Film-maker Danny O'Connor loves his job. He has the freedom to be as creative as he likes and moves in the same circles as some of the coolest people on Earth.

From his home in the pretty south Leicestershire village of Medbourne, and his office in Market Harborough, he manages a small production empire making radio, TV and film documentaries – and writing the odd book – covering some of the biggest rock and pop acts around.

It has seen him sharing tour buses, backstage areas and recording studios with the likes of Coldplay, Kasabian, the White Stripes and Chemical Brothers. And his latest project, a documentary about Creation Records called Upside Down, has not only won praise as one of the best British films of the year, but saw him working with Noel Gallagher, Primal Scream singer Bobby Gillespie, writer Irvine Welsh and cult Scottish indie band the Jesus and Mary Chain.

First and foremost it features candid interviews with Alan McGee, the record label's founder and one of the biggest influences on indie music.

In the past, Danny, an entertaining, friendly Irishman, worked in local radio and held production roles on Radio 1's Evening Session, and Channel 4's The White Room and was a newsreader and an editor of Greater London Radio.

He's clearly not so much a businessman as a journalist, but – with partner Karen Craig – has to ensure his business, Document Productions, doesn't go off the rails.

His offices – overlooking the Angel Hotel in High Street, Market Harborough – were where his team planned and did early editing for Upside Down.

The documentary came out here and in Ireland last May to a fanfare of praise, picking up the Mojo magazine vision award along the way.

Now out on DVD and Blu-ray, it was named the NME's number one music film of 2011.

It is now in the running for recognition at next February's NME awards in a best music film category. The Sunday Times said it was the greatest rock 'n' roll film ever.

As well as enjoying the success, Danny has spent recent months tied up marketing the movie overseas.

The whole thing took several years from conception to finished product – including a year's filming and a year's editing – and cost £500,000.

Danny said: "When you have a story that's got an absolute ending – like Creation Records which packed up its stall just before the millennium – it's worth doing properly.

"I didn't know if I was going to get the full deck of cards, because the key people in the bands and at the label were an angular bunch. Thankfully, for such a hard-partying bunch they're all still alive."

He said international recognition of bands such as Oasis and Primal Scream meant there was plenty of opportunity to sell the movie overseas.

To that end he recently won a £144,000 loan from the NatWest bank, under the Government's enterprise finance guarantee scheme to distribute to 38 countries. The loan allows the company to buy overseas music rights and provides additional working capital to support the distribution.

Danny said: "It came out in Australia and New Zealand in November and was at the Brisbane International Film Festival. I love the fact that I can be sat in the Neville Arms, in Medbourne, and this thing is happening on the other side of the planet.

"Over the last 12 months it's been to 50 international film festivals. The response we've had from every corner of the world has been wonderful.

"Oasis sold 53 million records in the US – I would happily take one per cent of that."

"It will make money, but it's a bit like releasing a record – first there's the production, then there are all the deals you have to put in place. But come the middle of 2012 I'm sure there will be a nice feeling."

The film is also a springboard for Danny's business. Next on the agenda are a documentary for Radio 1 with Jack White and, hopefully, TV projects marking the 60th anniversary of the NME and 21st birthday of the Big Issue.

There is also a Radio 2 project about Giorgio Moroder, the legendary producer behind I Feel Love, by Donna Summer and Call Me by Blondie.