My Story

I took up film-making a few months ago after a lifelong career developing and leading digital transformation across Europe in both the public and private sectors. To-date, I have written a script for and produced one short film ("Ghost Boys"). I have just completed my second script - also a short - entitled "The Mezuzah".

I live in County Donegal on the Atlantic Ocean on Ireland and Europe's North West coast.

The film-making came about as a result of a course funded by Screen Ireland through their National Talent Academy for Film and Television led by Ardán in Galway, Ireland. The course was delivered by Póca Productions in County Donegal.

The 10 participants on that course, supported by Póca and Atlantic Technological University staff, have committed to work together - as the Gartan Filmakers Network - to produce at least one more film by the end of 2024.

My initial interest was in writing the stories, i.e., scriptwriting, but you need to master all aspects of film-making including directing and editing to get your films made.

As no one has any money, I have found that you need to build a network of like-minded people with various skills, including actors and lighting specialists.

I have become pretty proficient in using iMovie but need to upskill to more powerful editing tools.

I'm currently looking at the feasibility of investing in Unreal Engine, the industry standard platform for virtual production (VP). VP would seem to be a godsend for short film makers - enabling the creation of complex sets and cutting down on the cost and time involved in completing films.

My long years of experience of trans-European big-budget project development and delivery - with all the attendent skills in project management and budgeting - will be of benefit a bit further down the line.

At the moment I'm interested in exploring the impact of digitisation on human existence, the personal reality that each of us creates for ourselves and societal alienation.