Date: 18th April 2023
Time: Doors at 19:30
Location: Wexford Arts Centre
Cost: €5
Tickets on sale here

Screen Wexford and The Picture House – Wexford Film Society are excited to present the Documentary film North Circular – A musical trip through inner city Dublin and a Q&A with its Director Luke McManus.

North Circular is a multiple award-winning documentary musical travelling the length of Dublin’s fabled North Circular Road, where local characters share their powerful and emotive stories, accompanied by traditional ballads and folk music that help to tell these stories. North Circular conjures the ghosts of the past while engaging with the conflicts and celebrations of today, with a little bit of Dublin humour thrown in.

North Circular is a documentary musical that travels the length of Dublin’s North Circular Road, from the Phoenix Park to Dublin Port, exploring the history, music and streetscapes of a street that links some of the country’s most beloved and infamous
places.

Told in black and white 4:3 Academy ratio, the film evokes many narratives from the history of the city and nation, from colonialism, to mental health, to the struggle for women’s liberation while also engaging with urgent issues of today, including the battle to save the legendary Cobblestone Pub, centre of Dublin’s recent folk revival, from destruction at the hands of cynical property developers. The film also includes musical performances from artists local to the North Circular, including John Francis Flynn, Séan Ó Túama, Eoghan O’Ceannabháin, Ian Lynch & Gemma Dunleavy.

After the film we will be joined by Director Luke McManus for a Q&A. Luke McManus is an Irish director and producer. He has directed numerous award-winning documentary and drama projects for NBC, Netflix, RTE, TG4, Virgin Media TV, TV3, Al Jazeera, the Irish Film Board and Channel 4, winning four IFTAs, one Celtic Media Award and the Radharc Award in the process. Directing credits include North Circular, Jump Girls, I Am Immigrant, Crainn na hEireann, Jump Boys, Arkle, Making a Museum, Dermot Bannon & The Big Build
and Féile Dreams.

Cost: Free

Date: 17th February

Location: Presentation Arts Centre

Spaces: 8

Screen Wexford presents an Acting for Camera workshop.

Working with, filmmaker and writer Fintan Kelly, we will prepare and work on dialogue and scenes from a range of television/films to give the participants a sense of what the experience is like of working with cameras.

You will be taught etiquette on the set, how to warm up your body and voice, and how to bring scripts to life on screen through basic script and scene analysis. You will shoot a scene with the tutor who will share knowledge on hitting marks, shot sizes, continuity and eye lines.

Overview:

Applications closed

Fethard January 2023

This workshop was designed to bring participants on a fast track journey through video production.

Overview:

This two-day workshop was designed to teach how to film a short documentary or corporate video project by observation and participation. Over the course of our two days, we worked with participants to shoot and edit a short documentary about the local RNLI.  The workshop was run as a partnership between Screen Wexford and Crannog Media. 

The workshop was delivered over two days. The first day was dedicated to filming processes and the second day was focused on post-production and editing.

Filming Session:

Working with the participants we created an interview set-up in the Hook Community Centre. We created an interview set-up with a Sony FS7 and brought the team through a 3-point lighting set-up and detailed interview techniques. Once we completed the interview the team moved to the Fethard RNLI base where we created a series of sequences to showcase the process of how to build a visual story to support and interview. The goal was to focus on observance and witnessing the filming process to provide great context for the post-production process. Throughout this process we had a 5 cameras available along with sliders and gimbals to give the team an opportunity to shoot footage and learn about cameras, framing and building sequences.

Editing Session:

All participants brought their own laptops and ran Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve to edit this project. During the course of the editing process we walked them through a basic introduction of how you edit and manage your footage. Blackmagic DaVinci Resolve is a free professional editing software you can download and try for Free. Link here. There are also loads of free tutorials on youtube. Link here

Once the session was complete we finished an edit which has been provided to the RNLI and will be posted here once its is complete.

Screen Wexford worked with the team from The Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival Wexford to deliver the Activist Media Lab on the 11th of November 2022. This one-day workshop was structured to help activists to learn to structure a script, shoot scenes, shape an edit, champion a cause and in the words of Frederick Douglass ‘Agitate, Agitate, Agitate’. This is the film we create on the day of the workshop.

On December 10th, Enniscorthy held the Screen Wexford Wexford Filmmaker Showcase. The showcase was hosted in two locations, The Bailey Pub & Cafe and The Presentation Arts Centre. A total of 50 films were shown, which were all produced by Wexford filmmakers.

The event also included a speed networking session, facilitated by Emilia Krysztofiak, to help foster connections within the film community.

