Internationally renowned Techno Producer Donnacha Costello speaks at Windmill Lane Recording Seminar

Pulse College / Windmill Lane Recording Studios were delighted to have internationally renowned Music Producer Donnacha Costello as key note speaker at Windmill Lane Recording's free seminar held on the 18th February. The seminar entitled "Modern electronic musicianship - a practical discussion" covered a range of practical issues from the techno/house aesthetic to electronic music production to live performance of electronic music to life as a modern working, touring electronic musician. With Brendan Rehill degree student who helped organise the seminar gives us insight into the tips and techniques Donnacha shared with the audience. See full story on our website.

Pulse College's Screen and creative writing Course Write here, Write Now, is back by popular demand

Following the success of our last writing course Pulse College are delighted to once again be running WRITE HERE, WRITE NOW with the guidance of Award Winning Writer Farah Abushwesha. Giving a practical insight and helpful tips on writing including practical exercises including shooting a short film and industry guest speakers – this is one of the most practical hands on writing course in Ireland.

This unique writing course will provide students with a supportive environment that will encourage and allow natural writing talent to shine through. Write Here, Write Now is a five day intensive course which has an interactive and proactive approach rather than focusing on theory. It is aimed at inspiring, nurturing and stimulating you to create your own ideas and develop skills as a writer while encouraging you to have fun with the creative process. The extensive scope of the course aims to provide the students with the opportunity to draw from others. The structure of the course gives students an extensive range of hands on expertise to tap in on their own talent as well as established industry players.

Moderated by Farah Abushwesha, the course also includes guest speaker spots. Past industry guests included actor Bosco Hogan (Tudors, King Arthur, In the Name of the Father), writer and Niall Heery (IFTA awarded SMALL ENGINE REPAIRS), Producer and 1st AD John Wallace (IFTA winning featured REWIND, ONE HUNDRED MORNINGS, GARAGE), award-winning short film-makers David Freyne and Alan Brennan, documentary and pop promo maker Vittoria Colonna.

"I've designed a hands-on course that gets you to write and to think in a creative and filmic way. From day one you will learn to verbalise what your gut is telling you, trusting your intuition and build up the confidence to know that all writing is, is moving the thoughts from your brain to your fingertips. It’s fun and far from highbrow. There is no mystery involved. On a personal note, I’m very excited to be back teaching this course again – I get a real buzz from seeing people becoming inspired and fired up about storytelling" Farah Abushwesha.

Farah Abushwesha is an award-winning writer producer and founding member of the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forums which showcases new script writing talent at BAFTA, (past guests include Mike Newell, John Madden, and Richard Eyre). Her production work includes several high-profile, award winning short films and features including LATE BLOOMERS with William Hurt and Isabella Rossellini, CLEANSKIN with Sean Bean, MICRO MEN, THE SCOUTING BOOK FOR BOYS (Winner @ London Film Festival), SHE A CHINESE (Winner at Locarno), and various short films.

Windmill Lane Seminar showcases the impact make up can have on a film production

With the huge success of Black Swan, the impact and transformational effect make up can have on a film production has never been more highlighted. Pulse College launched the start their 21st birthday celebrations with a unique collaboration with LA Make Up. As part of the Windmill Lane Seminar series the college hosted an interactive seminar on "Make-Up for Maximum Impact in Film & TV", with Sarah Jane Wai O’Flynn. The seminar focused on key areas of make up for film, from effective and obvious S.F.X. to natural beauty make-up to enhance the production and create effect. The focus of the seminar was to highlight the importance of make-up and the ability to turn the ordinary into iconic and take your production to a professional level. We talked to Pulse Film student Conor Bent who took the time to discuss what aspects of the seminar he found most valuable for his upcoming film projects.

"As a film production student I was naturally very interested in the makeup seminar. I was looking forward to finding out more about the process and its possibilities. I was not let down and surprised by the effects and transformations that were displayed. It was interesting to see the transformations happen in a short time. We were shown the example of the dramatic makeup from the film Black Swan. We were also shown a more subtle realistic effect transforming a fresh face into a beaten down and bloody visage. The demonstration definitely fired up my imagination for the creative possibilities of makeup for our own upcoming film productions. I look forward to collaborating with the students in the future in helping to bring stories and images to life" Conor Bent, Film Student.

