Flying Turtle Productions

at the Abbey School of Drama, Dublin

When It Rains… It Pours!

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As we prepare to come back to full speed with our live classes in 2022, I wanted to update you on some creative projects from 2021.

As well as running Flying Turtle Productions, I also work as an artist in theatre and film. Most recently I directed a live site specific cowboy western with 13 actors and musicians for Showdown at Hickory Gulch in September.  I am also working as an actor…

So purely by coincidence, I have three large scale performances that landed in October/November 2021 in theatre, film and TV!  Strangley enough,  The Letters (feature film), Dublin in a Rainstorm (theatre) and John Connors Acting Academy (TV) all happened at the same time.  More info below on each of these.

Click here to read recent press from October, 31st, 2021 written by Michael Moffett of the Irish Sunday Mail:    KathleenPress 

THE LETTERS, A Robbie Walsh independent feature film opened in Irish Cinemas October 29th for a limited run. I play one of the three female lead roles along with Mary Murray, Sarah Carroll, Ann Russell, John Connors and a brilliant supporting cast. We are getting fantastic reviews for this heartbreaking film about the cervical cancer screening scandal in Ireland. See more information, reviews and booking links for this film on the facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/The-Letters-Feature-Film-103340362090770/

DUBLIN IN A RAINSTORM: A world premiere of this new play by Tzarini Meyler of Lipzinc Theatre ran Nov 2-6th at Smock Alley Mainstage.  This is a really wildly humorous and moving new play featuring actors Martin Kelleher, Ana Canals, Janet Little, Martina McCormack, Joe Wright and myself!  It is a fantastic night of theatre that will take you on a journey into the “other world”, complete with music, laughter, dancing, a seance and loads of colourful characters. Trailer here: https://www.facebook.com/LipZinc/videos/568460167778902
Booking info here:
JOHN CONNORS ACTING ACADEMY on RTE2 (Click the link to watch!): A three-part TV series where John brings 6 young actors into the heart of the industry for training and professional insights from Jim Sheridan, Saoirse Ronan, Jessica Buckly, Tom Vaughan-Lawlor. I am an acting coach on this series, and so far I have a prominent role in the first episode (Watch it on RTE Player in the link above)! Great review on this in the Irish Times.  https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/tv-radio-web/there-s-no-drama-at-john-connors-acting-academy-1.4712113
I hope that you have a chance to see some of this work above, as I feel that the teams involved are just brilliant and a joy to work with.
All of this also means that I am “up to speed” with the industry latest and can pass it on to YOU!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to see all the latest!
Hope to see you soon!
Kathleen

Alumni are Flying!

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It’s hard to track how many of our alumni are breaking through to the larger creative industry as award winning actors, writers, filmmakers and producers – but we have to start somewhere!

Currently trending on the Irish Netflix is feature film “Broken Law”  the gritty crime drama by filmmaker Paddy Slattery and starring two former students, Tristan Heanue and John Connors. (Both Tristan and John are also award winning filmmakers as well as actors!).  These independent films are made with blood and sweat, and it is a real testimony to the talent that they can make a mark in the international market.

Next up, here is the newly released feature film, The New Music by filmmaker Chiara Viale (from our screenwriting classes) and starring Cilléin McEvoy from our advanced actor training! After a Young Onset Parkinson’s diagnosis a classically trained pianist embarks on a path of self discovery leading him to a punk band. Their rebellious lifestyle and music provide a distraction to his troubles and a sharp contrast to his old life.

Then we have filmmaker, actor, director and producer Robbie Walsh !  Robbie has several feature films such as Split and Eden, which are currently winning one award after another and can be watched on various streaming networks.  It has been my pleasure to be an actor in the upcoming Robbie Walsh feature film The Letters, based on the cervical cancer scandle.

Listen to Robbie speak in detail about the independent film market, his films,  and The Letters in this recent interview:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?

We have a LOT more upcoming news about our working alumni!
It is my hope to begin a more regular posting here to celebrate the success of our former students, but in the meantime following on social media and our newsletter is the best way to hear the latest.
Click links this website to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube and Linked-in!

See our Alumni page to see a few more former students who are working!
See our Testimonials page to hear more about what people think of our classes.
If you are an alumi with news do email us at info@flyingturtleproductions.com!

