The first episode of ‘The Great Guide to the Future’ will air on TV3 this coming Saturday, 8th July, at 5pm. I wrote and directed this globetrotting series for Tile Films. Over the course of six episodes the award winning journalist Jonathan McCrea explores the incredible world of science and nature, meeting remarkable people in extraordinary locations along the way. The first episode looks at the future of energy. Some argue that nuclear power needs to be embraced if we’re to minimise the impact of global warming. Jonathan goes in search of the facts. He visits Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, and a place outside Oxford, England where scientists are pursuing the holy grail of energy production – clean, cheap and limitles energy by creating minature suns on earth.

Interior of JET Tokamak, Culham Centre of Fusion Energy

It was wonderful to hear our keynote speaker, Lone Scherfig, talk about her career last night. A particularly memorable moment was her anecdote about Paul Greengrass. Whenever she was having creative/budget issues with her producer on ‘Their Finest’ she would say something along the lines of – ‘If I was Paul Greengrass we wouldn’t be having this conversation’. It was said of course in jest. When the film was released she got a surprise email from a total stranger, none other than Paul Greengrass. He loved the film! It was heart warming to hear one great director reach out to another to congratulate them on their work. I’m still waiting for that email Paul. 😉 An excellent and revealing interview by Dearbhla Walsh.

Lone Scherfig

A great deal of thanks needs to be given to our outgoing Chairman, Ciaran Donnelly, for all his work over the past eight years in promoting our cause. I hope his recent meetings with Dee Forbes, the Director General of RTE, does lead to a transformation in the way the broadcaster engages with directors, and other talent for that matter. Time will tell.

The role of Chairman has now passed on to Maurice Sweeney. The SDGI manifesto for the year ahead is ambitious. I wish him, the other board members and Birch Hamilton, our resilient and ebullient Executive Director, the best of luck in the year ahead.

Finally, I’d like to extend my deepest gratitude to the volunteers who give freely of their time to assist Birch in administering our Guild.

Here are a few samples of my work produced in recent years that illustrate my directing, writing and occasional producing skills.

Thanks to all who attended yesterday’s screening of ‘Revolution in Colour’ at the Irish Film Institute. The round of applause at the end was totally unexpected, but warmly received.

The IRA walking down Graton Street, Dublin in April 1922.

I’m delighted to announce ‘Revolution in Colour’ will be screened in the Irish Film Institute on Easter Monday, the 17th April. All proceeds will go to the Irish Film Archive for the preservation of our country’s film heritage.

Eamon de Valera outside Ennis Court House, 1917

Information on the IFI screening.

A Master of the written word meets a Master of the stage.

I was privileged to witness one of the great stage performances at the Gate Theatre last night.

Nice plug for ‘The Great Guide to the Future’.

The first episode of ‘The Great Guide to the Future’ will air on Be3 at 7pm on the 26th February. Produced by Tile Films and presented by Jonathan McCrea this new series explores the incredible world of science and nature, meeting remarkable people in extraordinary locations along the way. The first episode looks at the future of energy. Some argue that nuclear power needs to be embraced if we’re to minimise the impact of global warming. Jonathan goes in search of the facts. He visits Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster, and a place outside Oxford, England where scientists are pursuing the holy grail of energy production – clean, cheap and limitles energy by creating minature suns on earth.

Tourist bus in the evacuated town of Pripyat outside Cherbobyl

Article on IFTN:

The Great Guide to the Future

On Rostrevor beach in 2010 during the filming of Seirbhíseach an Stáit (Servant of the State)

I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

                         (The Lake Isle of Innisfree - W.B. Yeats)