Gréasán na Meán Skillnet runs web magazine programme with Galway Film Fléadh

Pictured: Trainees from the film workshop organised by Gréasan na Meán Skillnet and the Galway Film Fléadh

A successful initiative by Gréasán na Meán Skillnet and the Galway Film Fléadh culminated in the production of an online video magazine programme that was broadcast during the Fléadh in July. Twenty one unemployed filmmakers who had already studied some aspect of video production were the target audience of the two week workshop, which focused on teaching the trainees to exploit the skills they already had for success in the industry.

Each of the workshops dealt with how editors and publishers view stories, what they require, what they would buy and what they would commission. It gave the trainees a very clear picture of what precisely the industry is looking for and where the trainees might choose to place themselves in the future. Course tutors included industry professionals such as Declan Mc Bennet from RTE, freelance journalist Niamh Guckian who has worked with RTE and The Irish Times, freelance journalist Olaf Tyraransen who writes for the Sunday Independent and Hot Press, and Sinead O’Carroll from the Journal.

The second week of the programme focused purely on production and the group exceeded all expectations with their output. They produced five magazine packages, each lasting three minutes, for every day of the Fléadh. Another ten packages were produced alongside these, totaling two hours of video in just one week. All work was produced entirely by the group including all editing and camerawork.

The programme gave trainees the opportunity to network and learn from professionals working in the film industry. One trainee Laura Poortenga described the benefits she got from participating in the initiative. She said: “Working with Fléadh TV during the Galway Film Fléadh provided me with valuable hands-on experience. It was great to see how the packages that started out as simple ideas developed and came together all within a day. The workshops during the first week were informative and provided interesting perspectives from people who are currently working in the TV/Film/Media area. The highlight was working with a wide range of people, many of whom I hope to work with again in the future.”

This article is from the Skillnets News September 2015 newsletter. Sign up for news updates here.

Read more articles from Skillnets News, September 2015