Al Butler, the Coordinator for Screen Wexford said “We are delighted with the outcome of the event. For Screen Wexford these opportunities to connect with filmmakers are essential to building a community. It’s very exciting to have so many submissions and the range of films really highlight the quality of talent working in Wexford today. We hope that this will be the beginning of a new format to showcase filmmakers in the county.’

A wide range of filmmakers from throughout the county attended the event to see their films and to support their peers. Documentary Filmmaker Anna Konieczna said ‘Events like these are crucial, not only because they allow filmmakers to show their work and share it with others but they also strengthen the self-confidence and belief that because their creative effort was noticed and appreciated, it matters.’

Screen Wexford’s hope for this event was to give filmmakers an opportunity to meet like minded creators and to bring the community together. Wexford based filmmaker Terence White said ‘The Made in Wexford event was a fantastic opportunity to screen your own work, to see the work of other filmmakers, and to network with other creative people living in the county.’

The event was supported in its production by a group of local filmmakers including Michael Duggan and Michael Benson. When speaking about the importance of events like these award winning Wexford based cinematographer Michael Benson said ‘Events such as this are hugely important given that they provide a platform for filmmakers to show their works. But perhaps even more than this it recognises that the art of filmmaking itself is an ever evolving process for those involved, and as such it both values and celebrates film makers at every point along that journey, something that could be argued is almost unique to this event’

When speaking about the event Writer and Director Sean O’Deadaigh said ‘It was a pleasure to attend the Screen Wexford showscreen event on Saturday. A full day of locally made films covering all types and genres. From the quirky to the thought provoking. Funny , informative and innovative, there was something for everybody in the six skilfully selected programmes. All films are made to be screened and we were delighted to have two chosen. Events like this are invaluable to anybody with an interest in film. It was uplifting to see so many young people attend and it bodes well for the expanding Wexford film industry. For me personally it was an unmissable opportunity to network with local talent and see their creativity on the big screen. Both venues were excellent for this. It was great also to tap into the bush telegraph with some old friends and exchange ideas and possibilities for future films.’

Is the future of film on the Island of Ireland decentralised? On Thursday 1st December, WFT Ireland in partnership with Wexford Screen Writers Academy and with the support of BAI presented Producing Beyond the Pale. This lively industry discussion took place in the National Opera House, Wexford.

Panelists:

Ivan Dunleavy – Co Founder of Tara Studios

A career spent in in senior leadership roles in the film, video and music industries in both publicly quoted and private companies in the UK and internationally. CEO of Pinewood Studios Group for over 18 years and the co-founder of Tara Studios in Wexford.

Ann Mulrooney – Studio Manager

Cartoon Saloon is a five-time Academy Award®, Golden Globe®, BAFTA® and Emmy nominated animation studio founded by Paul Young, Tomm Moore and Nora Twomey. From award-winning shorts to feature films and TV series, Cartoon Saloon has carved a special place in the international Animation industry. Based in Kilkenny, Ireland the studio has a crew of over 200 artists and technicians in production and project development. Cartoon Saloon is the founder and host of Kilkenny Animated, an annual festival of visual storytelling incorporating exhibitions, talks and performances celebrating the creativity of the animation craft.  In 2010 the studio’s first feature film, The Secret of Kells, was nominated for an Academy Award® and again in 2015 with Tomm Moore’s follow up feature, Song of the Sea, Song of the Sea was also the first animated feature to win Best Picture at the Irish IFTA Academy awards. Directed by Nora Twomey, Golden Globe® and Academy Award® nominated The Breadwinner was released in November 2017 to huge critical acclaim. The studio had its first short film Academy Award® nomination in 2019 with Late Afternoon, written and directed by Louise Bagnall and produced by Nuria Blanco. Most recently in 2021, Wolfwalkers, directed by Tomm Moore and Ross Stewart was also Golden Globe®, Academy Award® and BAFTA® nominated. Cartoon Saloon’s series like pre-school series Puffin Rock and comedies Skunk Fu and Dorg Van Dango are currently being broadcast around the world and upcoming series Viking Skool, pre-school series Silly Sundays and a Puffin Rock feature film are among the other projects in production at the studio. The film’s most recent major animated feature production My Father’s Dragon directed by Nora Twomey, was released globally on Netflix on November 11th. Cartoon Saloon’s Studio Manager Ann Mulrooney has worked widely across the creative and cultural sector for over 25 years, including as an artist, curator, producer, programmer and director. She has directed significant cultural institutions including the National Craft and Design Gallery, the VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and the Science Gallery at Trinity College Dublin, before returning to her native Kilkenny three years ago to take up her current role, with a specific interest in the studio’s engagement and sustainability planning.

