they were passionate about.
We had shot a tonne of B-roll and an interview with Matti Hemmings… but like many passion projects, life, schedules and trying to get a young business off the ground, got in the way and it never really got finished. I revisited the project, with the idea of cutting it into a very very short documentary and this would later become the 2nd episode of The Passion Project.
Then, in 2024, another piece of the puzzle fell into place.
A video popped up in my feed of Eric Cantona talking about his music career.
I’ve always admired Cantona, not just as a footballer but because he seems completely unafraid to follow his instincts. Footballer, actor, artist, musician. He does things on his own terms.
During the interview he spoke about the need to create, and having the bravery to try something new. On his own terms.
That really resonated with me.
As a kid, I’d heard stories from people on our estate who travelled to Manchester to watch United. They’d talk about watching Cantona in the warm-up as if it was more exciting than the match itself.
We were never in a position to make those trips, but I desperately wanted to.
So in April 2024 I finally got to see Eric Cantona perform in London.
It just happened to be music rather than football.
Looking back, that was probably the final push.
The Passion Project returned, but this time in a much simpler form.
Super short documentaries, 3 minutes max. No fancy equipment, no fancy effects or graphics. Something that could be shot in one day by a crew of one.
No deadlines.
No targets.
No expectations.
Just people talking about their passions.
Filmmaking is my passion, and The Passion Project has become a way of using that passion to explore the passions of other people.
One of the things I value most about it is the freedom to fail.
If an episode doesn’t work, that’s okay.
If I try something creatively and it falls flat, that’s okay too.
In the professional world there are consequences. Clients, budgets and expectations matter and The Passion Project allows me to exist outside of all that.
It gives me permission to experiment, to learn, and to create purely for the joy of creating.
In June 2024 I filmed the first episode with Will from We Fix Kits.
Since then I’ve spent my time finding interesting people with passions that resonate with me.
Now, in June 2026, I’ve just finished the tenth episode.
I’d hoped there would be more by now but life has been hectic and that’s okay.
Because every time I load the car and head off on a shoot, I get exactly the same feeling.
A sense of peace and a feeling of adventure.
Meeting someone new, visiting their world and exploring the thing they love.
No scripts.
No agendas.
Just honest filmmaking.
And I f***** love it.
