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While Saoirse Ronan and Lenny Abrahamson were ultimately left disappointed at this year’s Oscars, the magnificent achievement of simply being nominated, coupled with Ben Cleary’s remarkable success, has proven that there’s more than one Irish takeover currently going on.
With this in mind, now is the perfect time for me to Dream Big and learn the the craft of filmmaking in the city that never sleeps, New York.
Lights, camera and action!
Like many of you, I was captivated by the magic of movies from young age because they provided a gateway into a world that stretched far beyond the normal, dull and rain soaked Ireland that we all know so much.
If the local cinema is my church then New York is heaven because the Big Apple is synonymous with the spectacle, splendour and romance of film.
There’s no better place than NYU (New York University) to surround yourself with like-minded people and I’m a firm believer that the best way to learn anything is by going to the place where all the action is.
Studying at NYU’s School of Arts (Tisch) don’t come cheap though and that’s why I’ll need that €50k to bankroll my tuition fees which, I’ll admit, are pretty eye-watering.
Looks like I’m still gonna need that bar job to cover my living expenses and health insurance!
But this is all about investment and when I’m winning Oscars, it’ll all be worth it.
Because film is an art form that’s like no other and I’d wager that for many people, their perception of NYC was shaped by incredible directors and writers like Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and Woody Allen.
Guess what? All of these men have frequently given lectures to NYU students and who wouldn’t love that?
That’s like getting football lessons from Lionel Messi!
Everyone has a story to tell and while my 29 years on this planet have been fairly interesting so far, I’ve always far more interested in what other people have to say.
This fascination is a large part of why I’m a writer and if I was ever in need of inspiration, then there’s no better place than the Big Apple.
Spending time there is like being in a perfect cultural melting pot because it’s a city that’s unlike no other with people from all over the world.
Every taxi driver, food vendor, coffeehouse hipster, stock broker, music lover and wannabe filmmaker already has an idea for the next big film in their head, I want to know how to go about telling this to the world.
From The Quiet Man right up to Brooklyn, Ireland and the US has always had extremely close cinematic ties and there’s no denying that storytelling is in our blood.
With so many film festivals, midnight screenings and workshops going on in NYC, there’s no better time to make those dreams become reality.
If you want to Dream Big with thanks to Budweiser and live your American Dream to the value of €50,000 then head over to the Budweiser Facebook Page or visit BudDreamBig.ie to enter. Over 18s only. Please enjoy Budweiser responsibly, visit DrinkAware.ie
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