A Year Of TV News

Posted by Conor Moloney on 30 Mar, 2021

Let’s start with an understatement ….. it’s been an odd 12 months ….

Akin to many of our colleagues across the industry, lockdown number one saw a few of our planned series hit the dust … just unproduceable in a global pandemic. But back in March 2020 we were very fortunate to be in the right place at the right time with the right idea …. Ireland On Call was a rare beast – pitched, commissioned and produced in a matter of three weeks. RTE’s nimbleness was public service broadcasting in action. Made with our good friends at Scratch Films the series was designed to provide up to date, reliable and trusted information and advice – about public health guidelines, about the virus itself, about staying safe and healthy, about money (hundreds and thousands of people were facing a new financial reality) …. any area really where the virus was having a societal effect.

 

We’re immensely proud of Ireland On Call. Outside of the hard information and advice we offered viewers we sought to reflect a sense of solidarity and community at a critical time, showing what people on the ground were doing to help one another. Even as people were dying – and it was very easy to just see those fatalities as statistics –  that sense of community was really uplifting and incredible to witness. We also filmed on the front lines – getting privileged access to hospitals, and also told the story of the pandemic from the point of view of firefighters, guards, retail workers, postmen and women … all those who continued to provide a public service.

 

The series was brilliantly fronted by Katie Hannon and Brendan Courtney, offering a combination of journalistic integrity and empathy. Among the first productions to be made in the pandemic, it was a twice weekly, live outside broadcast from the Department of Health with a range of VTs filmed (much of the filming on iPhones) and edited in the immediate days before each broadcast. We had to come up with new ways of doing everything to make sure we kept everyone safe. Hats off to all involved, my fellow producer Liam McGrath at Scratch, Producer John Daly, Director Maurice Linnane, Floor Manager Janine Curran, the crew at NEP, and a host of others too many to mention.

 

The series ran for 13 episodes, ending as restrictions eased. By then society was opening up and production became possible on our returning series, Ear To The Ground, How To Be Good With Money and The Style Counsellors.

 

It was a special year for Ear To The Ground because it was the first season to be produced without original producers John Cummins or Liam Lavelle – who made the first series 28 years ago. John hung up his wellies a few years back, Liam just last year. Producer Paula Williams stepped into those big boots and delivered a glorious Series 28. That she managed to do this in the face of not one but two lockdowns is of immense credit to her and her team. Presenters Darragh McCullough, Ella McSweeney and Helen Carroll brought their informed journalism and instinctive curiousity to another 48 stories from all corners of the country.

 

A word on Liam – who was denied a proper send off after some 36 years with the company. Liam was Ear To The Ground and Ear To The Ground was Liam. While it’s not quite his life’s work he, along with John, made it the institution it is. There are few households, rural or urban, who are not familiar with this much loved brand, appreciated I think for its honesty and integrity – which is a reflection really of the man who was at the centre of it for so long. When “this” is all over, we’ll have that party …. Roll on.

 

How To Be Good With Money returned for a third season. Again, I am in awe of the team who navigated their way through the Pandemic restrictions – Series Producer Ciara Kerrigan, Producer Helen Power and Series Director Rachael Moriarty delivered a fantastically strong and compelling series with money man Eoin McGee doing his thing so wonderfully well.

 

The Style Counsellors also returned for Series 2 and delivered strong audiences through its January and February run. Series Producer Michelle Carty and Series Director Joanne McGrath brought a fresh look and feel to the fashion show as they imaginatively navigated their way through covid production protocols. Suzanne Jackson and Eileen Smith reprised their presenting roles brilliantly – albeit separately. The great team behind the scenes included stylist and fashion consultant Colm Corrigan, Producer Dolores Comerford and PA Sarah Blake Knox.

 

And in September we collaborated once again with Scratch Films to make A Big Week In September, marking the return of over a half a million young people to schools for the first time in nearly 6 months. Credit where credit is due, this was a documentary substantially delivered by Liam at Scratch, but we were happy to play our part in documenting history. At the end of that film, the wonderful Principal of St Dominic’s secondary school in Ballyfermot gave us the lines that would close the film so aptly … and I’m paraphrasing  …. The sun will rise and the sun will set and the sun will rise again …. This too will pass ….. and so say all of us.

