FILM ADVICE: Jeffrey Stott, the Producer of ‘Seinfeld’, ‘When Harry Met Sally’, ‘Drive’ and ‘Whiplash, is engaging with Kerry College students via Zoom.

From as far as New York, Los Angeles, London and Vancouver – top film makers are connecting with Kerry – as film producers share their knowledge with local students.

With colleges and universities closed across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kerry College and their media students are using Zoom video technology to take part in online video classes with some of Hollywood’s biggest names in film and television production.

Organised by critically acclaimed and worldwide award winning Knockanure man Gerard Barrett, the Writer/Director/Producer whose credits include ‘Pilgrim Hill’, ‘Glassland’, the television series ‘Smalltown’ and the Netflix film ‘Brain on Fire’, offered to arrange and moderate the online classes for the students, who are under quarantine and studying from home.

Renowned Irish actor and comedian Pat Shortt is also taking part in the classes from his office in Limerick city, giving advice on all aspects of production to the students. Other participants include Jeffrey Stott, the Producer of ‘Seinfeld’, ‘When Harry Met Sally’, ‘Drive’ and ‘Whiplash’.

“I felt that by knowing these people, that they could offer something to the students of Kerry College that was entirely unique to anyone here in Ireland,” Barrett, under quarantine and working from his office in Dublin said.

“Even globally. I’ve worked with these people and when I asked them to participate, they were delighted to. Even though they are in Dublin, London and Los Angeles, they are under quarantine too, so this is something to keep them busy and active as well. The technology makes it easy and very personal. These are great people willing to give up their time to help the next generation.”

Barrett says the Kerry College Media Production facilities at their Monavalley Campus are world class. He has shot projects in New York, Los Angeles, London and Vancouver, and believes the facilities at the college are as good as anything he has seen.

“The set-up Kerry College have is as good as any production facility I have worked in around the world, not a mind as an education facility. The potential is limitless for the students, and it is a credit to the staff at Kerry College who had the brazen vision to build it. I just hope these sessions with these top professionals can inspire the students to go on and do great things, to follow their dreams and achieve their individual goals.”

The classes will continue for a number of weeks online and are exclusive to Kerry College.