Dominic McDowall

A short AI / personal collaboration, founded on exploring memories of growing up in Ireland during 'The Troubles' in the 1970's. It has developed into more of a global message & to be honest, it somewhat scares me. Stay tuned 👀 ☘️ 🎥 #aiartcommunity #aifilmmaking #aiadvertising

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Opportunities for budding screenwriters in the U.K./Ireland: the Channel 4 screenwriting course is now open for applications. “The purpose of the course is to offer 12 writers new to television drama an insight into how the industry works and to provide a “dry-run” of what it can be like to write under a television drama commission, specifically for one hour series and serial drama, and to work with them as they write an original drama script.” More in link below. #screenwriting #training #ukfilm (I have no affiliation to the program, just sharing information.) https://lnkd.in/d4NMVc8H

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Such an opportunity

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Did my ears deceive me… or did someone say that audio is making a comeback?! Recent research shows that audio advertising is making a comeback. Radiocentre Ireland, in partnership with research company Colourtext, has released a new study, CampaignFX, one of the largest analyses of audio advertising effectiveness ever undertaken in Ireland. It involves 3,750 individual interviews covering 31 brands across five key product categories. The meta-analysis reveals significant findings on how audio advertising drives brand performance. Notably, audio advertising results in a 26% uplift in ad awareness, making consumers more familiar with the advertised brands. It also enhances brand likeability nearly nine times and boosts brand trust by 72%. Ciaran Cunningham, CEO of Radiocentre Ireland, highlighted the importance of this research, stating, “This is a very significant piece of research work, and the results show, in a very compelling way, the role audio plays in driving business results for advertisers.” Do you reckon it’s here to stay?

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33% flat rate rebate on all above and below the line + diverse scenaries & backgrounds + a very professional and experienced crew + reasonable competative pricing. Ireland is booming ..again in terms of attracting all sorts of films and series. How can the alternative filming locations in GCC compete and succeed in appealing to US and European projects?The truth is that these aspiring media zones are doing a lot to try and build local ecosystems, world class infrastructures and also generous incentives but in the global ecosystem that has so many alternatives some of which well established like Ireland, there might be a need to do more than the others: 1- equity investment in production projects and gap financing. 2- support/ encourage/ finance extensively the local productions as they are the bread and butter of the ecosystem. 3- encourage financing and building up competition in the regional market in terms of platforms in order to encourage the demand. Economy 101 is: a- supply and demand and b- competition of market players. Both are not balanced, not very rational and definitely will benefit in growing beyond their existing frameworks. #filmproductions #rebates #Media #Mediazones #growth #MENA #films https://lnkd.in/dHRibj3Y

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All of the things that make working in the creative sector so fulfilling; the variety, the collaboration, the autonomy, the chance to make something and express your creativity, all come with challenges of their own too. Minding Creative Minds exist to help creatives navigate those challenges, whenever they arise. I've been blessed to be able work with Minding Creative Minds to deliver career support in both training and coaching to creatives right across the sector. When people say to me that creative careers have always been tough and that won't ever change, I point them towards the work of MCM. Wether you're finding or re-finding your place as a creative MCM is a resource like no other. https://lnkd.in/eyd3dEqw

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Calling anyone with a secret book! Do you have a hidden manuscript, like I once had? Would you like some help? My approach to self-publishing was, it seems, pioneering in its time. Back in 2015, authors in Northern Ireland were still cautious about it all. I found it strange and almost the opposite of what I had learned the business world, where there were endless rewards for self-initiative. Nonetheless, I was made welcome by lots of writers, Libraries NI, Women Aloud NI, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Linen Hall Library, councils, festivals, schools and educational institutions, particularly Ulster University. What a change in 2024! The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is now offering support for talented writers who self-publish. Sometimes writers have no choice. We only have one small publisher in the country, after all — surely a business opportunity for some creative soul capable of combining the new digital world with the old world of bookshelves! I have turned to great companies like Book Reality and Colourpoint for preparing manuscripts for print and I have also been published by Leschenault Press, but when I self-publish my novels, I do most tasks by myself. I write the books, publish the books, sell the books, promote the books and everything in between. The one task that I always hand over, however, is editing. I value the skills of a good editor. Luckily I had three English supervisors work with me on my PhD novel, The Secret Diary of Stephanie Agnew. If you would like someone to review your manuscript, why not start with my "First Fifty" Programme. It's ideal if you haven't yet written a full novel or book. My experiences in the publishing industry and Edtech mean that I can help you with a range of books — novels, general interest, business etc. Check out my website and get in touch. Your secret manuscript might just be a book that someone is waiting to read! https://lnkd.in/eakFMmc7

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The second of a series of columns I'm writing for Visual Artists Ireland's newsletter is about what coaching has to offer to artists and arts workers: https://lnkd.in/ehNEvXU6 I write about how my work as a coach is intended to push back against the infantilisation and institutionalisation of artists, and all the self-doubt and reliance on external validation that comes with that. Also, I give a go at trying to answer the most common question about coaching... "Coaching is not mentoring; these two are easily confused. While mentorship can be very useful, there is within that dynamic an understanding that one person is more experienced, and is there to support the less experienced person... Coaching, on the other hand, is more about me helping you to help yourself. I am there to help you tap into resources, insights, wisdom, and expertise that you have within you, and within your existing networks. I help you look towards the future, articulate what you would like, and put some steps in place to move towards that. In many ways, you do all the work." If you're looking for a coach who works with artists and arts workers in Ireland, let me know. I have a list.