Roisin Keown – CEO and Creative Director The Brill Building

Roisin Keown is one of Ireland’s most awarded advertising creatives.  In 2019 she founded her own creative-led creative agency The Brill Building, where she serves as CEO and Executive Creative Director, now recognized as Ireland’s most  awarded new creative agency, winning Gold at ICADS, EFFIES, AIMS, PRII and Grand Prix at APMC and Europe’s IMC for the The Shop That Nearly Wasn’t, the first shop 100% stocked and staffed by cancer survivors.  Roisin has co-directed and produced for The Brill Building in-house productions on campaigns for Breakthrough Cancer Research, Marie Keating Foundation and Riskeye.  Screenwriter of the ‘The News’, the short film about lung cancer for the Marie Keating Foundation, she also serves as Creative Producer of The Paddy Irishman Project, the fine art photography and videography project about Irish identity.

Marissa Aroy – Producer and Director

Marissa Aroy is a documentary producer and director. She received an Emmy award for her PBS documentary “Sikhs in America.”  Aroy, a Fulbright Scholar, was the recipient of the first ever Hatsuye Yamasaki Award for Visionary Leadership from the College of William and Mary in the US. Until recently she was teaching filmmaking classes at Trinity College Dublin and The New School in New York.  She is currently the editorial director of Future Rising, a climate change initiative run by the organization Girl Rising. For 10 years she was deputy director of Irish Screen America, a screening series and film festival of Irish films in New York and Los Angeles. And before that worked for 7 years on the San Francisco Irish Film Festival.  She sits on the board of Women in Film and Television, Ireland and has been living in Ireland for the past three years with her husband and filmmaking partner Niall McKay. Together they are working on a historical documentary on the Philippine American War.

Robert Higgins – Producer and Director

Robert Higgins is an award-winning producer director, writer and co-founder of Harp Media. He recently co-wrote and directed his debut feature film ‘Lakelands’ which stars Éanna Hardwicke (Normal People, Vivarium), Danielle Galligan (Netflix’s Shadow and Bone), Lorcan Cranitch (Bloodlands, The Dig), Dafhyd Flynn (Michael Inside), Dara Devaney (Arracht), and Gary Lydon (Calvary). It won the Bankside Award at the Galway Film Fleadh for best marketplace project and has been acquired for UK and Ireland release by Wildcard Distribution. It won Best Irish Film at Galway Film Fleadh and Kerry Film Festival. His second short film ‘Drifting’ starring Paul Mescal (Normal People) and Dafhyd Flynn (Michael Inside). The film premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh and has been picked up for worldwide distribution by Network Ireland Television. His first short film ‘Angels Guard Thee’ starred Brian Fortune (Game of Thrones) and John Quinn (Love/Hate) and premiered at the Cork Film Festival in 2018. It was broadcast on RTÉ in 2019. He was a participant on Screen Skills Ireland’s Advanced Producers programme. He is represented by Curtis Brown Talent. Harp Media was awarded runner-up in the Best Idea category of the Longford final of Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur in 2018 and Best Start-up category in 2019. Harp Media has received funding from bodies such as Screen Ireland, Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, Creative Ireland, Arts Council and Longford Arts Office

Moderator:

Fiona Kinsella – Head of Production Tile Media.

Wexford woman Fiona Kinsella is a Producer and Line Producer with over 25 years experience in the Irish and International Film and Television Industry. Her company Jumper Productions has produced branded content for the likes of Heineken, O2, Jameson, Renault and Skoda and provided production services for artists including Rihanna and One Direction. Alongside her branded work she has produced several highly acclaimed short films and more recently developed a slate of Feature Films and TV drama. In 2020 she joined Tile Media as Head of Production overseeing their slate of Feature Films and TV Series. She has also line produced feature films for Samson Films and Fantastic Films. From 2004 to 2006, she was Managing Director of Moonstone International, a development and training programme, for European Feature Film screenwriters and directors. A graduate of University College Cork. She has postgraduate diplomas from University College Dublin and TU Dublin. She is a Board Member of Women In Film and Television Ireland and was a founding committee member of the EDA Ireland. She is currently working with Laura Way and Paul Walker on the development and delivery of the Wexford Screenwriting Academy.

Wexford Screen Writers Academy is a Bodecii Film, Screen Wexford and Wexford County Council initiative funded by Creative Ireland which supports eight Wexford-based screenwriters in professional script development for a new commercial Anthology Series, titled Menapia. This event involves a public table read, showcasing selected scenes from all eight of the Wexford Screen Writer’s Anthology Series.

About Wexford Screen Writer’s Anthology Series

Menapia is an ambitious three phase TV production that combines training, career opportunities and employment for emerging regional creative talent and crew.