 

 

Our Kind of ZOOM…

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Barry McEvoy and the Screenwriting class on ZOOM

This past year we have spent a LOT of time creating projects on ZOOM  working collaboratively with actors, directors and writers in locations all over the world to create new characters, plays and films for ZOOM along with one-to-one coaching for on-camera presentations.  That all said, I am a chronic techno-phobe and could not imagine how this could all work. But it did!
I personnally have been acting, directing and writing for ZOOM collaborations exploring new ways of telling stories for projects like TransAtlantic Tales with AboutFACE Theatre / Origin Theatre Festival / Bluefish feature film with Stacey Keech and about 30 other actors in 8 time zones/ original monologues and stories with LipZinc theatre … and more projects!  There is even a TV series on Netflix inspired by ZOOM called “Staged”.  Auditions and callbacks are now happening on ZOOM, with directors and producers based in other countries.
People are using ZOOM for corporate and artistic meetings, and while we may miss face-to-face connections, we are recognizing that we can work internationally, we can save on commuting time and resources, and we can discover NEW ways of working.  ZOOM is here to stay as an option in the creative and corporate industries, so this is a great opportunity to hone your skills!
Our ZOOM classes have been designed to keep you completely engaged. We have observed others around the world, explored new teaching practices and re-imagined the way that we facilitate so that each class will keep you challenged and inspired.
We miss the theatre and live performance, as there is nothing like it. But until we can gather safely, we will continue sharing stories and building connections on ZOOM.  We hope to see you soon!
Have a look at our home page for the latest options on course listings at www.flyingturtleproductions.com

 

FIRST LOOK! Presentation of New Screenwriting March 19th, 2020

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SORRY – CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 CORONA VIRUS

COME JOIN US at 7:00pm on Thursday, March 19th, 2020 at Doyles Pub, Upstairs.

No reservation needed, no charge to enter, just come and enjoy!

We will be sharing a reading of selected scenes from new screenplays from our Experienced Level Screenwriting course taught by Barry McEvoy. Professional actors will be performing the roles. Featured writers include: Yolanda Hellmanns Carvajal, Carlos Day Pomar, Evan Byrne, Marian Ryan, Wendy Jacobs, Martin Wynns, Sinead O’Riordan and Adam McGarry Byrne.

The writers for this “Screenwriting- Experienced Level” course were selected from submitted writing samples or from “Introduction to Screenwriting” course participants. Class size was limited to eight students maximum in order to provide the highest quality of tuition. Over the past 3 months, they have been writing under the inspired guidance of Barry. More than just a formulaic re-hashing of Hollywood writing advice, this course has creatively delved into the individual voices of these writers to bring original, dynamic and engaging scripts to fruition. 

Barry McEvoy has over 25 years professional experience in Theatre, Television and Film, collaborating with world renowned artists in the U.S., Ireland and U.K. He wrote and acted in the Barry Levinson, Dreamworks production An Everlasting Piece. As an actor or writer he has collaborated with renowned industry professionals including; Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad), Joel Schumacher (Veronica Guerin) Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon), Karel Reisz (The French Lieutenant’s Woman) and Oliver Hirschbiegel (Five Minutes of Heaven). He has written feature screenplays for Artisan/Summit and Dreamworks and, completed rewrites for Workhorse Films, Parallel Pictures and Touchstone. Variety Magazine awarded him Screenwriter to Watch (2000) and he carries an MFA in Playwriting from The LIR academy, Trinity College. His extensive theatre CV includes work by Harold Pinter, W.B. Yeats, John Osborne, Brian Friel, Wendy Wasserstein, Samuel Beckett, Conor McPherson and Vaclav Havel and, he is a founding member of Scena Theatre, Washington DC. His next film SHAM is being produced by Deadpan/Grand (Moone Boy) and Baby Cow (Philomena), to be directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty).

NEXT Screenwriting beginner course option begins March 24th (only a few spaces left!). Next options for Experienced Level and Beginners are begin finalized soon! To express interest or receive additional information click here to “Contact Us”

FIRST LOOK 2019: Presentation of New Screenwriters May 9th!

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COME JOIN US at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 9th at Doyles Pub, Upstairs.

No reservation needed, no charge to enter, just come and enjoy!

We will be sharing a reading of selected scenes from screenplays from our Experienced Level Screenwriting course taught by Barry McEvoy. Featured writers include: James Dunne, Angelica Litsiou, Elaine O’Brien, Sarah-Kate O’Connor, Colm O’Neill, Jennifer Osborne, and Peter Salisbury.

