A Creative Journey of Storytelling, Independence, and Purpose
Meet Dan Eycott: Filmmaker, Storyteller, and Creative Entrepreneur
Every business has a story. Steps & Stories: The Business Portrait Project is my way of capturing those stories, through portraits, conversations, and honest insight from business owners in and around Sevenoaks.
To begin the series, I wanted to start close to home with a friend and collaborator who lives and breathes storytelling. Dan Eycott is the founder of Brand & Culture Videos, a video production company that helps businesses share meaningful stories through film, photography, and social content.
His journey, from launching a creative business during the financial crash to producing award-winning documentaries, captures what this project is all about: resilience, creativity, and finding your own path.
Here’s Dan, in his own words.
What’s your name and what do you do?
My name is Dan Eycott, and I’m a filmmaker, content creator, and founder of Brand & Culture Videos. I specialise in telling stories that matter through video, photography, and social content that drives real engagement.
Tell me a bit about your business. What do you offer, and who do you help?
Brand & Culture Videos is a corporate video production and content service. We work with businesses and organisations to craft story-driven content that connects with audiences, across pre-production, production, and post-production, and can also assist with distribution and delivery strategies.
Whether it’s a one-off campaign or a long-term content strategy, our focus is always on quality storytelling that serves a purpose.
What led you to start your business?
I started my business straight out of university partly out of passion, partly out of necessity. It was during the global financial crash, and the media industry had been hit hard. Suddenly, a competitive job market was flooded with experienced professionals from recently downsized companies.
Rather than wait for the right opportunity, I decided to create my own. I began proving what I could do and have been doing so ever since. Staying independent has allowed me to be my own boss, collaborate with clients on my terms, and make a living doing what I love: storytelling through video.
Have you always done this kind of work? Or did your journey take a few turns?
I have always been self employed and activity working in Media production.
What’s been your proudest moment so far?
I’ve had a few proud moments both creatively and personally but a standout would be completing my first feature documentary, “Micropubs: The New Local,” which I produced through what is now Squid Shack Studios, my narrative and creative banner. It aired on London Live, our first piece broadcast on terrestrial television, and went on to win several awards.
Every single award or selection we receive still means a huge amount. It’s a moment of validation and recognition of the effort, the time, the creative risks. It reminds me why I started in the first place.
What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in business?
The biggest lesson? You can only rely on yourself.
Sometimes that’s liberating, sometimes it’s tough but ultimately, it’s empowering. Freedom, determination, and self-accountability have shaped my career. The only way to truly reflect your value and skills is to take control of your own path.
That said, collaboration is crucial. Some of my most rewarding work has come through strategic partnerships with creatives, clients, and communities. The right collaborations elevate everyone’s output.
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
I’ve mentored quite a few younger creatives who are unsure about the “right” path into the industry, especially around whether to go to university or dive straight in. I always give them the same honest take:
There are two routes: both valid.
- Formal education gives you a technical foundation, but doesn’t teach you how to run a business or survive as a freelancer. I graduated with a first-class degree, but had to learn the business side on the fly.
- The hands-on path: starting out as a runner, getting on set early, working your way up can give you more real-world experience but fewer formal qualifications.
There’s no one-size-fits-all route. What matters is having a clear goal, backing yourself, and being open to learning fast. If you’re just starting out, do it part-time at first if needed. Support yourself however you can, but make a plan and pursue it with intent.
As Jim Carrey put it:
“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”
How do you stay motivated when things get tough?
That’s an interesting one. I think my personality naturally leans into the underdog mentality. I tend to thrive when the odds feel stacked. I’ve always gamified my challenges; I approach tough times strategically, as puzzles to solve rather than roadblocks to fear.
That said, like most creatives and freelancers, I do get the occasional wave of doubt. Those “why am I doing this?” moments. But when it hits fight or flight, I always find the fight. That’s when I double down, refocus, and push through, and sure enough, things eventually swing back.
In this industry, it’s very feast or famine and 15 years in, I’ve learned that both seasons just last longer the further you go. So the trick is: plan for the famine, savour the feast, and always stay ready.
What’s one thing people often misunderstand about your work?
People often assume video work is easy. You just point a camera and press record, right? And yes, technically anyone can create content these days, smartphones put powerful tools in everyone’s hands.
But creating meaningful, strategic, story-driven content is a different beast. It takes technical skill, production planning, storytelling instinct, editing experience, and audience understanding.
I work with clients across the whole spectrum, from smartphone social videos to high-end cinematic setups. Each comes with its own challenges and expectations. And often, people only realise the complexity when they try it themselves and run into issues, whether that’s poor results, time lost, or disappointing feedback.
Those are the people I love working with. People who value storytelling but need support bringing their vision to life.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love that no two days are the same.
Sure, I might be producing the same type of content. say a testimonial or an event promo. but every project is a fresh story, a new perspective, a unique challenge.
I’ve never been wired for routine. The idea of doing the exact same thing, day in and day out, sounds like my personal definition of hell. But in this role, every day feels like a mini-adventure, a puzzle to solve, a story to tell, a new person to meet.
That’s why I do what I do. I get to tell stories that matter, and help others find the best way to tell theirs.
What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
Not many people know this, but… Brad Pitt once asked me how I was.
It was on the set of his Netflix film War Machine. He walked past me and said, “Hey, how are you?”
I replied: “I’m great, thanks Brad, how are you?”
That’s probably the most famous person I’ve ever spoken to and yes, I’m counting it as a conversation!
Finish this sentence: “Success, to me, means…”
Success to me means a life of freedom. The freedom to spend time with friends and family not just when I’d like to, but when I truly need to. It’s about having a small, trusted group of clients I regularly support with their communications and marketing content, while also carving out space to develop my own creative projects, whether that’s a feature film, TV series, or original work. True success is finding a work-life balance I’m proud of, and maintaining a rhythm between corporate and creative work that fuels both my livelihood and my passion.
How To Get in Contact with Dan
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daneycott/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_eycott_filmmaker
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brandandculturevideos
Closing Section (after Q&A)
Dan’s story reminds us that creative independence isn’t just about freedom, it’s about persistence. Whether filming documentaries, supporting brands, or mentoring young creatives, he continues to prove that success in business is built on passion, purpose, and perseverance.
This is the first feature in Steps & Stories: The Business Portrait Project, a photography and storytelling series celebrating business owners, entrepreneurs, and creatives in the Sevenoaks community.
If you’re a local business owner and would like to take part, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to share your story and be featured in a future portrait session.
