There was good news this week for students of the WIT Post Graduate Higher Diploma in TV and Digital Media as TG4 commissioning editors have given their commitment to air a number of the end of year projects during their autumn schedule.
This is career making news for the recent graduates who recently completed one of the most highly regarded film making Post Graduate course in the country at Waterford Institute of Technology, in association with Nemeton TV, one Ireland’s leading production companies, and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
The WIT students continue to make their mark with the national broadcaster, as to date over 40 films from the course have been broadcast.
Applications for next year’s course are open with places limited to 14 for 2017. No prior experience is necessary and the standard of learning is at the highest level in the country. In fact, films produced on the course have gone on to win Best Irish Language documentary at the National Student Media Awards in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
According to course leader, Bláithín Ní Chatháin, the support of TG4 will be instrumental in the students securing employment within the industry. “The Higher Diploma teaches production and camera work, editing and scripting skills as Gaeilge and the varied nature of the course ensures graduates are very well equipped to enter the Irish television industry in a number of positions.
“The course is taught by lecturers from WIT, as well as producers and directors who are actively working with TG4, RTÉ, BBC and TV3. The practical advice and experience they lend to the course gives students a unique insight into the competitive media industry and through their contacts, many of our past graduates have gone on to work with TG4, BBC, Setanta, RTÉ and Nemeton TV.”
While television production is a core subject on the course, so too is film, WebTV, digital marketing video production and PR. The audio visual industry in Ireland is at a very healthy level with €500m annually being spent on productions such as Star Wars, Vikings and Game of Thrones, Ros na Rún and An Klondike, so employment prospects for the right candidates are high.
Throughout the course students heard from many guest speakers and former graduates who are actively working on these productions and others, including EastEnders’ spin-off, Redwater, which is currently being filmed in Dunmore East.
Students who have just completed the course gained valuable, practical work experience on many live Rugby and GAA games for TG4, enjoyed two weeks working on a 10-part TG4 studio show filmed in RTÉ, as well as working on the Live TG4 Music Award show Gradam Ceoil. Other students worked as runners on the live RTÉ show, The Farm and more recently students filmed and edited all the online video content daily during the Celtic Media Festival, under the direction of RTÉ Head of Communications Joseph Hoban.
Applications for next year’s course are open with places limited to 14 for 2017. To apply or for further information see www.wit.ie or email traenáil@nemeton.ie.