Over 150 people attended the Waterford Institute of Technology and Nemeton TV Higher Diploma in Film graduate premiere on Thursday 21st May held in SGC Cinema, Dungarvan.

The Higher Diploma course in TV is taught between WIT and Nemeton TV in An Rinn, ”It is an important and well established link between the Institute, the Gaeltacht and industry”. Irial Mac Murchú said at the launch and pointed out that many of the graduates of the course are now working in all aspects of not only the TV industry but also in making digital videos for marketing. Nemeton itself currently employes nine graduates from the course.

The students on the Waterford Institute of Technology Post Graduate course in Television have been working very hard under the guidance of their camera, editing and directing tutors over the past few months to research, film and edit they include a variety of excellent half hour of dramas, music shows and documentaries. Many of which were filmed in Waterford and Dungarvan, others were shot in Derry, Galway, Cork, Aran Islands, and An Rinn.

The films showcased on the 21st May include a cookery programme on healthy food presented by Waterford film maker Grace O Sullivan and edited by Knockanore native Maeve Neville. Locations in the programme include the Tannery, Dungarvan, Barrons Bakery and Flahavan’s. Other films include a documentary on Inis Meáin by Clare native Ceri Garfield, an Ob Doc on Clonmel Woman’s Rugby Team presented by Jennifer Ní hOgáin. Aoife Ní Rian’s documentary features rare footage taken by her Grandfather, Sean Quinn from Waterford while working for the UN in the Middle East in the 1950’s.

The films are written, filmed and edited by the students themselves. In the past few years, emphasis on drama has led to at least two dramas being written, shot and edited on the course. Drama tutors on the course

include the Ros na Rún script editor as TG4 is well known for their dramas. This media course is a chance for new voices in drama to make a film for example;

Liadán Ní hUallacháin adapted a short story by Michéal O Conghaile for her film. While writer Gillian Grattan’s film is about the play she wrote and staged in Waterford ‘Hooked’. Kevin Pim’s has made a series on lesser known tourism sights in Co. Waterford and includes a story about an inventive Waterford woman who made hot water bottles out of parts of a World War 2 submarine! as well as a feature on the Walls of Waterford and the Viking Triangle.

The Higher Diploma is a very practical course teaching camera, editing and production, storytelling and scripting skills taught by TV professional directors, producers and WIT lecturers. As course director Bláithín says; “It is a highly regarded course in the media industry and equips students to work in both the Irish language and English language media industry as well as digital marketing. We have a very good record of graduate employment as we incorporate work experience into the course.”

One of the films, shown in last year’s graduate show went on to win first prize in the National Student Media Awards for best documentary in the Irish language and an extended one hour film was commissioned and broadcast by TG4 of the same programme. Two other films were also selected for broadcast on TG4. Students from this year’s course hope to surpass the success of previous year’s graduates with their films.

The Higher Diploma is a very practical course on camera, editing and production scripting skills taught by Irish television industry professionals, and Waterford Institute of Technology. Eight graduates of previous years of the Higher Diploma in Television are working in Nemeton TV. Others have found employment in production companies, TG4, Film and Digital Marketing companies.

For further information on re Higher Diploma course or shorter Camera and Editing courses contact the Training dept at traenáil@nemeton.ie www.wit.ie 058 46499