Tragic passing of Irish Art Director & Set Designer Tim Devine

Our friend and fellow Art Dept colleague Tim Devine died suddenly in London on Saturday 14th January 2023.

Thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time and in addition to his extended film family in Ireland, the UK and around the world. A shining star has been taken from us way too soon. Tim was a wonderful man, fun loving and a joy to work with, he will be sorely missed in the industry as well as his wider community.

A requiem mass for Timothy Devine will take place on Sunday 29th of January at 3pm, in The Church of the Holy Family, Duniry in Galway. Burial will take place immediately afterwards in Duniry New Cemetery, with reposing this Saturday evening 28th January at St. Ignatius Funeral Home, Duniry from 4 - 7pm. Family have asked not to send flowers but if you would like to make a contribution to Cope Galway on Tim’s behalf donations are welcome at https://www.copegalway.ie/.

Irish film featured big in this year's Oscars nominations

As the 2023 Oscar Nomination Announcement event came to a close yesterday afternoon, Ireland had hauled a record breaking 14 nominations across 10 categories. Those categories include first time nominations for Kerry Condon in Best Supporting Actress, Colin Farrell and Paul Mescal (Aftersun) in Best Actor and both Brendan Gleeson and Barry Keoghan in Best Supporting Actor .

Cast of The Banshees of Inisherin at the Golden Globes 2023.

Though The Banshees of Inisherin has been nominated for a whopping 9 awards, including Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay and Best Director for Martin McDonagh, one of the highlights of the announcements was the nomination for An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl) in Best International Feature Film. This gorgeous film, directed by Colm Bairéad and adapted from Claire Keegan’s short story, marks the first Irish language to be nominated for an Oscar.

L: An Cailín Ciúin starring Catherine Clinch & Carrie Crowley; R: Aftersun with Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio

A huge congratulations to all nominees, as well as the hardworking cast and crew that worked on each production, including Northern Irish short film An Irish Goodbye which is nominated for Best Live-Action Short. Good luck to all - the awards ceremony will be take place on Sunday March 12th 2023.

James Martin (L) and Seamus O’Hara (R) in a still from short film An Irish Goodbye.

Upcoming Training Courses Jan 2023

Here are some of the upcoming Screen Skills training courses run by National Talent Academies in association with Screen Ireland:

Hand drafting for film & tv

Duration: 5 days (Beginners: 7th - 11th Feb, Intermediate: 13th - 17th Feb)

Suitable for art department assistants/trainees or assistant art directors looking to improve their skills.

Location: Dublin

The course is free, for more info or to express interest visit here.

vectorworks - intermediate

Duration: 3hr x 2 days (Fri 3rd and Sat 4th Feb)

This is an intermediate level course, focusing mostly on the use of 3D tools as well viewports, rendering and exporting. Not suitable for beginners.

Location: Online

The course is free, apply now here.

Excel for the screen sector

Duration: 1 day (Beginners: Wed 8th Feb, Intermediate: Wed 22nd Feb)

This course is for any person working within the industry who wants to make the most of Excel and is focused on structuring live-action productions within Film & TV. Excel is a great organising tool for all areas of art department.

Location: Online

The course is free, apply now here.

Make sure to follow ADGI and Screen Ireland on Instagram to keep up to date with all upcoming training opportunities.

The Banshees of Inisherin win big at Golden Globes 2023

A huge congratulations to the cast and crew involved in The Banshees of Inisherin (2022) who came home with three Golden Globe awards after last night’s 2023 ceremony in Los Angeles.

Nominated for 7 awards, including Best Supporting Actor and Actress for Barry Keoghan and Kerry Condon, Best Original Score and Best Director, Banshees won Best Film (Musical or Comedy), Best Screenplay as well as Best Actor for Colin Farrell. You can watch his heartfelt acceptance speech here.

Filmed on Inis Mór and Achill Island in 2021, Banshees was designed by Mark Tildesley, with art direction from Tim Devine and Christine Fitzgerald and set decoration by Michael Standish.

Disenchanted now available to watch on Disney+

Disney’s latest live action film Disenchanted is available to watch on Disney+ from November 18th 2022. Disenchanted is the sequel to the popular 2007 film Enchanted, starring Amy Adams, Patrick Demspey and Susan Sarandon. Adams and Dempsey both return alongside James Marsden and Idina Menzel with Maya Rudolph joining the star studded cast.

The majority of Disenchanted was filmed in Ireland, primarily in Co. Wicklow, in early 2021 with hundreds of Irish crew involved in production. The art department transformed the small town of Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, to create the world of Disenchanted, creating fairytale streets and shop fronts in the already idyllic town as well as transforming a house in Greystones into the beautiful pink country house seen in the trailer.

Check out our Instagram to see and learn more about the art department processes involved in creating a Disney fairyland, as well as highlights from some key art department members who worked on this production. Congratulations to all crew involved!

