Limerick Hosts Film Industry Open Day

A Film Industry Open Day has taken place at Troy Studios in Castletroy, Limerick, to encourage job opportunities, as well as film and television production activity in the Mid-West region of Ireland.

The event was organised by Screen Training Ireland and Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB). Aimed at school leavers, job seekers, new entrants to the labour market, graduates and those seeking information on the industry, the day provided attendees with an opportunity to hear from professionals in the industry and heads of departments providing a 360-degree view of a production.

Peter Foott, Director, delivered a keynote address followed by sessions from heads of departments in production, accounts, camera and lighting, sound, art department, costume, make-up and hair, set craft/construction, props and continuity; while industry speakers from the Mid-West included multi award-winning Costume Designer Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh, Production Manager Noëlette Buckley, and Production Designer/Art Director Conor Dennison, Production Designer/Art Director. Other speakers included accountant Rebecca Daly, Assistant Director Hannah Quinn, gaffer James Maguire, Script Supervisor Dave Moran, and Tim Fleming, Cinematographer.

A demonstration area showcasing various skillsets within departments was also available for attendees to explore, and included sessions on VFX, Costume Construction, Costume Design: Distressing and Ageing, Modelmaking with Fab Lab Limerick; Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, Camera and Lighting.

James Hickey, Chief Executive, Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board, said: "We are delighted to see such a high turnout and interest in this event. With the development of TROY Studios in Limerick, we believe there is a major opportunity to grow film and television production activity across the Mid-West region.

"As part of the IFB's strategy announced early this year, job creation is at the core of our policy of growth for the audio-visual sector and training is a key element of this. This event has been organised with the aim of mapping current levels of skills across the region, in order to gauge the necessary training courses needed to allow people interested in working in the film and television sector to train and pick up additional skillsets.

"We are working closely with Innovate Limerick and the Education Training Boards in the region to build strong foundations for growth. Of central importance is the ability for individuals to acquire the necessary skills in order to develop freelance careers within the film and television sector, which can offer a long-term continuum of employment."

www.troystudios.ie

(JP/LM)