In phase one in 2021 which was funded by Creative Ireland,  twelve new Wexford writers were selected for the inaugural Wexford Screenwriter’s Academy to create 12 original scripts for television broadcast through the unique Wexford Writers Scripting for Broadcast Academy programme. Building on the success of Phase One of the project, eight writers and their scripts from the original twelve were selected to move into Phase Two: professional script development for a commercial Anthology Series, titled Menapia. These eight writers have been professionally engaged to work with industry experts and series producers from their original screenplays – 8 uniquely dark and different tales firmly rooted in their hometown.

WEXFORD WRITER’S SCRIPTING FOR BROADCAST ACADEMY

SELECTED WRITERS

MARGARET HAWKINS

Margaret lives for the ‘inside smile’ of writing. A freelance journalist for 35 years she also works part-time as a press officer and magazine editor and has had poetry and short stories published and one-act plays staged.

From Tinahely in County Wicklow she lives on a farm in south Wexford where, as a writer, her instinct is always to give voice to those who don’t have one. Her first book Restless Spirit:The Story of Rose Quinn dealt with the asylum era in Ireland, her first novel Deny Me Not was about hidden children and the novel that she has just completed – a gripping rural mystery – is part homage to her home landscape of south Wicklow. As a journalist she has worked principally for the Irish Farmers Journal. 

Writing for radio is a definite love of hers also and her essays have been broadcast on RTE 1’s Sunday Miscellany programme and included in two of its anthologies. She is an Ireland’s Own short story competition winner and was a finalist in RTE’s PJ O’Connor radio drama awards twice. She has also worked for South East Radio in Wexford as presenter, current affairs researcher and producer and was involved, for many years, with Wexford Arts Centre Theatre Group (WACTC).

Her documentary Forgotten People received funding and commendation from the BAI in 2000 and RTE Television made a documentary related to her first book for their Flesh & Blood series.

She enjoys the discipline of memoir writing, the humour and soul food of open mic performance and storytelling nights and has published a collection of poetry inspired by those experiences entitled Freewheeling Up The Hill. 

She reached the shortlist in a Write By The Sea Festival competition in 2022 but her concentration at present is on developing her screenwriting skills.

FABIA EVANS

My lifelong love of cinema and continuous passion for writing led me to undertake a degree in Film and TV Production at Dun Laoghaire’s Institute of Art, Design and Technology. In my final year, I chose to major in Screenwriting, where I completed my first feature-length script. Since completing my degree, I was able to partake in Screen Wexford’s Scriptwriting for Broadcast Academy to further my skills. I have since been published in Wexford Women Writing Undercover magazine, and currently work as Script Assistant Editor for Fair City. 

CHRISTIAN O’CONNOR

Christian O’Connor is a Wexford-based writer that is passionate about telling stories – if he’s not dreaming up a new idea or story to explore, he’s not happy. His work often explores what happens when ordinary people are pulled into extraordinary situations with a view to subverting typical genre expectations.

Writing and the creative expression that comes with it has been a hugely fulfilling part of his life for many years. Originally this desire to tell stories manifested itself as short prose which he achieved some success with when he was published in the ‘Young Emerging Writer’s and Artists’ magazine when he was sixteen. 

As film was his first love though, he turned his attention to screenplays and has worked to develop it through various courses, collaborations and projects throughout the years. His screenplay ‘Kings’ finished as an Official Finalist in the 2018 Barcelona International Film Festival. Most recently, Christian was accepted on to the Wexford Writers Scripting for Broadcast Academy facilitated by Screen Wexford with Wexford County Council and mentored by Paul Walker and Laura Day. As part of this Academy he and seven other writers have been commissioned to write their standalone TV scripts as part of an overall anthology series. 

EMMA QUIGLEY

Emma is a writer based in Wexford. Following a degree in Communications from DCU, Emma has worked in the digital sector for twenty years. In her spare time, she writes children’s books and scripts. Her first book, a comedy for pre-teens, was published in 2018 with Little Island Books. She’s recently completed her second book and is now onto writing her third, all comedies. 

Emma renewed her interest in screenwriting in recent years. She was shortlisted with a co-writer for RTE’s Storyland in 2019 and had a children’s drama proposal shortlisted for Torino Lab 2019. She took part in the Nostos Screenwriting Retreat in Tuscany, Italy in the summer of 2019. The pilot script that she worked on during this retreat, a children’s comedy drama, was recently optioned with an Irish production company. 

She is currently also trying her hand at writing a video game.