Onwards …….

 

We’ve had a busy run here in indiepics

Posted by Conor Moloney on 03 Mar, 2020

We’ve had a busy run here in indiepics…

Live Moon Landing Special

Filming the moon at Dunsink Observatory

In Summer 2019 we delivered a live Moon Landing Special for RTE. 50 Years To The Moon and Back, presented by Aine Lawlor, was commissioned to commemorate the Apollo 11 moon landing in July 1969. It aired smack bang in prime time RTE ONE on a Saturday evening. Part science, part history and nostalgia, part entertainment the 90 minute special was supported by the BAI and Science Foundation Ireland. It featured a diverse cast, from Astronauts Cady Coleman and Dan Tani to the Chieftans’ Paddy Moloney and Matt Molloy to Comedian Niall Delamare to television doyenne Anne Doyle to Space Journalist extraordinaire Leo Enright to the groovy Gavin James singing Elton John’s Rocketman to a whole host of scientists and storytellers. An ensemble including Chris Hadfield, Eleanor McEvoy, Jack L, Brian Kennedy and the Dublin Gospel Choir performed a very special version of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. It was a special Special all round.

How To Be Good With Money Series 2

How To Be Good With Money

Right through the Summer we were in production on How To Be Good With Money Series 2, which began airing on RTE ONE  in January 2020. The series saw Financial Planner Eoin McGee gamely wrestle with the personal finances of another diverse group of people, setting them on a path to a better financial future. The series is accompanied by a Digital Campaign produced by our Agency team which has helped the show’s impressive ratings. How To Be Good With Money is supported by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC. 

The Style Counsellors Fashion Series

The Style Counsellors

And the Summer also brought news of a brand new commission, our very first fashion series. The Style Counsellors is presented by social media stars and instagrammers extraordinaire Suzanne Jackson aka SoSueMe and Eileen Smith, aka @EileenStyleQueen. Filmed through October and November the series hit the air in January and enjoyed really strong ratings on Tuesday nights on RTE ONE. 

 

Series 4 of Big Week On The Farm

Big Week on the Farm

September saw us dialling up the satellite again for another live show. Series 4 of Big Week On The Farm was a harvest special broadcast on prime time RTE ONE Monday through Thursday from one of the biggest potato farms in the country. Presented once again by Aine Lawlor and Ella McSweeney the series delivered a mix of science and farming stories with a heavy emphasis on climate change and bio diversity. Big Week On The Farm was again supported by Science Foundation Ireland.

Ear To The Ground Series 27

Ear to the Ground Presenters

And in November Ear To The Ground returned for Series 27. Airing pre Christmas in the Thursday 8.30 slot on RTE ONE this big horse of a show delivered a significant year on year increase in share. Presented by the very brilliant Helen Carroll, Darragh McCullough and Ella McSweeney the series continues to connect audiences with where their food comes from, with rural life and living and with all the challenges and glories of farming in Ireland.

 

 

As Ear To The Ground, How To Be Good With Money and The Style Counsellors finish their runs for this year we are moving into production on two big documentary series… more anon.

We’re hiring

Posted by Conor Moloney on 26 Jul, 2019

We are looking for an Office Administrator to join our team. This person will play an important role in helping deliver our services by ensuring the proper flow of office procedures and carrying out common office duties. This is a varied and interesting role and will involve being the first point of contact to visitors and clients as well as collaborating closely with the television and agency teams.

We work with the main broadcasters and some of the best known brands in Ireland as well as many European clients. We are looking for a smart, ambitious person with the potential to grow to help us deliver and expand our services.

Day-to-day tasks

The job duties include:

– General receptionist and secretarial duties including answering phone calls and transferring them as necessary, replying to email queries, meeting and greeting clients/guests and dealing with couriers

– Assist in planning and arranging meetings, including organising refreshments

– Support other staff members including helping to do comprehensive induction with all new personnel, responsibility for Health and Safety adherence and information, liaising with outsourced IT providers when required to solve any technical issue and support production teams particularly at inception and completion of projects

– Responsible for the smooth operation of the building including cleaning supervision and helping to deal with any maintenance problems

– Assist with issuing invoices

– Compile administrative documents for tenders

– Help post company news updates on website and social media channels

Key skills

Communication skills and attention to detail: Excellent written and verbal communication skills essential.

