With the CAO deadline looming (February 1st), IFTN has scoured some of the film and television courses Ireland has to offer for prospective students.
Here, we talk to Catherine Murray from St John’s Central College in Cork about what her college has to offer.
What film and television courses do St John’s have in the CAO?
St Johns Central College in Cork is a vocational college that does both level 5, Film, TV and digital video and level 6 Advanced Film program. Students who successfully complete level 6 can progress to a do a final year degree in Sunderland University in Britain.
What do you think makes St John’s unique for prospective students?
The course is unique in many respects.
A. It is the only course in Ireland that students can study film alongside TV broadcasting as St Johns has a fully equipped TV studio and also state of the art digital film cameras.
B. The College is located in the city centre with easy access to many locations.
C. It is one of the few (if not the only vocational college) that delivers a module in set design and art direction as there is a huge emphasis also on creativity and visual story telling.
D Every student gets the opportunity to direct a short film.
E. On the two year program, students get to do a wide range of subjects from Directing, Documentary, Studio and location sound production, production management, editing, scriptwriting, cinematography, photography, TV and film production etc.
F. St Johns staff were the lead in the creation of the level 6 film program that the rest of the Irish vocational colleges now follow.
G. Quite a number of students have succeeded in progressing to the National Television School in Britain.
H. The college is small and subsequently students get plenty of 'one to one' attention.
How do you prepare students for working in the industry?
The college is located in close proximity to RTE Cork with whom they have a close working relationship. RTE often provides visiting lecturers, work experience/mentoring, studio visits etc.
There is an emphasis on learning through practical 'hands on' experience and it has a progressive work experience program. Many students have completed international work placements. The work experience is often real live projects where students get to be the creative and technical leads.
Notable Alumni?
Kevin Lehane who wrote the feature film Grabbers, Sara Taddei who was the production designer for the NFS animation film production MANoMAN that has been nominated for a Bafta, Brian O Glanby and Petr Stach who went onto Sunderland University and whose film Gently down the stream was nominated for an RTS award. Ed Godsel (The Road to Moneygall), Chris Cullen( Epic Productions, Dr Liz Greene) to name but a few.
For more information on St John’s Central College in Cork, click here.