Sarah Jane Wai O’ Flynn: has been working as a make-up artist for nearly ten years. After studying make-up for film and theatre in DLIADT she worked on King Arthur and TV show, Chance to Dance and TG4’s Paisean Faesin. Sarah worked in retail as national make-up artist for cult make-up brand, Pout Cosmetics, appearing on Off the Rails, City Channels, Fashion Forward and TV3’s, Ireland AM and also travelling to the UK for events and launches. She is now the spokesperson for top organic skincare and cosmetics line, Dr Haushka and has worked as spokesperson for leading highstreet brand, Rimmel. Sarah has collaborated on editorials for The Sunday Times, The Irish Independent, The Life Magazine, Image, Prudence, Social and Personal, The Evening Herald, The RTE Guide. Some of her corporate clients include, Toni and Guy, Clairol, Becks, as well as many personalities such as Caroline Morahan, Maura Durrane, Sile Seoige, Gavin Friday and Pamela Flood.

Stuart Clark: Guest Lecturer Profile

Originally a buccaneering DJ with the offshore Radio Caroline and the Voice of Peace, which broadcast off the coast of Israel. Stuart Clarke arrived in Ireland during the height of the pirate wars. He went legit with Radio Limerick 95FM, and his attentions increasingly turned towards journalism with a well-respected column for the Limerick Tribune. He moved to Dublin in 1990, and has since risen through the ranks at Hot Press to become Deputy Editor. Apart from his sterling work for Hot Press, he charms the nation as a regular contributor to Matt Cooper's The Last Word on Today FM, and as a talking head on various TV3, RTÉ and Setanta Sports TV programmes. His words of wisdom have also graced the pages of various non-muso publications including Food And Wine, TV Now, The Sunday Business Post, as well as the lecture rooms at Pulse College. At Pulse News we are delighted to find out more about his intriguing career.

Lee Edgeworth (EDGY)

This month we feature Lee Edgeworth (EDGY) in our student success story. Starting his musical career early, he took up the guitar the age of 13. He gained his first insight into the exciting world of studio sound with transition year work experience in Asylum Records. After a chance meeting with this old guitar teacher, he studied on Pulse College's Audio Course and was chosen for the Leonardo placement in Ascent 142, the company responsible for work on high profile projects such as Devil Wears Prada. He has since gone on to work with Litton Lane by day and by night he also does studio and gig work for Aslan. With a hard working ethos we are delighted he found time to talk to Pulse College news.

Windmill Lane Studios Host Eurovision Hopefuls

As part of this year's national Eurosong competition, Eurovision hopefuls Don Mescal and Bling recently made use of Windmill Lane Recording Studios to rehearse their entry for Ireland's Eurovision song at the 2011 song contest.

Experienced engineers and producers in the world famous Windmill Lane Recording Studios were impressed by the talent and commitment of both contestants who sadly missed out on clinching the spot as Ireland's representatives by Jedward with their song, 'Lipstick'.

"The talent this year is to a very high standard and we wish all the contests the best of luck" crew members at Windmill Lane Recording stated.

Don Mescal with the help and advice of mentor Ronan Hardiman performed 'Talking with Jennifer' (written by Ronan Hardiman and Don Mescal). Four piece band Bling, mentored by Willie Kavanagh sang 'Shine On' (written by Patrick Mahoney). Jedward's song was selected on 'Eurosong 2011' on 'The Late Late Show' on Friday, February 11th and the pair will now go on to perform in Düsseldorf, Germany in May.

This year RTÉ decided to take a different approach to selecting this year's Eurovision entry. Five mentors were nominated with proven experience in the Irish music industry and asked to select an artist and a song each that they believe has the potential to be a Eurovision winner. Bling and Don Mescal now join a long list of iconic musicians who have recorded some of their greatest albums in the state of the art facilities, these include U2, The Cranberries and The Script to name a but a few.

Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen and Kevin Spacey, join the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival.

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival, Ireland’s foremost celebration of cinema, will inspire and provoke; move you to laughter and to tears this February, with a captivating selection of some of the most exciting cinema in screens across the capital from 17th - 27th. The 2011 programme featured over 130 screenings plus a myriad of special events, panel discussions, public interviews and industry masterclasses, with special guests at the festival including Emilio Estevez, Martin Sheen, Kevin Spacey, Richard Ayoade, Ken Loach, Jim Loach, Guillaume Canet, Harry Shearer, Timothy Spall, Aiden Gillen, Eva Birthistle, George Nolfi, Fiona Glascott and Andrew Scott.

Launching the festival programme, in a packed Tripod venue on 25th January in Dublin, were award-winning actors Maura Tierney (ER, Liar Liar), who is currently in Dublin for rehearsals of God of Carnage at The Gate Theatre, and Charlene McKenna (Raw, Dorothy Mills). “I’m incredibly honoured to unveil this years’ film festival programme – It’s a world class line up,” said Festival Dirtector Grainne Humphreys at the launch.