[All images sourced from IMDB]

Production Design: Dan Hennah

Supervising Art Directors: Shane McEnroe, Gary McGinty

Art Directors: Til Frohlich, Aisling O'Callaghan, Robbert Barrett

Standby Art Director: Aoife Murray

Set Decoration: Jack Connelly, Jenny Oman

Prop Master: Dermot Blighe

Lead Graphic Designer: Fiona Cooney

Additional graphics: Gary Cagney, Erin Hermosa, Judith Hynes, Pilar Valencia, Louise Smith

Draughtspersons/Set Design: Gillian Jonker, Mary Pike, Caoimhe McGuane, Reina Leyva,

Drafting for Film & Television - Monday, May 13th, 2019

Drafting for Film & Television

Tutors: Anna Rackard, Production Designer

Date: Monday, May 13th, 2019

Duration: 5 days

Venue: Troy Studios, Limerick

Cost: €400

Course Profile:

Screen Skills Ireland in partnership with Screen Skillnet and in collaboration with Troy Studios are seeking participants for a Beginner/Intermediate Drafting Course.

All coursework is done in pencil. This course will focus on drawing a studio set.

The course will cover the following:

DAY 1

• An introduction to the principles of scale and dimensioning.

• An introduction to the use of drafting equipment.

• The basics of surveying.

• Practical exercise in surveying

• Setting up a drawing, choosing a scale and drawing up a survey plan.

DAY 2

• Short exercise on the principles of drafting geometry

• Discussion on line weight, & using texture to indicate set finishes.

• Setting up new drawing, choosing a scale and starting plans/elevations of a new set.

• Short slideshow using an example of a set to demonstrates how the design process works from preliminary concepts, choosing a location, creating construction drawings and building the final set.

DAYS 3 – 5

• Students new to drafting continue with another survey exercise.

• Intermediate students begin drawing up of a set to either a location build or a simple studio set.

• Carry on with drawing up of set or survey over the 3 days

• Overview of drawing presentation, dimensioning, style, texturing, titles and lettering etc.

• Introduction to doors and windows and other important details.

• Practical experience of measuring a door or window.

• Introduction to mouldings & using a moulding chart.

• Introduction to use/need for backing flats, painted backing/translights.

• Review of drawings, Q&A based on participants’ questions.

Anna Rackard, Production Designer

Anna Rackard is a production designer who has designed numerous feature films and TV dramas including: Greta,  Love & Friendship, Stella Days and Ondine. She has been awarded two IFTAs, for Stella Days and Ondine. She has also art directed on films such as Haywire, King Arthur, Ella Enchanted and The Butcher Boy, She has been a draftsperson on numerous productions, learning from designers such as Norman Garwood, Tony Pratt and Brian Ackland Snow. Having completed 3 years of architecture before completing her design degree at Dun Laoghaire College of Art & Design, her architectural skills became a fundamental asset when it came to designing for film. She has been teaching drafting with Screen Training Ireland and Galway Film Centre since 2004.

Participant Profile:

This programme is aimed at trainees, trainee drafts people and assistant art directors who have a basic knowledge of drafting, but limited practical experience and wish to bring their drafting skills to a more advanced level.  This includes participants who have already completed the Foundation Drafting Course and others who have basic drafting and/or surveying skills.

All coursework is done in pencil. This course will focus on surveying and drawing a studio set.

Application Procedure:

Please apply online at www.screenskillsireland.ie by 12 noon on Friday 26th April, 2019. For further information, please email fran.keaveney@screenskillsireland.ie.

You need to be logged in or registered to apply for a course. Click here Login/Register

The Irish Society of Stage and Screen Designers presents the "Projections" Conference in the Peacock Theatre, Dublin on Thurs. 16 Nov.'17

Exploring the futures of design for stage and screen

A one-day conference at The Peacock Theatre
26/27 Abbey Street Lower Dublin 1
Thursday 16th November 2017, 09:30-17:00

Booking at the Abbey Theatre Box Office
+353 1 87 87 222 - boxoffice@abbeytheatre.ie

www.abbeytheatre.ie

ISSSD Professional Members: €10.00
ISSSD Student, Graduate & Associate Members: €15.00
Non Members: €30.00
ISSSD Membership + Conference: €60.00*

More info here

Full details of this event will be published shortly

Syfy channel making George R.R. Martin’s ‘Nightflyers’ in Troy Studios Limerick

 

George R.R. Martin’s “Nightflyers” is nearing a series order at Syfy, Variety has confirmed with sources.

Based on Martin’s novella of the same name, the story follows eight maverick scientists and a powerful telepath who embark on an expedition to the edge of our solar system in the hopes of contacting alien life. They travel aboard The Nightflyer – a ship with a small tightknit crew and a reclusive captain. But when terrifying and violent events begin to take place they start to question each other, and surviving the journey proves harder than anyone thought. The network revealed they were developing the novella as a seriesback in May. It was previously adapted into the 1987 film of the same name.

Syfy declined to comment.