ROBERTO FORTE

Roberto Forte is an experienced videographer, film maker and writer based in County Wexford but works across Ireland and internationally.  Roberto created Robot Wasp Media, a small production company in 2018 and since then has been engaged to create video content for companies such as Sports Ireland, Celtic Woman, The HSE and Riverdance.  He is highly accomplished in all aspects of the pre-production, production and post-production parts of the film production process.   He graduated from DBS college with a diploma in marketing and advertising in 1996, and  recieved a Higher Diploma in Digital Media Design in 2018 from Carlow IT.  He is a screen Ireland supported scriptwriter and has also written, produced and directed several short films for himself and local award winning filmmakers. 

MAX O’BRIEN

The majority of my Max’s life has been split into two halves; a childhood largely spent abroad in Africa, and the latter half spent in Ireland, where he has been based out of Wexford. 

Whilst relatively new to the Industry from a career perspective, film, writing and storytelling have all been a central part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Two years ago a global pandemic happened and he found himself in a similar position to many… asking himself “what is it i’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the time”. The answer was to write a screenplay. 

Subsequently, one such script was used as his application to the inaugural Screen Broadcast Academy, his acceptance to which he views as the first of many falling dominoes that brought him to the present. Since that time, he has written an original script – scheduled for production – under the tutelage of Paul Walker, in association with The Academy, and also had two short films he wrote featured at the Rathmullen Film Festival 2022. 

He is hopeful this is only the beginning… In the meantime, he hope those dominoes keep falling…

CONON MARTIN

Conor Martin, from Wexford, 36 years of age, aspires to be a filmmaker with a keen interest in writing original material. Graduated from Aberystwyth University, Wales, back in 2010. A degree was achieved in Film and TV. Returned home and had a working relationship with Highwind Media. Worked on several of their corporate projects in the lighting and camera department. He has written and directed two hip-hop videos for Irish rap artist Rob Kelly, the first one in 2015, Jack the Ripper II and most recently in 2018, Crimey. The former mentioned featured on a rap documentary, ‘The Origins of Irish Hip Hop’, which was produced by Red Bull and aired on RTE Television and Red Bull media platforms, this coupled with a string of unproduced short films written. 

In 2016, he was selected for the Wexford County Council Writer’s Development Scheme headed by Irish filmmaker Laura Way (Red Rock, Eastenders, Blood & The Holiday) and tutored by Irish screenwriter Eugene O’ Brien (Pure Mule, Red 

Rock, and Black ’47). In 2020, he was selected to take part in a masterclass workshop with Irish filmmaker, Dearbhla Walsh (Shameless, Netflix’s The Punisher, Fargo, Penny Dreadful, The Tudors). And then in 2021, he was selected to take part in the first Wexford Writers Scripting for Broadcast Academy, which saw Irish writer Paul Walker (Red Rock, Eastenders, Call the Midwife, Professionals) mentor local writers along with Irish Producer Fiona Kinsella (Jumper Productions) and Irish filmmaker Laura Way. He is currently working on a feature story with Irish writer/director Ian Power (The Clinic, The Runaway, The Guarantee, Roy, The Tattoo). The love of film for Conor took over in the mid nineties when he was treated to an array of genre films and from such an early age, from there on in imagination took over. It was terminal. 

ABIGAIL WAY

A practitioner of professional Children’s Theatre for more than 20 years, in recent times Abigail has taken over the reigns as Creative Director at Red Moon Creative Arts Theatre – ‘explorers of the imagination’, following in the footsteps of Red Moon Founders, Irene and Michael Way, and devising, writing, producing and performing-in touring original Theatre-in-Education comedy-dramas and programmes as well as delivering Educational Drama classes, creative arts workshops and camps, children’s entertainment activities and specially commissioned theatre pieces within the Primary Education system.

A staunch advocate for the extension of childhood through the arts and the opening out of the creative arts to young people who may not traditionally have an opportunity to experience or express in an accepting and encouraging context, Abigail is heartened to see drama practices and methodologies becoming more mainstream in the Irish education system, to the great benefit of many children throughout the country.

Abigail’s background in children’s theatre and roots in country life, not to mention countless hours enveloped in the wonders of her parent’s inspired ‘Theatre Workshop’, (a busy and valued hub of theatrical and artistic innovation in Wexford Town for many years), continues to inform her writing, be it for stage or screen, for young people or an adult audience.

Drawing on the notion of ‘everyday magic’, a concept she was fortunate enough to experience often in the ever-transforming theatre spaces and endlessly intriguing wardrobe department of that determinative creative environment, she is compelled to capture the essence of an ilk of subtle (yet impactful) magic in her work, aiming to evoke nostalgia, raise a fleeting memory, foster an unexpected emotional connection, conjure a glimpse of some long-forgotten dream.

Moving into screenwriting for a more mature audience is a most welcome stride forward into new and stimulating realms of creative challenge.