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Fascinating topic and one I am deeply interested in. Many that know me, know that I have a somewhat ‘morbid fascination’ with VR/ XR and its applications for immortalising the mortal. Conversations I had this time last year explored ideas that seemed out of reach at the time. However as the technology sharpens the use of technology in this way is becoming more of a reality and I see I’m not the only one with an interest in these kinds of applications. This article is behind a paywall but highlights how digital media literacy is essential for addressing the moral and ethical questions that arise when using such technology. I think this conversation will only grow in the coming years and it’s definitely one that has developed deeper on a personal level as I navigate anticipatory grief in my own life. What if you could inform your legacy avatar/virtual hologram etc. in advance and shape your narrative for future generations? What if instead of looking at a photograph or a film clip of a deceased person, you could meet them and talk with them? & What defines a ‘real’ experience if the real experience is a virtually perceived one?

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So, about that Perspectives launch... I’ve had a solid 24 hours to digest everything from yesterday’s Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland Perspectives scheme launch event. Spoiler alert: still no clearer on which project ideas to prioritise, or which one shows off my own unique voice and viewpoint the best - do I even have a unique voice and/or viewpoint? But I did walk away feeling more inspired, and over-caffeinated, than ever. I guess, now it's time to put that "low-budget hustle" advice into action and start figuring out what weird and wonderful stories can be achieved on a micro budget level. Or at least, what weird and wonderful ideas "sound" like the can be made on a micro-budget level and leave the actualities of it all for future me to worry about. Any fellow filmmakers feeling the post-event buzz? Or is everyone else just figuring out how much of the development budget to set aside for coffee? #Screenwriting #IrishFilm #EmergingTalent #LowBudgetFilm #CreativeProcess #BackToTheGrind #FilmmakerLife

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#animatedexplainer videos are the best way to get information across to your audience. We produced this #animation for Dervla O'Neill of Irish Hotels Federation Skillnet. Our objective was to simply and concisely, help trainees get the most from their training courses. ________ ❓ Does your business require Animations, Video Production, or Training? ✅ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱. 🔔 Tap my profile bell for content, tips, industry updates and exciting new trends and tech. ________ #animatedvideo #explainervideo #3danimation #ExplainerVideos

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🚀 Timelapse Mastery: House of Cards Meets Cork City 🎥 A few years ago, I created this timelapse video inspired by the iconic opening sequence of House of Cards. While it received great attention on social media, I’ve never shared it on LinkedIn—until now. This video reimagines what House of Cards might look like if it were filmed in Cork City, and I think it’s the perfect opportunity to showcase my expertise in high-end video production and photography. This project was highly technical at every stage. I shot the entire sequence using still images, meticulously edited in post-production to create the fluid motion you see. To replicate the distinctive look of the House of Cards intro, I used a variety of lenses and a motion-controlled slider. This setup allowed me to capture dynamic, cinematic movements, adding depth and drama to Cork’s skyline, much like the original sequence does for Washington D.C. The process is more complex than traditional video work. Timelapse involves capturing hundreds—sometimes thousands—of individual frames, which are then carefully stitched together in post-production. The use of multiple lenses gave me control over focal lengths to match the wide, sweeping shots, while the motion slider ensured smooth, controlled camera movements that enhanced the cinematic feel. Timelapse photography is a powerful storytelling tool for businesses, providing a visually striking way to showcase projects, events, or cityscapes in a condensed, dynamic format. It’s not just about speed—it's about capturing the essence of time and movement in a way that’s impossible with regular video. If you’re a business looking to elevate your brand with creative, professional visuals, let’s connect. I’m passionate about delivering high-quality, technically sophisticated content that stands out in today’s digital world. 📈 Watch the video and experience Cork City through the lens of House of Cards. #TimelapsePhotography #HouseOfCardsInspiration #CorkCityTimelapse #StillImagesToVideo #MotionControlledSlider #HighEndVideoProduction #ProfessionalPhotography #CinematicStorytelling #PostProductionMagic #BusinessMarketing #PhotographyExpert #CreativeVideo #LinkedInVideo #TimeLapseVideo

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Discover the profound impact of preserving memories in our latest blog post. We delve into why preserving memories and nostalgia is crucial, especially for Alzheimer's patients. Understand the importance of what we do. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dV43uFPt

