#159 Alan Duggan & Gar O'Brien-Collins - Garry Talks: Film

In this episode of "Garry Talks Film", Gar O’Brien-Collins, Executive of the WRAP Fund, and Alan Duggan, CEO of Ardán, discuss the evolving screen industry in the West of Ireland, focusing on talent development, regional funding, and the challenges of sustaining local Film, TV, Animation and Gaming production. They explore the impact of initiatives like the WRAP Fund and Screen West, the importance of mentorship, and the need for improved infrastructure. The conversation highlights the resilience of regional creatives, the value of local stories with global appeal, and ongoing efforts to decentralise the industry beyond Dublin and Wicklow.   - Support this podcast by joining our tribe today at www.GarryTalks.com - Please follow Garry Talks on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.  Please follow GKMedia.ie on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.  Most importantly – please subscribe to this Podcast. Introduction & Focus on Talent Development (00:00:00) Overview of the episode’s focus on talent development in the West of Ireland’s screen industry. Podcast Introduction & Guest Backgrounds (00:00:16) Host introduces guests Gar O’Brien-Collins and Alan Duggan, and outlines the episode’s themes. Local Films, Global Audience (00:00:40) Discussion on the importance of local films with international appeal. Podcast Sponsorships & Network (00:00:51) Acknowledgement of podcast supporters and the GK Media Studios Creators Network. Alan Duggan’s Entry into Galway Film Centre (00:01:39) Alan’s background, joining Galway Film Centre in 2018, and the industry’s evolution. Shift in Funding Sources (00:02:25) Transition from Arts Council to Screen Ireland as main funder, and challenges faced. Gaming Industry in Galway (00:03:45) Early recognition of gaming as part of the creative sector and its growth in Galway. Challenges in Games Funding (00:04:26) Lack of funding for games, cultural perceptions, and recent changes in industry support. Music & Games Industry Crossover (00:05:28) Discussion on composers working in games and the cinematic quality of game scores. Alan’s Path in Galway Film Scene (00:06:02) Alan’s journey from volunteering at Galway Film Fleadh to programming and industry insights. Growth of Irish Film & TV (00:07:42) Exponential growth in Irish film, international reach, and key turning points. Success Factors for Producers (00:09:37) Hard work, risk, and support as keys to producers’ survival and success. Producer Resilience & Funding Challenges (00:10:29) The unseen work of producers, high rejection rates, and the need for resilience. Discretionary Funding & Rejection (00:11:53) The discretionary nature of funding, comparison to actors’ rejection, and the need for thick skin. Time Investment & Producer Attrition (00:13:03) Importance of quick feedback for producers and the high attrition rate in project development. Creative Masochism & Motivation (00:14:12) Why creatives persist despite challenges—love for the work and “creative masochism.” Producer Creativity & Career Choices (00:15:39) Producers as creatives, career pivots, and the drive to do meaningful work. Ardán’s Expansion & Talent Development (00:16:54) Growth of Ardán, focus on talent development, and new initiatives like the National Talent Academy. Financial Sustainability & Pathways (00:18:22) Challenges in funding organisational operations and creating clear pathways for filmmakers. Scheme Structure & Administration (00:20:17) Efforts to include administration fees in schemes to support organisational sustainability. Collaborative Industry Culture (00:20:53) The collaborative nature of the industry and Ardán’s approach to supporting others. EDI & Regional Inclusion (00:21:33) Efforts to support equality, diversity, and inclusion, especially for underrepresented communities. Regional Definition & Funding Specifics (00:22:30) Clarification of what counts as “regional” and the specifics of WRAP funding. Summits & Industry Events (00:23:05) Growth and impact of TV and games summits, and their role in networking and knowledge sharing. Networking & Industry Relationships (00:24:13) Importance of summits for peer networking and building industry relationships. Safe Spaces & Industry Openness (00:27:17) Creating safe spaces for open discussion and the national significance of the TV summit. From Pitch to Production: Obituary Case Study (00:28:16) How a project evolved from a pitch to an international co-production, illustrating industry pathways. City of Film & Ground-Level Impact (00:30:15) UNESCO City of Film designation and its benefits for local filmmakers. EDI in Practice & Accessibility (00:30:52) Practical steps taken to make events inclusive and accessible for all. Privilege, Empathy & Role Models (00:31:11) Recognising privilege, the importance of empathy, and the need for visible role models. Language, Criteria & Inclusion (00:33:49) How language in calls and criteria can impact inclusivity and participation. Iterative Process & Accessibility Costs (00:34:49) Continuous improvement in accessibility and the high costs of inclusion measures. Global Trends & Regional Funding (00:35:20) Contrasts between global trends in diversity and Ireland’s approach; importance of US funding. WRAP Fund & Commission Structure (00:36:27) Explanation of the WRAP Fund and Commission, their origins, and regional focus. Regional Production Challenges (00:37:44) Barriers to regional production, including travel costs and crew availability. Economic Impact of Regional Production (00:39:23) Economic challenges for regional crew and the impact of production on local economies. Regional Uplift & Funding Incentives (00:39:54) The effect of regional tax incentives on production spend and activity. WRAP’s Impact & Return on Investment (00:41:39) WRAP’s achievements, return on investment, and the importance of ongoing activity. Crew Retention & Ongoing Activity (00:44:09) Need for continuous production to retain crew and build regional capacity. Breaking Industry Inertia (00:47:13) Challenges of industry centralisation in Dublin/Wicklow and the need for intentional regional support. Studio Infrastructure & Production Types (00:49:24) Limitations in studio space and the types of productions suited to regions. Local Economic Benefits & Community Impact (00:51:15) How productions support local businesses and communities, with Donegal as an example. Persistence & Industry Evolution (00:52:27) The need for persistence in industry support and the ongoing nature of regional challenges. Western AV Forum & Lobbying (00:53:39) Role of the Western AV Forum in lobbying for regional funding and industry support. Regional Uplift vs. Discretionary Funding (00:55:00) Why automatic, agnostic funding (regional uplift) is crucial compared to limited discretionary funds. Forum Membership & Industry Voices (00:57:07) Diversity of voices in the Western AV Forum and the importance of collective advocacy. Policy, Legislation & State Aid (00:59:03) Complexities of changing policy, legislation, and state aid for regional incentives. Learning & Adapting Advocacy (01:00:36) Continuous learning in advocacy, adapting to new state aid maps and policy changes. Collaboration with Industry Bodies (01:02:11) Working with industry groups and producers to strengthen regional advocacy. Industry Complexity & Communication (01:18:12) The complexity of the industry and the need for clear communication with stakeholders. Screen West & Crew/Location Database (01:11:22) Development of Screen West as a crew and location database to support regional production. Mentorship & Peer Support (01:13:02) Mentorship programs and peer-to-peer learning to support emerging filmmakers. Market Access & Practical Support (01:15:43) Support for attending markets and practical help for filmmakers to access industry opportunities. Super Scout & Location Management (01:16:29) Introduction of Super Scout for improved location management and database usability. Maintaining Relationships & Industry Jigsaw (01:17:49) Importance of maintaining relationships and managing the many moving parts of the regional industry. Upcoming Productions & Infrastructure (01:19:29) Discussion of potential upcoming productions and the impact of new studio infrastructure. Returnable Series & Regional Sustainability (01:20:50) The importance of returnable series for sustaining regional industry and community. Scrappers & Success Stories (01:21:26) Celebrating the resilience of filmmakers who succeed against the odds. Conclusion & Acknowledgements (01:22:18) Closing remarks, gratitude for industry support, and encouragement to engage with regional initiatives.