| Start Date | Duration | Cost | Max Participant Numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7th April 2025 | 4 x Days | €450 | 12 |
Overview
This intensive 4 day course, run in partnership with Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, led by award-winning director Conor Morrissey, is aimed at directors with a documentary background who want to transition into the world of television drama.
Acknowledging that documentary directors already have an incredibly useful skillset the course will explore how these skills can be effectively utilized in the service of scripted drama.
Working closely with each of the participants the course will explore how their original voices as documentary directors can be channeled into effective drama storytelling. Drawing on Conor Morrissey’s extensive experience of working in both forms the course will explore a practical methodology of drama direction that effectively captures the immediacy of documentary film making.
Learning Outcomes:
- Understand the Drama Production Process: Break down the drama production process into its constituent parts and explore how a documentary aesthetic can enhance each part.
- Create Realistic Story Worlds: Learn to effectively create story worlds that draw on the complexity of real life.
- Energize Set Pieces and Action Sequences: Discover how a documentary aesthetic can invigorate set pieces and action sequences.
- Collaborate with Actors: Deep dive into collaboration with actors to create performances that feel fresh and alive.
- Practical Filmmaking Skills: Gain hands-on experience by shooting a scripted scene that combines documentary storytelling skills with the demands of scripted production, using professional camera personnel and actors.
- Career Management: Receive instruction on career management and the necessary steps to transition between documentary and drama.
- Enhance Documentary Directing Skills: Acquire a series of effective tools to enhance work as documentary directors and open up new possibilities in scripted drama.
Participant profile/Who can apply/Eligibility
Applicants will need to have previous professional experience directing documentaries with a minimum of three years experience. .
This is not an entry level course.
All enquiries should be directed to frankeaveney@furthr.ie
Tutor information
Conor is a graduate of the National Film School at IADT with over twenty years’ experience in the industry as both a drama and documentary director. Documentary credits include ‘MacIntyre’s Underworld’, ‘Generation F’d’, ‘Breaking Crime’ as well as IFTA winners ‘The Only Viking In The Village’ and ‘Hell Week’. For the last decade he has worked predominantly in drama. Credits include 14 episodes of ‘Red Rock’ for Virgin Media, 50 episodes of ‘EastEnders’ for BBC Studios. In the last 2 years he has directed 8 episodes of ‘Casualty’ for BBC1 and has recently wrapped on the opening episodes of the new season. He is currently developing the feature film ‘Without Love’ written by Booker Prize winner Paul Lynch.
Venue/location
Costs/fee
Course fee €450 per person. (Without support this workshop would cost €890 per person)
Deadline for Applications:
Tuesday 18th March at 12 noon
Dates and times of the course
Monday 7th to Thursday 10th March – 10.00 to 17.30 each day.
Due to our funding, this course is only available to those resident in the Republic Of Ireland.
For any queries, please contact frankeaveney@furthr.ie
Please apply below and if successful, we will be in touch with a payment link.