#24: Beyond the pitch: Rethinking training for film producer success. A talk with Niall O'Leary (Munster Technological University, Ireland)

In this episode of the ScreenME Podcast, host Ulrike Rohn speaks with Niall O’Leary from the Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence at Munster Technological University, Ireland. Together, they dive into how evidence-based entrepreneurship research can reshape training for film producers, drawing from the CresCine project that aims at understanding and enhancing the international competitiveness of the European film industry. Niall reflects on his work across diverse industries—from farmers to musicians to screen media professionals—and shares powerful insights about what kinds of training actually work. This episode challenges assumptions about industry-specific education and makes the case for generalizable, evidence-backed methodologies that could significantly boost producer success rates. Key Quotes:"A lot of current producer training is focused on how to pitch, how to market—but what we asked was: should you produce this film at all?""We’re discussing with producers not just what to do, but also what not to do. That’s a cognitive shift that training rarely addresses.""The strongest evidence shows that identifying clear goals, testing assumptions, and aligning day-to-day actions with long-term strategy significantly increases entrepreneurial success.""It's not about replacing creativity with business logic—it's about giving creators the strategic clarity to thrive."Further Info / Calls to Action:Want to get involved in future training sessions or learn more? Sign up https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/4xPtUeUuiL.Contact Dr. Niall O’Leary if you can support randomized trials in film training.Learn more about the CresCine project and how it's shaping a more competitive, inclusive European film ecosystem: www.crescine.euKeywords:Evidence-based training, entrepreneurial methods, film producer education, randomized control trials, goal setting, strategy alignment, cognitive load, lean startup, general vs. niche training, CresCine project, innovation in film industry, creative entrepreneurshipHost: Ulrike RohnSound: Tanel Kadalipp (episode 1-14), Sangam Panta (episode 15 -https://bfmentrepreneurhub.tlu.ee/screenme-podcast/