The writers for this “Screenwriting- Experienced Level” course were selected from submitted writing samples or from “Introduction to Screenwriting” course participants. Class size was limited to eight students maximum in order to provide the highest quality of tuition. Over the past 3 months, they have been writing under the inspired guidance of Barry. More than just a formulaic re-hashing of Hollywood writing advice, this course has creatively delved into the individual voices of these writers to bring original, dynamic and engaging scripts to fruition. 

Barry McEvoy has over 25 years professional experience in Theatre, Television and Film, collaborating with world renowned artists in the U.S., Ireland and U.K. He wrote and acted in the Barry Levinson, Dreamworks production An Everlasting Piece. As an actor or writer he has collaborated with renowned industry professionals including; Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad), Joel Schumacher (Veronica Guerin) Sidney Lumet (Dog Day Afternoon), Karel Reisz (The French Lieutenant’s Woman) and Oliver Hirschbiegel (Five Minutes of Heaven). He has written feature screenplays for Artisan/Summit and Dreamworks and, completed rewrites for Workhorse Films, Parallel Pictures and Touchstone. Variety Magazine awarded him Screenwriter to Watch (2000) and he carries an MFA in Playwriting from The LIR academy, Trinity College. His extensive theatre CV includes work by Harold Pinter, W.B. Yeats, John Osborne, Brian Friel, Wendy Wasserstein, Samuel Beckett, Conor McPherson and Vaclav Havel and, he is a founding member of Scena Theatre, Washington DC. His next film SHAM is being produced by Deadpan/Grand (Moone Boy) and Baby Cow (Philomena), to be directed by Peter Cattaneo (The Full Monty).

NEXT Screenwriting beginner course option begins May 16th (only two spaces left!). Next options begin finalized soon! To express interest or receive additional information click here to “Contact Us”

Galway Film Fleadh 2016 – Abundance of Irish Talent

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This year’s gathering of Irish and International film industry at the 2016 Galway Film Fleadh only confirmed what we knew – that Irish talent for film making, writing and acting is entering a kind of swell of success. This year Irish films received 2 Academy Awards and 7 nominations,  1 Golden Globe and 6 nominations, as well as 1 Jury Prize in Cannes and 7 selections in Sundance. So the abundance of talent in this year’s Galway Film Fleadh was no surprise. [Read more…]

More Alumni Flying High!

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Abbey School of Drama alumni John Connors and Tristan Heanue are among the latest winners with their film, “Today” in the Sky Road TV and Film Festival. See quotes from the IFTN.ie  article below….

Tristan Heanue’s film ‘Today’ starring John Connors won two awards at Sky Road. 

‘Today’, ‘Dead Dogs’ and ‘One Million Dubliners’ among Sky Road Winners     (13 Oct 2015 : Seán Brosnan)The Sky Road TV & Film Festival took place 9-11 October with ‘Today’, ‘Dead Dogs’ and ‘One Million Dubliners’ all picking up awards.Tristan’s Heanue’s powerful short film ‘Today’ picked up to awards at the festival – Best Short Film as well as Best Short Film from a First Time Director. Today’ is a hard hitting drama about a man who wakes up one morning in his car, disorientated, with no recollection of how he ended up parked in the middle of nowhere. The harsh reality soon comes flooding back once he gathers his thoughts. The short is produced by Paddy Slattery and stars John Connors.”  More details on the article at IFTN.ie website.

Our Advanced 6-Month Part-time Actor Training course is auditioning now. For more info click here: Advanced 6-Month Actor Training  or email kwyeates@gmail.com.

Galway Film Fleadh 2015 – Our Alumni!

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The Galway Film Fleadh is a renowned marketplace for new Irish and International film industry talent, and has just finished its week of celebrations July 7th-12th, 2015. We wish to send a huge congratulations to alumni Tristan Heanue (Director/Writer) of the film “Today” and alumni actors Lynn Rafferty and John Connors, for their win of the honor “Best First Short Drama” [Read more…]

Irish Film and Television Awards 2015 – Our Alumni!

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Huge congratulations our friends nominated for the Irish Film and Television Awards – but Especially our Abbey School of Drama alumni: John Connors nominated for “Actor in a Supporting Role in Drama” for Love/Hate and Matthew Daragh for his animated film ‘Ode to Love’, with Brown Bag Films. In this tough business, we are so happy to celebrate when talent is recognised!

[Read more…]