Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board (IFB) and FÁS have announced that the training resource for the television, film, and animation industries – Screen Training Ireland (STI), is to transfer to the IFB from February 2013. Personnel and budget will also transfer from FÁS to IFB after an agreement between the Department of Education and Skills, Heritage, Department of Arts and the Gaeltacht.

The core function of STI will remain the unit will deliver bursary awards and training courses to the audio-visual industry. Ireland’s significant film, animation, and television industry needs a highly skilled workforce. It is a fast changing industry in which Ireland has played a significant role through the years. Therefore, a dedicated resource to provide ongoing training and assessment of industry shortages is vital for continued success.

Arts Culture

Ireland has always had a thriving Arts culture and is a popular location for film shoots and television series. Some of the recent television productions made in Ireland have been global successes such as The Tudors, Camelot. The blockbuster Braveheart amongst many was also filmed on location in Ireland.

The Irish film industry has had huge growth over the last ten years and disproportionate to the size of the country and population, boasts huge film making talent. The film production sector in Ireland is estimated to be worth around €550 million with over 6,000 employees and over 560 small and medium businesses operating within the sector. Moreover, the value of Ireland’s film production and film locations is the amount of tourists that visit to experience the countryside, cities and villages they have seen in films. The tourist industry has tours devoted to films and the location tour for “The Quiet Man” remains one of the most popular.

Location route maps are available from the Irish Film Board for this purpose. In many ways while film seems like a magical realm, it offers practical career options and opportunity in an industry that is becoming even more sustainable now it has come of age.

There are many opportunities in the film and television industry and its associated offshoots with many courses available to students that love film and want to know more or those who wish to pursue a film industry career.

These various media courses are ideal also for those pursuing self improvement and self confidence with performing arts courses and the budding videographer who wants to build a career in wedding and corporate video has a wealth of film and camera courses to choose from. Film buffs will enjoy going “backstage” and learning about how a production comes to life and budding writers can hone their skills with course tailored to screenplay.

For those who wish to have a career in the broader film and television industry, a foundation course in a specialist area is the way forward to entering further education or direct to the industry.

Film Industry Courses

Many courses begin with a foundation year course and this article gives a brief overview of some that are available through Irish colleges.

Performing Arts Acting Foundation Year (Certificate award 1 year duration)
Bray Institute of Further Education – Fetac Level 5

Ideal for aspiring actors, this production-led intensive course develops imagination, self-confidence, concentration, and flexibility for students who wish to advance in performance theatre.

Masters in Interactive Media
Full time and Part time options – UCC

This course familiarises students with project management, animation technology and project work consisting of 2 and 3D animation.

FETAC Level 6 Media Production
Pulse College – 1 Year

Students will gain extensive experience while making television programmes, short films, and documentaries.

Animation Drawing Studies
Ballyfermot College of Further Education – 1 year

This inclusive foundation emphasises development of strong drawing skills with a broad course introducing animation.

Cinematography
Ballyfermot College of Further Education – 1 year

This is ideal for budding filmmakers and explores the role and function of the camera through hands on projects using 16/S16mm film cameras.

Audio Visual Media Production FETAC Level 5
Dun Laoghaire Further Education Institute – 1 year

This course offers an introduction to the industry where the necessary skills are taught so the student may follow a career in a chosen area or continue education in the media and film industry.

Shorter FETAC courses are available on the national framework of learning allowing modules to be completed at the student’s own pace building up to a major award. At present new modules are being developed for the Photography, Television and Film, Radio Broadcasting, Multi Media, Graphic Design, Performing Arts, Acting and Theatre which will serve to enhance these courses.

Whether Hollywood is your destination or you just want to be able to film family occasions professionally, a film and television course could be a rewarding choice.

Author:
Denise Colebrooke