I participated in a series of three workshops exploring possible applications of Extended Reality (XR) in the entertainment and filmmaking sectors. The workshop series was part of a UK government-funded research  project involving  Ulster University and Nudge Reality The main output was a prototype XR app for novice musicians to play multiple musical instruments through a series of hand gestures.

Immersive Arts Day at Foyle Film Festival featured a series of immersiive arts works ands installations, interspersed with panel and audiance discussion. It featured the following:

• Creating immersive storytellers who speak tech

• Heartbeat(documentry) - immersive screening and director's talk

• Underscore (drama) - immersive screening and director's talk

Immersive Arts is an ambitious three-year programme taking place across the UK, using an artist-led approach to working with immersive technologies.

Half day training session (part of the Employability Skills Accelerator series) focusing on the role of  production design,  the various roles within the arts department and practical steps for aspiring film design professionals.  Zoe Harkin is a very creative and experienced senior art department professional best known for Blue Lights, Breathtaking and How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.

Part of the Skills Accelerator programme, this workshop delivered by experienced Locations Manager, Adam Wilkinson (How to Train Your Dragon, The Lost City of Z, Father Brown, etc.) outlined the role of locations management, the various roles involved as as well as the responsibilities of the locations manager on a day-to-day basis.

Part of the 2025 DisappearHere Film Festival, this workshop hosted by Belfast-based writer/director, Sarah Gordon. Sarah most recently was co-writer and executive producer on AONTAS, an Irish language film.. The workshop explored breaking down the story; translating from script to scenes and shots; budgeting; writing across borders and how development programmes support emerging writers.

Delivered by acclaimed screenwriter and director, Ciarán Creagh. His credits include The Lightkeeper (with Aidan Quinn and Sarah Bolger), Parked (with Colm Meaney), Ann (2021) and Samantha Nobody (shot November 2024 in Sligo). Ciarán has developed an eye for the low budget production.

Delivered by experienced filmmaker Orla Walsh, this one-day workshop focused on how to approach the making and distribution of a short film.

Two-day training workshop delivered by Gerard Lough, independent film maker and director. Gerard's credit's include

One-day training session on the importance of copyright and contracts for filmmakers. I was delivered by Dan Muldoon, an intellectual property lawyer Carson and Mc Dowell (Belfast)

Symposium, organised by John Deery of the Nerve Centre, it brought noted film score composers from across ireland to impart their knowledge to aspiring filmmakers in Derry. It included Steven Rannick of Normal People fame and James Michael, an American record producer, musician, songwriter, etc. now residing in Derry

A nine-month (2 days per week) filmmaking course leading to a diploma from UK OCN

This online and in person course was designed for emerging filmmakers interested in producing content on their phone and on low budget equipment. Filmmakers had to have an interest in writing, directing and producing (live action drama) short films/short form content.