Irish Women In Business… Laura McNicholas, Filmmaker And Founder of 925 Productions

In the latest in a series of editorials focusing on Irish women in business, we spoke to Laura McNicholas, filmmaker and founder of 925 Productions. Besides filmmaking and film production, Laura's training includes the Performance Course at The Gaiety School of Acting and The Screen Actors Workshop at The Factory. Her acting experience includes short film, fringe theatre and voiceover. Laura also runs 925 Productions, a film and digital media production company. 925 Productions was awarded Signatures Short Film Funding by the Irish Film Board for the short film 'Cutting Grass'. Her previous short film 'Patsy Dick' was a winner at The 2013 Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival. We sat down with Laura to have a chat about working in the film industry. __________________________________________________ How did you become interested in film? I actually started my career producing and acting in fringe theatre but had been passionate about film and story-telling from an early age. I’m the youngest of five girls so would have been exposed to lots of different films from a very early age. Films that had a deep impact on me then would still resonate with me now and ones that I constantly re-watch are Singin in the Rain, Out of Africa and Working Girl.  When and how did the business come about? I set up 925 Productions in 2007-as an umbrella at that point-to develop and produce projects for both theatre and film and my first production was the Neil Simon play BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at The Smock Alley Theatre. Its been very organic really and since then 925 has very much focused on short film. Short film is the best way to learn and understand who you are as filmmaker and the journey from that first short film to Cutting Grass has been pretty amazing, definitely challenging but then that is part of the fun. During this time I also worked in post production, production and ran a screening room so I was gaining experience in all areas of the film industry. At the beginning, what was the aim? The aim really in the beginning was just to learn and also to be the decision maker. I think it is very important to take on board that responsibility both practically and creatively. A short film Patsy Dick that I made along with the writer Clodagh Downing screened at some great festivals and won an award at the Fastnet Short Film Festival and that really began to open doors. Did you ever expect that this idea would turn into a thriving business idea? I always hoped 925 Productions would develop both artistically and commercially and in the last year 925 Productions has really switched gears and is now shooting digital and corporate promos, press junkets and B Roll for Red Carpet events. At the same time, 925 Productions was awarded Signatures Short Film funding by the Irish Film Board to produce the short film Cutting Grass. I am producing with Ruairí O’Brien and John Kennedy directing with John Hannah from Four Weddings & A Funeral and The Mummy staring. We have just had our World Premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh and are working now with Wildcard Distribution to promote the film to international film festivals. 925 is really evolving and my priority now is to develop this momentum and to keep progressing creatively. Could you tell me how exactly you got to this point in terms of building up the business from the ground? As a creative business you are really in a position where you have to prove yourself before you become viable commercially. This perhaps is in contrast to other start-ups who can obtain seed funding before incorporating their business. I knew I had to learn which is why I worked with other companies starting out and from doing that I saw what worked and what didn’t. I think though in terms of breaking though as a filmmaker you do need to be quite single-minded and protective of your work whilst at the same time listening to the opinions of the people you respect. I’ve been lucky and have had support from many people over the last few years and this too has been crucial. What is a normal working day for you (does it even exist)? At the moment a lot of paperwork! It depends where you are with a project and each week is different but usually I am juggling meetings, pitching or prepping for a shoot and catching up with a million emails and phone-calls. I have also just started acting again and signed to the Ann Curtis Agency in Dublin so last week for example I had two auditions and to finalise a pitch for funding along with a meeting with my accountant. I like the variety though. Was there a point at which it dawned on you what you had achieved? I still have so much to do! But yes I definitely do look back from when I left University and think, what?! I never set out to work in film and really have just always been motivated by a love of telling stories. But then I actually think, that is the best reason to do anything. What has been the biggest challenge? I hate to say it but my biggest challenge was a lack of confidence when I was younger. I was always quite shy so whilst I was competitive it would take me a bit longer to say ‘yes..I can do that’. What has been your best moment? Being awarded funding by the Irish Film Board to produce Cutting Grass. Working with the IFB and Ruairí and John has been a fantastic experience. I have also just gotten the rights to adapt and direct an incredible short story from a fantastic Irish writer. I’m very excited about this. CUTTING GRASS Teaser Trailer from 925 Productions on Vimeo. What is your goal for the company? I really want 925 Productions to do good work, to make films that entertain, ask questions and make people feel. Have you had a favourite moment from working on films or shoots? I really love watching the audience at a film festival screening…it’s pretty magic! Is there a particular filmmaker you are completely in awe of? There are so many. I think Frank is an incredible film and love pretty much everything that Lenny Abrahamson and Element Pictures are doing. I also think Lone Scherfig is very cool and can’t wait to see The Riot Club. You can find Laura on Twitter on @925Dublin.