Wexford Screen Writers Academy is a Bodecii Film, Screen Wexford and Wexford County Council initiative funded by Creative Ireland which supports eight Wexford-based screenwriters in professional script development for a new commercial Anthology Series, titled Menapia. This event involves a public table read, showcasing selected scenes from all eight of the Wexford Screen Writer’s Anthology Series.

An industry Panel Discussion discussion Filmmaking from Beyond the Pale, will take place before the reading which is organised by WFT ( Women in Film & TV ) Ireland, Screen Wexford and funded by BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland). The Panel will feature Co-Founder and Producer of Tara Studios, Ivan Dunleavy, guest speakers from TG4, Cartoon Saloon and more who have been successfully producing film, TV, documentary and animation for the past number of years.

About Wexford Screen Writer’s Anthology Series

Menapia is an ambitious three phase TV production that combines training, career opportunities and employment for emerging regional creative talent and crew.

In phase one in 2021 which was funded by Creative Ireland,  twelve new Wexford writers were selected for the inaugural Wexford Screenwriter’s Academy to create 12 original scripts for television broadcast through the unique Wexford Writers Scripting for Broadcast Academy programme. Building on the success of Phase One of the project, eight writers and their scripts from the original twelve were selected to move into Phase Two: professional script development for a commercial Anthology Series, titled Menapia. These eight writers have been professionally engaged to work with industry experts and series producers from their original screenplays – 8 uniquely dark and different tales firmly rooted in their hometown.

WEXFORD WRITER’S SCRIPTING FOR BROADCAST ACADEMY

SELECTED WRITERS

MARGARET HAWKINS

Margaret lives for the ‘inside smile’ of writing. A freelance journalist for 35 years she also works part-time as a press officer and magazine editor and has had poetry and short stories published and one-act plays staged.

From Tinahely in County Wicklow she lives on a farm in south Wexford where, as a writer, her instinct is always to give voice to those who don’t have one. Her first book Restless Spirit:The Story of Rose Quinn dealt with the asylum era in Ireland, her first novel Deny Me Not was about hidden children and the novel that she has just completed – a gripping rural mystery – is part homage to her home landscape of south Wicklow. As a journalist she has worked principally for the Irish Farmers Journal. 

Writing for radio is a definite love of hers also and her essays have been broadcast on RTE 1’s Sunday Miscellany programme and included in two of its anthologies. She is an Ireland’s Own short story competition winner and was a finalist in RTE’s PJ O’Connor radio drama awards twice. She has also worked for South East Radio in Wexford as presenter, current affairs researcher and producer and was involved, for many years, with Wexford Arts Centre Theatre Group (WACTC).

Her documentary Forgotten People received funding and commendation from the BAI in 2000 and RTE Television made a documentary related to her first book for their Flesh & Blood series.

She enjoys the discipline of memoir writing, the humour and soul food of open mic performance and storytelling nights and has published a collection of poetry inspired by those experiences entitled Freewheeling Up The Hill. 

She reached the shortlist in a Write By The Sea Festival competition in 2022 but her concentration at present is on developing her screenwriting skills.

FABIA EVANS

My lifelong love of cinema and continuous passion for writing led me to undertake a degree in Film and TV Production at Dun Laoghaire’s Institute of Art, Design and Technology. In my final year, I chose to major in Screenwriting, where I completed my first feature-length script. Since completing my degree, I was able to partake in Screen Wexford’s Scriptwriting for Broadcast Academy to further my skills. I have since been published in Wexford Women Writing Undercover magazine, and currently work as Script Assistant Editor for Fair City. 

CHRISTIAN O’CONNOR

Christian O’Connor is a Wexford-based writer that is passionate about telling stories – if he’s not dreaming up a new idea or story to explore, he’s not happy. His work often explores what happens when ordinary people are pulled into extraordinary situations with a view to subverting typical genre expectations.

Writing and the creative expression that comes with it has been a hugely fulfilling part of his life for many years. Originally this desire to tell stories manifested itself as short prose which he achieved some success with when he was published in the ‘Young Emerging Writer’s and Artists’ magazine when he was sixteen. 

As film was his first love though, he turned his attention to screenplays and has worked to develop it through various courses, collaborations and projects throughout the years. His screenplay ‘Kings’ finished as an Official Finalist in the 2018 Barcelona International Film Festival. Most recently, Christian was accepted on to the Wexford Writers Scripting for Broadcast Academy facilitated by Screen Wexford with Wexford County Council and mentored by Paul Walker and Laura Day. As part of this Academy he and seven other writers have been commissioned to write their standalone TV scripts as part of an overall anthology series. 

EMMA QUIGLEY

Emma is a writer based in Wexford. Following a degree in Communications from DCU, Emma has worked in the digital sector for twenty years. In her spare time, she writes children’s books and scripts. Her first book, a comedy for pre-teens, was published in 2018 with Little Island Books. She’s recently completed her second book and is now onto writing her third, all comedies. 

