Enterprise Nation

Tom Lloyd works in a self-declared ‘swanky shed in Windermere’ From there he watches over a herd of semi-feral Fell ponies and runs his film production business, Dreamtime Film. When you read his story, you’ll see that dreams can come true.

When did you start Dream Time Film?

I'd been working freelance for years but decided to set up as a Limited Company in May 2007 to pursue my own projects. I still do film work for clients on a freelance basis, and those relationships continue. In 2007 I directed a short film for North West Vision and UK Film Council and riding that wave I wanted to apply for funding for another project. In order to do so I needed to be a limited company which was the kick-start I needed to set up as Dreamtime Film.

Have you always been your own boss?

After graduating from film school, I spent a couple of years as runner and assistant editor working on 35mm commercials for a film editor in Soho, and after completing a masters in Creative Technology I spent a year as Camera Assistant at Cosgrove Hall Films in Manchester, but apart from that, I’ve always been freelance. That doesn't mean to say I have always been my own boss as I have worked under many Creative Directors, but I have always been in control of my own time.

Why did you choose to work in a swanky shed in Windermere?

It was a very conscious decision to leave the rat race of London and look for a different quality of life. Having left London, another door opened in Cumbria when I inherited some land and a herd of semi-feral Fell ponies. This was the change I was looking for, and after a couple of years getting that side of my life in order, I realised that though I didn't want to be stuck in the city, I still had ambitions in the film world, and so set about getting up to speed with the digital revolution, commuting 2 days a week to Leeds to gain my MSc.

The film work started to pick up (the digital revolution came at a good time for me) and the reality was that I could now be doing on a laptop in my shed what was only a few years earlier costing £600 an hour in a post production facility. With the arrival of my daughter, moving my workplace from the kitchen table to a shed in the garden was an obvious choice.

Do you have any issues working there?

Initially it was a problem getting insurance cover for computer equipment as it is a wooden structure, but  I now have a shipping container for all the valuable kit. I managed to get a phone line and broadband which made a massive difference.

I do find myself slipping into the shed to do late night changes to edits, and can find myself making changes to pitches or treatments late at night, but that can also be a very positive thing, being able to access my work at all hours.

Also on a positive note, clients are always keen to get out of their office and come to me to view rough edits.

Do your surroundings stimulate your creativity?

Absolutely! I have freedom. I look out of my window onto my horses, the Cumbrian fells, green trees and an un-interrupted skyline. I hear buzzards curlews and nightjars and breathe clean fresh air. How can that not stimulate creativity. That is not to say the city can't be inspirational, in fact I love the buzz and complexity of city life, but it is a different kind of inspiration.

What kind of work are you doing at the moment?

I usually have a few projects on the go at any one time. I recently had a film shortlisted for the Think Sync Film competition. Described to me as "half documentary, half cinematic essay", it shows the freedom of a life on the road with horses in an English Summer. That got picked up by Radar Music Videos who are about to syndicate it through their network  to all the major portals into the internet.

I've got 2 other projects in development and the corporate side of things is also going well - it's the bread and butter of the business.

What are your plans for the future?

I am always looking for the next project and am pitching a couple of treatments to various commissioning schemes. Having worked with actors for the first time on Supercasino last year and got a taste for it, I'd like to do more.

I'm trying to maintain a balance between the corporate work and producing my own projects, and I'm always looking to move my business up to the next level, whether that is corporate, documentary or fiction.

What is the one thing you most enjoy about running your business from home? 

I get to look out of the window and see my daughter running around in the garden. That helps me keep everything else in perspective!

Tom Lloyd talks to Emma Jones

• Dreamtime Film