Computer skills: Strong IT skills including proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google G Suite and Apple Mac essential.

Interpersonal skills: Strong interpersonal skills are a must. The ability to collaborate within a multi-skilled team is essential.

Initiative: Self-starter who is able to work on own initiative without supervision to prioritise, stay organised and thrive in a busy environment. Excellent time management skills.

Qualifications & Relevant Experience

Relevant experience: Prior office administration experience preferred.

Driving: Full clean driving licence desirable.

Languages: Fluent English is essential. As we work with a large number of European clients fluent French is an advantage.

About Us

We are based in Dublin city centre. We are a driven, creative and collaborative bunch of people. We’re not a huge company with lots of silos. Our team enjoys lots of variety in the job and the opportunity to make creative things happen. 

Application Process

The deadline for applications has now passed. Thank you for your interest in working with us.

 

We do not require the services of recruitment agencies for this process.

Social media campaign nominated for award

Posted by Conor Moloney on 28 Jun, 2019

It’s always nice to get an award nomination, and we’re really pleased that the “Survivor Stories” campaign we created for the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) is up for a Sockies social media award. It’s a finalist in the “Public Body or NGO Video Campaign” category.

The aim of this digital campaign was to get farmers and their influencers to change their mindset to safety around livestock. Livestock is the number one cause of accidents on Irish farms accounting for 33 deaths in the last 10 years and 42% of all injuries.

We developed a comprehensive strategy to achieve the campaign objectives by using creative video content featuring powerful testimonials from survivors. These emotional first-person stories of real incidents clearly communicate the strong messages about the dangers of livestock attacks and how to prevent them.

Key metrics for success across Facebook, Twitter and YouTube include total video views of over 726,000 and over 112,000 engagements.

There was a huge reaction on Facebook with friends & family tagging each other and many farmers sharing their own near misses.

Fingers crossed we get a good result on the awards night…

New Series How To Be Good With Money gets off to a strong start

Posted by Conor Moloney on 16 Jan, 2019

We’re delighted with the performance of our new prime time personal finance series How To Be Good With Money. The series began its 6-week run on RTE ONE on Thursday 10th January – just in time for the post-Christmas money blues! The programme got off to a strong start with some 315,000 people tuning in for the first episode on the night and a further 100,000 on the repeat showing on Sunday.

The production and packaging of this series was a fantastic exercise in collaboration between indiepics’ TV and Agency colleagues. The series is sponsored by CCPC – the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. The copy and creative for their sponsorship stings were dreamed up by Head of Creative Orla Doherty who also oversaw their production. Our very cool stop motion origami Title Sequence was conceived by Head of Design Nat Navarro and executed by Nat and Graphics Designer Jordana GomezHead of Digital Strategy Sarah Sheeran produced the many and varied digital and social assets that are accompanying the show. All four are part of the agency side of the business and worked closely with Series Producer Carrie Nathan and Series Director Rachael Moriarty to deliver not just a great show but also a whole series of strategic digital assets around the programme.

How To Be Good With Money is helmed by Financial Planner Eoin McGee. Eoin is not quite a newcomer – he’s fresh from his very successful turn on RTE TWO’s This Crowded House. This time Eoin is fully in charge as he tries to turn people’s financial lives around … with the added effect (hopefully) of turning their actual lives around as well. Each week features a different household or individual who really want to make their money work for them – be that conquering debt, getting a mortgage, starting a business or just affording that dream family holiday- without getting into more debt. Eoin wants to make money work for them, rather than the other way round ….. but of course, that requires real sacrifice and real effort. The show is a very honest take on the struggles we have and the mistakes we make with money – but really tries to equip viewers with the tools to change.

How To Be Good With Money airs Thursdays at 8.30pm on RTE ONE.

Catch up on the Player here. Follow on Twitter #HTBGWM.

We’re hiring a Digital Marketing Executive

Posted by Conor Moloney on 14 Jan, 2019

We’re looking for a Digital Marketing Executive to join our team.

This is a varied and interesting role and will involve collaborating closely with the digital, design and video teams to execute projects. At this stage of our development, we are looking for a smart, ambitious person with 2+ years of experience and the potential to grow to help us deliver and expand our services to clients.