Emma renewed her interest in screenwriting in recent years. She was shortlisted with a co-writer for RTE’s Storyland in 2019 and had a children’s drama proposal shortlisted for Torino Lab 2019. She took part in the Nostos Screenwriting Retreat in Tuscany, Italy in the summer of 2019. The pilot script that she worked on during this retreat, a children’s comedy drama, was recently optioned with an Irish production company. 

She is currently also trying her hand at writing a video game.

ROBERTO FORTE

Roberto Forte is an experienced videographer, film maker and writer based in County Wexford but works across Ireland and internationally.  Roberto created Robot Wasp Media, a small production company in 2018 and since then has been engaged to create video content for companies such as Sports Ireland, Celtic Woman, The HSE and Riverdance.  He is highly accomplished in all aspects of the pre-production, production and post-production parts of the film production process.   He graduated from DBS college with a diploma in marketing and advertising in 1996, and  recieved a Higher Diploma in Digital Media Design in 2018 from Carlow IT.  He is a screen Ireland supported scriptwriter and has also written, produced and directed several short films for himself and local award winning filmmakers. 

MAX O’BRIEN

The majority of my Max’s life has been split into two halves; a childhood largely spent abroad in Africa, and the latter half spent in Ireland, where he has been based out of Wexford. 

Whilst relatively new to the Industry from a career perspective, film, writing and storytelling have all been a central part of his life for as long as he can remember.

Two years ago a global pandemic happened and he found himself in a similar position to many… asking himself “what is it i’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had the time”. The answer was to write a screenplay. 

Subsequently, one such script was used as his application to the inaugural Screen Broadcast Academy, his acceptance to which he views as the first of many falling dominoes that brought him to the present. Since that time, he has written an original script – scheduled for production – under the tutelage of Paul Walker, in association with The Academy, and also had two short films he wrote featured at the Rathmullen Film Festival 2022. 

He is hopeful this is only the beginning… In the meantime, he hope those dominoes keep falling…

CONON MARTIN

Conor Martin, from Wexford, 36 years of age, aspires to be a filmmaker with a keen interest in writing original material. Graduated from Aberystwyth University, Wales, back in 2010. A degree was achieved in Film and TV. Returned home and had a working relationship with Highwind Media. Worked on several of their corporate projects in the lighting and camera department. He has written and directed two hip-hop videos for Irish rap artist Rob Kelly, the first one in 2015, Jack the Ripper II and most recently in 2018, Crimey. The former mentioned featured on a rap documentary, ‘The Origins of Irish Hip Hop’, which was produced by Red Bull and aired on RTE Television and Red Bull media platforms, this coupled with a string of unproduced short films written. 

In 2016, he was selected for the Wexford County Council Writer’s Development Scheme headed by Irish filmmaker Laura Way (Red Rock, Eastenders, Blood & The Holiday) and tutored by Irish screenwriter Eugene O’ Brien (Pure Mule, Red 

Rock, and Black ’47). In 2020, he was selected to take part in a masterclass workshop with Irish filmmaker, Dearbhla Walsh (Shameless, Netflix’s The Punisher, Fargo, Penny Dreadful, The Tudors). And then in 2021, he was selected to take part in the first Wexford Writers Scripting for Broadcast Academy, which saw Irish writer Paul Walker (Red Rock, Eastenders, Call the Midwife, Professionals) mentor local writers along with Irish Producer Fiona Kinsella (Jumper Productions) and Irish filmmaker Laura Way. He is currently working on a feature story with Irish writer/director Ian Power (The Clinic, The Runaway, The Guarantee, Roy, The Tattoo). The love of film for Conor took over in the mid nineties when he was treated to an array of genre films and from such an early age, from there on in imagination took over. It was terminal. 

ABIGAIL WAY

A practitioner of professional Children’s Theatre for more than 20 years, in recent times Abigail has taken over the reigns as Creative Director at Red Moon Creative Arts Theatre – ‘explorers of the imagination’, following in the footsteps of Red Moon Founders, Irene and Michael Way, and devising, writing, producing and performing-in touring original Theatre-in-Education comedy-dramas and programmes as well as delivering Educational Drama classes, creative arts workshops and camps, children’s entertainment activities and specially commissioned theatre pieces within the Primary Education system.

A staunch advocate for the extension of childhood through the arts and the opening out of the creative arts to young people who may not traditionally have an opportunity to experience or express in an accepting and encouraging context, Abigail is heartened to see drama practices and methodologies becoming more mainstream in the Irish education system, to the great benefit of many children throughout the country.