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Having run Doublejump studios for almost 10 years now i've recently had a moment of reflection. I started out in 2015 with the aim of creating the go to motion graphics and video studio in Ireland. I had lofty goals and set out full of enthusiasm and energy to put us on the map. The early days were insanely fun as we gained traction quickly and built a team to manage all our new clients and projects. The dream was becoming a reality and I could see the trajectory building up as we won new work. As things grew so did the need to maintain the quality as well as meet deadlines and navigate cashflow, HR, accounts, staff, insurance etc - All the things you have to do but don't necessarily want to do. I became more of a manager and less of a hands on creative so that I could grow the studio. The following years were a lot harder, I needed to learn new skills but also made some mistakes and had to learn quickly. It always felt as if as soon as I built out something and perfected it a new curveball was thrown my way. If it was easy everyone would do it. This definitely pushed me to my limits ... or so I thought. In 2020 the world wide pandemic changed everything. I had to close our physical studio and downsize the company to survive the storm. I worked hard to maintain the great clients we had and adapted to new remote working arrangements. Remote working offered greater flexibility and actually increased productivity. I realised we no longer had to be bound by a physical space and could hire talent and attract clients from anywhere in the world. I created a garden studio and began working from home. And so it was for the last 4 years... I now feel a sense of change coming - remote work has been great for lots of reasons but something feels missing. As a business owner it can make you feel isolated. As I look at the world around me - 2025 is shaping up to be so different to the world we started in back in 2015 - the content industry is in such a different place and we have to adapt to those changes. If I could make a change to the world right now it would be for creators to come together again and work less in isolation. The greatest ideas and uniqueness is found by working together in collaboration, sharing skills, inspiration and knowledge - not working in silos staring at screens. The journey through 10 years has been one of many highs and lows, set backs and resilience. Its truly changed me as a person and I think only for the better. Did we achieve our lofty goals? In many ways yes! but as I look forward at 2025 I feel imbued with a new sense of purpose and drive. I want to give back to the creative community. I've set myself a new mission. Watch this space ...

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🎥An enjoyable two days of training with Sinead O'Reilly and the Marketing and Internal Comms teams in Gas Networks Ireland. Using smartphones and accessories, it was a practical training on how to capture and edit GNI video (and image) content to a high quality for successful social campaigns - across a range of potential content topics. We had fun and all the attendees came away with the tools to start creating their own content ________ ❓ Does your business require Animations, Video Production, or Training? ✅ 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱. 🔔 Tap my profile bell for content, tips, industry updates and exciting new trends and tech. ________ #Training #Videotraining #Smartphone #videoproduction #businessvideo

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19 UCD freelancers and contractors listed! 🚀 Find out more about them, and explore if they could be a good fit for your project. The Cake Design Studio ‘unagency’ website lists working patterns and rates, and signposts you to further details. #UCD #UserCentredDesign #UX #ServiceDesign #ContentDesign #ContentStrategy #UserResearch #TechnicalArchitecture #TechnicalWriting

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This conversation may be happening across the water from us but there is definitely a lack of opportunities and support for working class creatives in Ireland. Maybe not as apparent as we are a small island. As regards working class , you don't need to live or be from the inner city to be working class . Just because you grew up or live in a rural area does not make you wealthy or middle class. I grew up on a rural council estate, very poor. I am grateful to have a local authority house to bring up my young family. I have always struggled with the class thing in my industry. I don't hear too many conversations about it which makes me think there are not enough of us getting the breaks. It's all a little middle class for my liking and there is this illusion that we all have money, support systems, a network of connections to support our creative life force. Couldn't be further from the truth , for most working class artists it's a sacrifice of all the 'nice things' to stay in the creative arts. An uphill daily struggle to survive. We love our creative lives and want to feel seen and supported .It doesn't always feel that way. And I do believe it's a class thing. I don't envy other artists at all. I just want the decision makers, the ones who can champion and help support working class creatives to please do that or endeavour to do it. It means survival for us, thank you 🙏 #workingclasscreatives #artists #actors #classdivide https://lnkd.in/e7Rq3yrX

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It's always nice to look back on previous work and reflect on some of the results we have achieved for our clients, especially when it is for such a great cause. Over the past 3 years, we've created some fantastic results for our clients through strategic video production and there is no better feeling than seeing a high ROI for the businesses we work with. In my experience, there are three main things you must consider for winning content ideas: 1- Forget trends, viral songs etc., etc., the content has to be worth someone's time to watch. Focus on value for your intended audience and build a strong story that presents this value in an interesting way. 2- Be focused on where you intend to distribute your content by figuring out where your intended audience spend the most time. For example, if you are a B2B company selling services, focus your content for LinkedIn but if you are selling directly to customers, LinkedIn is a complete waste of time and resource. 3- Authenticity is key. It sounds cheesy but if your content feels too salesy and doesn't have a human element then it probably won't work. Overall, my advice is to not overcomplicate the process and let us worry about the technical stuff; that's what we are best at! __________________________________________________ Backlit Films is a full service production company offering everything you need to help grow your brand online. 🚀 Get in touch today to see how we can help you to reach your content marketing goals in 2024 👋 📨 info@backlitfilms.co.uk 🌐 www.backlitfilms.co.uk

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