Day-to-day tasks

Work with the Head of Digital and the wider team to develop and produce creative content for social media campaigns.
Execute and monitor social advertising campaigns across social media platforms including scheduling, targeting, optimisation and reporting of results.
Help with research for client pitches and new business development.
Assist with agency marketing, including website updates, blog posts and social media.

Key skills

Social media advertising: Extensive knowledge of Facebook, Twitter and Google ad platforms.
Communication skills and attention to detail: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to help create compelling digital content.
Interpersonal skills: Strong interpersonal skills are a must. The ability to collaborate within a multi-skilled team is essential.
Web project management: Knowledge of the web design and development process and the ability to manage project deadlines.
Research: The ability to use relevant tools to analyse user journeys, research social media audiences and keep on top of trends and developments.

Qualifications & Relevant Experience

Qualifications: An undergraduate degree in marketing, communications, PR, journalism, video, film or another relevant area is required. A postgraduate qualification in these subjects is an advantage.
Relevant experience: A minimum of two years of experience working in the advertising, PR, communications or marketing sectors is required. Possibly currently in a Digital Marketing Executive, Social Media Content Manager or other relevant position. Experience working within a digital agency is an advantage. A background that includes one or more of the following is beneficial: management of social media channels for a brand, WordPress-based blog writing, SEO (from a content creation perspective), customer service experience, video and film production and/or digital display advertising.
Languages: Fluent English is essential. As we work with a large number of European clients fluent French is also an advantage.

About Us

We are based in Dublin city centre. We are a driven, creative and collaborative bunch of people who need a Digital Marketing Executive to help us grow our blue-chip client base. We’re not a huge agency with lots of silos. Our small team enjoys lots of variety in the job and the opportunity to make creative things happen! Strong salary is available for the right person.

Please apply with a CV and covering letter by emailing jobs@indiepics.ie by Friday 25th January, 2019.

Trauma begins airing on More 4 this week

Posted by Conor Moloney on 25 Oct, 2018

Distributors Beyond Entertainment secure sale of Trauma to More 4

We’re really delighted to see Trauma begin a UK run on More 4 this coming Sunday at 10 pm. It’s a series we are really proud of and thrilled to see it get a wider audience. It's testament to a really good series from a really good team: Series Producer Carrie Nathan; Edit Director, Liam McGrath; Editors Guy Montgomery and Stephen Murphy; Producers Ruth O Looney and Laura Dunne; Shooting Directors Judy Kelly, Maurice O'Sullivan and Carol O'Hanlon; Exec Producer, Conor Moloney.

Originally commissioned for RTE, our distributors Beyond Entertainment secured the sale earlier this month. Marzenna Czubowicz, SVP, Sales, Western Europe, said, “It’s great to be working with Channel 4 on this series, which rated well when it originally aired on RTE, and am sure will do again on Channel 4.”

Trauma is a really ambitious four-part documentary series giving viewers deep access into the intense world of medical trauma - from Emergency Department staff to surgeons to nurses to intensive care specialists – a chain of people who deal with cardiac arrests, head injuries, road traffic accidents and workplace incidents.

In this series we focus on four Dublin hospitals: cardiac and spinal trauma in The Mater Hospital, neuro-trauma in Beaumont Hospital, emergency care in St. Vincent’s Hospital and orthopedic trauma and emergency in the Adelaide and Meath Hospital. We also see staff from the National Ambulance Service and the Dublin Fire Brigade as they operate the 999 emergency call centres - the very first port of call in the chain of the teams dealing with these specialised cases.

Trauma airs on More 4 from Sunday 28 October, 10 pm, for four weeks.

Puppies Academy campaign for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind goes live

Posted by Conor Moloney on 16 Oct, 2018

The Voice of Dog

At indiepics, we love a tail with a happy ending.  Particularly if it’s been wagging. Which is why when the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind put a shout out for some help with their new Puppy Raiser recruitment campaign, our Head of Video, Maria, answered the call.  

So we are now really excited to finally show you the finished campaign.  We have been working like dogs, seriously. And not just us. The voice of our narrator, AKA the Dogfather is none other than Baz Ashmawy who not only loves his mammy, but also loves dogs.  The Irish Rugby international Sean O Brien couldn’t resist helping out too, as well as the ever stylish Lisa of Just Jordan fame.