Abigail’s background in children’s theatre and roots in country life, not to mention countless hours enveloped in the wonders of her parent’s inspired ‘Theatre Workshop’, (a busy and valued hub of theatrical and artistic innovation in Wexford Town for many years), continues to inform her writing, be it for stage or screen, for young people or an adult audience.

Drawing on the notion of ‘everyday magic’, a concept she was fortunate enough to experience often in the ever-transforming theatre spaces and endlessly intriguing wardrobe department of that determinative creative environment, she is compelled to capture the essence of an ilk of subtle (yet impactful) magic in her work, aiming to evoke nostalgia, raise a fleeting memory, foster an unexpected emotional connection, conjure a glimpse of some long-forgotten dream.

Moving into screenwriting for a more mature audience is a most welcome stride forward into new and stimulating realms of creative challenge.

Date: 13th November 2022

Time: 10AM-5pm  

Location: Artspace, Creative Hub, Wexford town

Cost: This workshop is Free – Please register to attend 

Contact email: hello@douglassinwexford.com

Website: douglassinwexford.com

Screen Wexford are excited to work with the team at The Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival Wexford to support the Activist Media Lab. To all budding film journalists/activists, this one-day workshop will help you learn to structure your script, shoot your scene, shape your edit and champion your cause with the smartphone in your pocket and in the words of Frederick Douglass ‘Agitate, Agitate, Agitate’

The Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival Wexford are running a Activist Media Lab to give a platform to Wexford’s activists. 

We want to help write and produce a short film and think about those people who are marginalised and need their civil rights to be recognised.

Over the course of the one-day workshop, we will create, write and perform a collective film that will be shown at The Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival Wexford. This will involve scripting and delivering multiple pieces to the camera related to areas that you are passionate.


This workshop will be supported by Screen Wexford and run by Wexford filmmaker Therese Dalton who facilitates a range of video-based educational training including the Wexford Youth Film programme. Therese will walk participants through the fundamentals of filmmaking and the editing process to create engaging short films. 

All the footage created on the day will be then edited and presented at the 2022 The Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival Wexford on the 25th November  7-9pm in the Wexford Arts Centre.

Values 

The Frederick Douglass Civil Rights Festival Wexford values are: 

We are seeking young creative activists who wish to be a part of this journey and use their voice to speak about issues that are important to them.

Background info about Frederick Douglass

Runaway slave and American campaigner against slavery, Frederick Douglass visited the Assembly Rooms (now the Wexford Arts Centre) in October 1845 and spoke for 2 nights. The people who heard him were excited by his articulate oratory and the passion he had for his cause. 

Douglass was just 27 when he came to Ireland for just 4 months – he met Daniel O’Connell on his arrival in Dublin and was invited to speak at the end of one of his events. Both men were seriously impressed with each other and became friends for life. Douglass was given the nickname ‘The Black O’Connell’ Douglass said that O’Connell had changed him from a single issue campaigner to one who advocated for civil rights for everyone everywhere. He was ahead of his time in supporting advocates for women’s rights. He only visited Ireland again once many years later but was still shocked by the poverty. 

He wrote prolifically and founded a newspaper. He was an adviser to Abraham Lincoln and saw the abolition of slavery in 1865. He married twice – his second wife was white. While he was in Ireland Quakers in the UK purchased his freedom as he had arrived with a bounty on his head. Until his death in 1887 he was politically active and his last advice to a young activist was Agitate, agitate, agitate.

One-Day Workshop in Costume Design and Management for TV & Film

Friday 18th November 2022
10AM- 4:30PM 
Wexford Opera House

Free: Apply here for workshop 

Screen Wexford are delighted to present a One-Day Workshop in Costume Design and Management for TV & Film that has been developed by industry professionals for those interested in getting involved in TV, Film or Theatre Costume Design.
This workshop is suitable for those already active in areas of drama or performance, with or without a fashion background and wanting to learn more about all aspects of costume for performance.

Workshop’s Aim:

This one day course will be run by Wexford resident Inez Nordell. Inez has designed costumes for upwards of seventy projects for theatre, film & television including contemporary & period drama & light entertainment in Ireland and the U.K. Her work has taken her to Europe, Africa & the US and has seen her offer Industry training and mentoring of Costume and Fashion students on work experience placements at Granada Television and on various independent productions for the B.B.C. and Channel 4.

Materials:

Screen Wexford will supply as many materials as possible on the day but if you have access to them please bring the following:

This course is aimed at new entrants and trainee crew who want to work or are working in the camera department of the Film & TV Drama industry. There are a maximum of 15 spaces.

Apply online before November 11th

Contact for any queries: cordinator@screenwexford.com

Website by Doodle