Who we are
Document Features Ltd was founded in 2002 by former BBC documentarian Danny O’Connor. We produced the acclaimed theatrical documentary Upside Down: The Creation Records Story, which won the Mojo Vision award and was named Film of the Year in the NME. It was sold globally, with broadcasts on networks and streamers in 25 countries - including the BBC and Netflix.
We specialise in film, television, radio, podcasts, promo videos and live concert DVDs. In addition to Upside Down, Document’s credits include Rewind, the story of the popular Welsh rock band, Stereophonics; The End of Innocence, a film about Irish band The Thrills, and Celebrate: Simple Minds Live in Glasgow.
Document Features’ expertise is not limited to the world of music. Another highlight of our CV is Becoming Mr Nice, the BBC documentary about the notorious drug dealer Howard Marks. The film explored the relationship between Rhys Ifans - the man who played Marks in a scripted comedy/drama - and Marks himself, while delving into the extraordinary life story of the man from the Welsh valleys who became a drugs baron.
In addition, we have made upwards of 50 documentaries for radio outlets across the globe. These include The Road to Radio City: The Story of The Strokes for BBC Radio 1, Angel of Harlem: The Billie Holiday Story (narrated by Billy Crystal) and Eight Miles High: The Story of the Byrds, presented by Peter Fonda, for BBC Radio 2. The latter two programmes won Gold Awards at the New York Media Festival. Other radio highlights include two series, Rock n’ Roll F.A Cup and A Year in the Life for BBC Radio 5 Live, and 5000-1, the story of Leicester City’s incredible Premier League title victory, for the BBC World Service.
Interview about film director, Danny O’Connor with former Creation Records boss, Alan McGee, the man who famously signed Oasis 30+ years ago.
So, what was the difference with Danny? Did you just like the cut of his jib?
I liked him because he was honest, because he wasn’t a bullshitter. If he tried to join the Groucho Club, they’d probably ban him, and I like everything about that vibe.
You’ve said you watched the finished film; they’re showing it to open the London Film Festival...
Yeah. Its’ a pretty amazing film. It’s amazing to me cause it’s about me and Bobby and Noel Gallagher (and Liam) and The Jesus and Mary Chain and everybody that were involved with it and on the label. In a way am I the best person to say it’s good? Maybe I am, maybe I’m not? I don’t know. I like it. Will the general public get it? I suppose the minute they see Noel rabbiting away they’re gonna get it.
What do you think the film says about the legacy of Creation Records?
Well, the film was made for like half a million quid, or 400 grand, and it was self- funded by the director. Nobody really expected it to be able to do anything, other than document [the Creation story], which it did brilliantly. He’s an amazing talent, Danny O’Connor. He’s an Irish bohemian genius.
Does it contain live footage or is it mostly talking heads?
Danny O’Connor took three years to make it, I was calling him Kevin Shields (frontman Shields notoriously took years to complete My Bloody Valentine’s ‘Loveless’) I thought fuck, this thing never gonna get finished. But if Danny O’Connor ever makes a better film than this, I’d be very surprised. The other side of it is we’ve always been misrepresented. The Dave Cavanagh book was a total misrepresentation. Danny wasn’t there but he gets it right. Dave Cavanagh wasn’t there and gets it wrong. That’s all I can really say.
Danny certainly sounds like a kindred spirit then.
Listen if Danny had come in, I’d have probably signed him. We’d have got him in on bass or something.