From Universal Cable Productions, “Nightflyers” will be executive produced by Gene Klein, David Bartis, and Doug Liman of Hypnotic. Jeff Buhler will write the script and also executive produce along with Alison Rosenzweig and Michael Gaeta of Gaeta Rosenzweig Films. Lloyd Ivan Miller and Alice P. Neuhauser of Lloyd Ivan Miller Productions will also executive produce with Robert Jaffe producing.

Martin will not be involved with the series, as he is working on finishing “The Winds of Winter,” the sixth installment in his “Song of Ice and Fire” book series, which serve as the basis for HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

via - Variety

Troy Studio Limerick

“Vikings” has been renewed for Season 6

“Vikings” has been renewed for Season 6 at History before the show’s fifth season has even premiered, the network announced Tuesday.

History has ordered a 20 episode sixth season of the drama series, with production slated to begin this fall in Ireland. The first half of Season 5 will premiere on Nov. 29, with the second half airing in 2018. In addition, series regular Katheryn Winnick will make her directorial debut in Season 6, helming one episode.

The Season 5 cast includes series regulars Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who joined this season as Bishop Heahmund, along with Winnick, Gustaf Skarsgård, Alexander Ludwig, Alex Høgh Andersen, Jordan Smith and Marco Ilso.

Michael Hirst created the series and also serves as its sole writer and executive producer. Morgan O’Sullivan of World 2000, Sheila Hockin, John Weber of Take 5 Productions, Sherry Marsh, Alan Gasmer, and James Flynn  also serve as executive producers. Arturo Interian serves as the executive in charge of production for History. “Vikings” is an international Irish/Canadian co-production by World 2000 and Take 5 Productions. MGM Television serves as the worldwide distributor outside of Ireland and Canada. “Vikings” is produced in association with Corus Entertainment.

“It has been my pleasure and my privilege to work with History and our partner MGM over five seasons and 69 episodes of ‘Vikings.’ Now we are ready to begin production of a 20 episode season six that will deliver a huge and unexpected revelation to our audience,” said Hirst. “There are many reasons why I love this show, not least for the commitment and creativity of everyone involved in making it, but perhaps even more important is the spirit that drives this production – one of the happiest, most collaborative and most authentic productions I have ever been involved with. And so we sail on.”

Across all platforms, Season 4 of “Vikings” averaged 7.8 million viewers per episode. It is also a top-five drama across ad supported cable and averaged 4.1 million total viewers last season in Live+7.

“‘Vikings’ has creatively sailed to monumental lengths. The series has evolved from early raids in England, to the heart-stopping death of Ragnar Lothbrok, to the fierce battles of the Great Heathen Army, and now we’ll see the sons of Ragnar exploring and conquering the known world,” said Eli Lehrer, executive vice president of programming for History. “Michael Hirst has only scratched the surface of his epic saga. We look forward to continuing our partnership with one of the greatest writers in this era of Peak TV and entertaining our viewers with 40 new episodes over the next two seasons.”

(Pictured: Katheryn Winnick)

via - Variety

Dublin Bay Studios Promoters Alan Moloney & James Morris Endorsed by Dublin City Council for 'Visionary' Project

The self-financed project which has been in motion for six years is driven by Parallel Films producer Moloney and Windmill Lane Studios founder Morris, and received cross-party endorsement at a special council meeting on the Poolbeg West Strategic Development Zone.

The site for the proposed studio is Block B2 on the Poolbeg West SDZ, which, if repurposed, could accommodate over 180,000 square foot of studio space and create 4,600 direct and indirect jobs.

On 18 acres and with 8 sound stages and 5 acres of backlot, Dublin Bay Studios would be Ireland's largest and only full service film, TV and digital content Studios.

The plans have injected a sense of urgency to respond to the lack of infrastructures in place for large-scale domestic and international productions; the peninsula for instance, is a mere 2km east of O’Connell Bridge.

They also come at a time when the future of Ardmore Studios in Co. Wicklow remains uncertain, as despite an annual spend upwards of €70M in Co. Wicklow, it may be used for much-needed residential housing in the area.

Alan Moloney & James Morris: 
“We are delighted by the resounding, cross-party endorsement articulated by Dublin City Councillors for Dublin Bay Studios tonight [Thursday, May 18th] at the special council meeting on the Poolbeg West SDZ.

“To hear the councillors describe the Studios project as ‘visionary’, ‘unique’ and ‘special’ as they passed motions in favour of the Studios’ establishment on Block B2 of the Poolbeg West SDZ, is hugely encouraging. We passionately believe that the development of Studios at this location would be a catalyst for regeneration in Dublin’s inner city and for growth in the creative industries, creating thousands of jobs and putting Ireland on the map internationally for film, TV and digital content production. The overwhelming support articulated by councillors tonight and also by the public through the public consultation process, is evidence of huge opportunity that the Studios present.

“We are very committed to delivering on this ambition and we will continue to work constructively with Dublin City Council and Dublin Port Company to make it a reality.”

VIA IFTN