Tricks of the trade for wannabe actors at Schull's film festival

CASTING director Maureen Hughes and film director Jim Sheridan will both be revealing tricks of the trade at this year’s Fastnet Film Festival in Schull.

Maureen, a well-respected casting expert, will run a two-day casting workshop on self-taping techniques at the festival, which runs from Wednesday May 25th to Sunday 29th. Maureen will also join director Jim Sheridan, in an ‘In Conversation With’ segment of the festival, entitled ‘Direction to Casting’.

Self-taping is fast becoming an essential tool in the actor’s canon and the aim of Maureen’s workshop will be to develop the actor’s skills in mastering the technique. It will benefit those hoping to audition for productions, both here and outside of Ireland. 

Over the past twenty years, Maureen has worked with emerging writers and directors including Martin McDonagh Garry Hynes, John Carney, Jim Sheridan and more.  

Her work on Irish television is marked by a five-year season of Love Hate, Raw, Charlie, Clean Break and, most recently, Rebellion. 

She has also worked on This Must Be the Place with Sean Penn, and on 1000 Times Good Night with Juliette Minoche. She is currently co-casting Dawn which shoots in Ireland in early May.

Maureen currently runs, with her partner Shimmy Marcus, the Bow Street Academy for Screen Acting in Dublin. Mentors include Gerry Grennell, Jim Sheridan and Cork actress Fiona Shaw. 

The workshop is aimed at both emerging and more experienced actors aged 15 years and over. During the two days the actors will shoot one-to-one auditions with direction and critique from Maureen. 

They will also view their work on a cinema screen with evaluation. Other topics will include framing, sound, lighting, performance, packaging, and delivery.

To book one of the limited places on the workshop, which costs €100, apply online at www.fastnetfilmfestival.com