Night Out in Killashandra and Hanna Wins are both screening at Mermaid Arts Centre in Bray on Sunday 23rd of October at 8PM as part of Wicklow Stories Screening with NOWIFI – North Wicklow Filmmakers. Great opportunity to watch both films along with collection of other brilliant stories by NOWIFI members on the big screen. You can get your tickets here.
Hope it’s merry and full of love and joy. It has been very weird and stressful two years for many, including myself. I wanted to post this picture as a reminder, to myself most of all, to be flexible and adaptive in these very uncertain circumstances. Like this fallen tree. I have known it since I was a child and remember climbing it, then my little niece climbing it. Now, so many years later, it’s still there and thriving, with three more trees growing out of it reaching for the skies. It’s amazing how it has adapted and thrived. So can you and me.
Myself and Rob Fitzrugh, Festival Director at Dublin Smartphone Festival, are going to have a chat about staying creative during lockdowns. Join us on Clubhouse on Monday 22 February 6-7 PM GMT and chime in, let’s connect. Event link HERE.
Not going to lie, with lockdown 03 upon Ireland, I’ve found myself entering New Year uninspired to say the least. It just seemed like a never ending gloom. Anyone else feels the same?
I’ve managed to pull myself out of it now, remembering what I did when it all started last year. Thought I’d share that, in case someone else needs it.
In a nutshell- I made myself busy. Very busy. So that I have no time to ponder about the whole pandemic situation too much. Here are some awesome resources, that are keeping me on my toes:
I mean, these guys have just been AMAZING!
These guys are my local fave’s and they have been AMAAAZING with their own workshops and web meetups, some sponsored by Screen Skills Ireland. I’ve done directing and screenwiting courses through them and they’ve all been fantastic. Thought by tutors such as Lenny Abrahamson, Mary-Kate O’Flannagan, David Keeting, Stephen Cleary.. They’ve all been sharing their writing and filmmaking wisdom with us, top notch stuff.
If you are a creative, join their Facebook group for updates and jobs, to ask a question etc. etc. 17K members and growing.
That’s another great way to stay connected to filmmakers community and to get inspired with new works of fellow professionals. Plenty of networking events within online festivals too, usually. There are loads of great local and international film festivals to pick from and join, all different and amazing.
I wanted to mention Underground Cinema run by Dave Byrne. And the reason I mention this, is because I found myself watching films and networking with fellow filmmakers quite a lot throughout last year. It was such a positive experience! Dave is a true pioneer of filmmakers of all kind on his platform.
Another great resource for filmmakers. They also run webinars and talks about the business of filmmaking throughout the year and do online screenings of films.
The awards season is coming up and ITFA’s will have screenings and talks again soon. I think I pretty much attended all of their organised Zoom’s last year. It’s a great way to stay up to date with great films that are being made in Ireland, and listen to a bit of backstory about the making of them. You can join with a membership or subscribe for open events on their webpage.
These, these are the saving grace of a theatre lover throughout the pandemic. They have recorded their theatre performances to a very high standard. One may feel that they are truly are attending a play or a musical. Just superb stuff, I’m a big fan.
Another thing I got hooked to last year is this podcast by Sam Parr and Shaan Puri. It’s a brainstorm of business opportunities and interviews with millionaires/billionaires on how they have earned their first million. If you are into business and tech asides from filmmaking that is.
Similar thing to My First Million, but in a short written form. Business and tech in 5 minutes or less, essentially.
This is another kick ass podcast I absolutely love by Tom Bilyeu. The name of it kind of says it all. P.S. I always have to copy/paste his surname though, as my brain just goes bdaah and won’t ever spell it correctly. Is it just me or anyone else?!
Hope this is of value. Let me know.
We captured this wonderful story of Liz and her Bingo game recently, you can view it below.
I can say that I’ve also tried playing said game thereafter and I have even won a Newbridge Silverware Christmas decoration! Woohooo! 🙂 It was great fun!
Thank you Liz for keeping the community spirits high.
Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Fingers crossed for return to normality in 2021. Hang in there everyone!
A couple of weeks back I was out in beautiful Ardgroom, Co Cork producing an episode for EuroNews Ocean Series.
Episode is due to be aired TODAY at approximately 20:30 PM on EuroNews, and will be posted ONLINE HERE thereafter. You can catch it streaming live at these approximate times on EuroNews TV channel or EuroNews live online (8 min watch):
CENTRAL EUROPEAN TIME
Tuesday 22nd Dec: 20:50
Wednesday 23rd Dec: 12:50, 22:50
Thursday 24th Dec: 5:50, 17:45
Friday 25th Dec: 1:30, 14:50
Saturday: 26th Dec 08:50, 12:50, 19:50
Sunday 27th Dec: 13:10, 16:10, 22:10
Monday 28th Dec: 06:50, 14:50
HERE is a 2 min video on how Covid -19 has affected the business of mussel production.
Because of restrictions due to Covid-19, show producer Denis Loctier and his team could not be here in Ireland in person, so myself, Napoleon and Paul-Michelle jumped in to help. I hope we did it justice. We certainly had great fun shooting it and being around such picturesque places as Ardgroom and Kenmare and meeting the lovely lovely people out there.
The story we shot is about mussel farming, Kush Shellfish, it’s owner John Harrington and his team. We also interviewed Richard Donnelly of BIM. You’ll get to see how mussels are farmed and hear the story behind it.
P.S. We did get to try the mussels ourselves, and I can safely say they were the best I’ve had so far. Omnomnom.
I hope you are keeping well and are all set for a very Merry Christmas celebrations.
Hear a No is now live at Carlow International Film Festival, and the best part is that it’s free to watch it along with 7 hours of other short films. HERE is the access link. Hope you enjoy it.
Delighted to share that Hear a No short film has been selected for Carlow International Film Festival in Ireland. Amazing news! Keep your eyes peeled for more information coming soon.
