With “stay-cationing” becoming more and more popular with holidaymakers in the UK, Retreat Caravan Park in Burnham-on-Sea were looking for a video that really spoke to people about the charms of holidaying near home.

With a limited budget and only two days to film, I set to work on a treatment and script that evoked the excitement and anticipation of going on holiday. Rather than setting the whole thing on the premises itself, I wanted to show the whole of the Somerset experience - and that included the journey there!

There’s something special about a family holiday. I wanted to represent it as it really is: Waking up at the crack of dawn to beat the traffic. Playing eye-spy in the car. Forgetting to put your out-of-office on. Forgetting the diet. Forgetting the rules. Forgetting your cares.

It’s that whole feeling of going to the same place each year, and looking forward to the little traditions and routines you end up building over time.

Big shouts to Kate O’Halloran and her family for being so fantastic in their roles as actors. Also to Andy Whitehorn (camera/production), Carolyn Iles (assistant/general superhero), and Scott Miles at the Retreat.

Time was short. The schedule was tight. We all ran around like headless chickpeas. But we had loads of fun and got it done!