And Sword’s finest, Kodaline showed us they weren’t just accomplished songwriters, but also total softies when it came to our four-legged friends.  Not only do they feature, but they’ve allowed us to use their amazing track “Love Like This” on the video. Who says you should never meet your heroes?  Or work with animals? Not us!

Which brings me to the great cause we’ve been doing all this pro bono work for.  Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind really need your help. Every month they have the cutest balls of fluff being born to their mams all over Ireland.  The problem is that these pups need to be socialised and raised from 7-8 weeks until 14 months if they’re going to make it as properly trained guide dogs.  This means that they need to be placed with loving families, single people, older people, anyone who can spend a year walking, feeding, socialising and loving them.  

If the pups can’t be placed with a Puppy Raiser, then they’re potentially lost as a Guide Dog and that means that the people who really need them – the visually impaired and children with autism – won’t get the help they need.  SO it’s really vital that we recruit as many Puppy Raisers as possible. Of course, the big problem is handing the pup back after a year. We know that’s very off putting for people. But it should be some reassurance that raising a puppy for a year means that you are having a direct impact on someone else’s life.  You are responsible for looking after the pup that transforms someone’s life. Plus, you can always take another puppy! Trust me, there’s loads.

Aside from being great fun to work on, this project allowed us to really flex our creative muscles. With our rebrand this year, it’s been a big year for indiepics.  This project shows off our in-house creative talent. All set design, build and props are by our incredibly talented Jordana. Directed by Nat, our Head of Design, this was a VERY hands on project.  Behind the scenes, we did a lot of in-depth research and proposed a creative strategy that repositioned the problem (i.e. you only have the puppy for a year) and told it from the puppies' point of view.

Not only that, but our Head of Digital, Sarah devised a digital strategy across multiple platforms including targeted social ads to ensure that this campaign hits our targets. Because we really need you to take a puppy! You can sign up here by the way…

Many thanks also to the amazing cameramen Colin Morrisson and Michael Edge; Noel and Gerry in Beacon for sound; Kevin Cooney and Meabh Jones for editing and Karl Smith for GFX - as well as Aileen Power who optimised the digital side of things. Props also to NK Management, Line Up Sports, Sony and Spirit Music, GOC carpets. 

This Crowded House Returns to RTE TWO

Posted by Conor Moloney on 04 Oct, 2018

This Crowded House made a strong return to RTE TWO last night for its second series.

A year on from the first series the property crisis has deepened significantly. It’s tough being a young adult in Ireland today and it’s harder than ever for young people to find a half decent place to call home. In many ways, this is a lost generation – suffering the sins of another generation’s folly. But for adult children living with their parents, there are always options, always choices to be made – though those choices might, very understandably, prove unpalatable.

Brendan Courtney and his team pull out all the stops to try and make things happen. Some they win, some they lose. This Crowded House will air every Wednesday for the next 5 weeks, 9.30pm on RTE TWO.

Inside James’ concludes its very successful run

Posted by Conor Moloney on 04 Oct, 2018

It was a genuine privilege to produce Inside James’, our 4 part series for Virgin Media One. The series concludes its very successful run on Thursday 4th October.

This series documents the work carried out by over 4,500 staff as they seek to treat the sick and the vulnerable – some 400,000 patients every year. Their stories – staff and patients – offer a whole look at how a busy modern Irish hospital functions. All human life is there …. in fact life and death (and everything in between) is a daily reality in St James’.

Deep access allowed us tell a more complete story of the hospital, what we hope is a sensitive but honest portrayal of the challenges faced by staff and management at all levels. The series is equally about the personal stories of patients, the administrators and the medical professionals. While this series is structured around St James’ – stories are multilayered – love stories between a parent and a child, a husband and wife; struggles around homelessness, mental health, alcohol and drug addiction; the HIV and STI clinics bring us into themes around sexual mores; Medicine for the Elderly bring us into loneliness and aging. And of course there are the cutting edge surgeries and treatments.

We thank the patients who let us tell their stories and the staff and management of the hospital who put up with us for the six months or so it took to film the series. We are very grateful.

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