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Katie Murphy, BA Drama and Theatre Studies 2016
Katie Murphy is a film and TV producer and screenwriter. She is currently the Script and Story Coordinator for an upcoming Netflix TV Series. The Wicklow native has a degree in Drama and Theatre Studies with English from UCC. As part of her degree, she completed an internship on the internationally acclaimed TV show Vikings. Since then, she has worked on seasons 4 - 6 of Vikings as well as feature films and other TV series.
Katie was selected for this year’s Postgraduate Advanced Producer's Programme with Screen Skills Ireland and Technological University Dublin. She was associate producer on O'Sullivan Productions' comedy feature Deadly Cuts, premiering at Dublin International Film Festival, and is currently scripting two TV comedy-dramas. She is a passionate storyteller, with an interest in writing fresh comedies with a serious undertone, depicting human nature in a humorous way.
Course/subjects studied in UCC and year of graduation?
BA Drama and Theatre Studies with English, 2016.
Can you describe your job?
I am currently the Script and Story Coordinator for an upcoming Netflix TV Series. I work with the producers, script manager and writers assisting in editing the scripts and helping to track and map out characters and storylines. This is quite a creative role but also requires a lot of attention to detail. Due to the nature of the show, we work closely with a historical advisor, liaising with him ensuring that what is written is historically accurate and applicable to the century. I have a keen interest in history so I find this aspect of the job really interesting.
Aside from this job, I’m currently producing and writing two other projects, both of which are very different jobs. I think writing and producing complement each other. Producing gives you a great idea of what’s realistic from a writing point of view and makes you a more production friendly writer, without sacrificing too much imagination. What led you to an interest in this area? I remember the first time I ever held a script. I was about eight years old, in primary school and although I can’t remember the script our teacher gave us (it was probably just the Christmas nativity), I always remember the feeling I had holding it. I loved the idea of others getting up and acting out the story, and the layout of the pages. That, combined with my love of films led me to decide I wanted to work in film. I went home and told my parents what I was going to do, and they thought it was a phase. Maybe it still is, but if so, it’s a really long one. When I started working with O’Sullivan Productions, I was included in the note process for scripts in development, and submissions. This made me realise how much I enjoyed the creative process of script development and seeing projects go to production. Being on set, watching the characters and stories come to life is really satisfying. At the same time, I met producer Eoghan Ryan (Rocket Science Productions) who read the first thing I ever wrote and said to me "Jaysus, you’re a writer!". So, I’ve been really fortunate to meet people who supported and encouraged me in this direction. I always loved creative writing, even in school (thanks to my teacher Eamonn Carr), and in UCC I enjoyed reading and studying theatre scripts, no matter what the subject was. I was always drawn to the idea of storytelling and making something that will resonate with others. My family used to say I had a “mad imagination” - now I laugh at them because it’s partly my job to have one.
What do you enjoy most about your work?
I like the challenge of my job and the variety. Often, like most things, everything happens at the same time, so it’s important to know what to prioritise first. But mainly I love working as a team towards a common goal. It’s great being able to work in the office and then go to set also to watch it all coming to life.
I love the creative freedom of writing my own projects. I’m a bit of a night owl. I’ve come to love staying up late at night with a bit of music in the background, creating characters and worlds, hoping that when you wake up in the morning, it’s as good as you thought it was the night before!
How did your time at UCC help you get where you are now? Drama and Theatre Studies was a super practical course and really hands-on. When we put shows together we all had to be involved in every aspect - stage managing, acting, writing, lighting - which is very similar to working in film production. I particularly loved the workshops organised by the Drama department. Even if I found that certain things were not for me (such as dancing!), the workshops and modules were so varied it gave you a good indication of what your interests and skills were. The department also organised guest speakers on a weekly basis, which was really beneficial as we formed relationships with people working in the theatre industry while still students. We also attended plays in the Granary and Everyman Theatre where you would meet the creators of the shows - a great opportunity to network.
The staff on the course always encouraged networking and you felt part of the theatre industry, so it really gave me a great foundation and a skill-set to build on. In particular, Dr Marie Kelly, Andy Crook, Fionn Woodhouse, Inma Pavon and Dr Bernadette Cronin were great mentors during my time at UCC.
What are your favourite memories of UCC?
This is probably not the answer you’re looking for - but I’d be lying if I didn’t say the parties! Well, really it was the people at the parties. As our class was quite small, we all got on like a house on fire. I’m still in touch with a lot of people from the course and grateful to consider them some of my closest friends. UCC campus is one of the prettiest places to be a student, I loved walking through the quad (but never walking on the grass, obviously) with a coffee, en-route to a lecture while catching up with friends. There was always a buzz on campus and something to see or do, which often distracted me from lectures! I also just love everything about Cork city and the theatre community there. I loved going to see a show and then popping into the Franciscan Well for a pint afterwards. I learned to accept the rain as you were never short of a cosy fire-lit pub with music, poets or performers to duck into. It’s often were you would meet the most interesting people with the best stories. Side note: My Dad would give me money for the 'Franciscan Well' and I would buy a round of drinks for my friends with it, thinking it was nice of him. It was only on the day I finished college and moved out, that I realised he thought I was volunteering for a religious order (The Franciscans), the entire time! The drinks were appreciated though. Were you involved in any clubs or societies? I got involved with the Dramat in the last year or two of college and wish I had done so earlier. The standard of productions coming out of that society is so high. The nice thing about it was you would meet the most talented actor and they could be studying law or medicine. I really recommend that new students get involved with a society like the Dramat, I think there can be a misconception that you have to want to act to join, but actually there are many 'behind the scenes' roles that are essential. There is a great social aspect to it that will really help you make friends if you are new to UCC.
I also played soccer with the UCC women's team, and hockey briefly. However, my tendency to explore the Cork night life didn’t bode well for running around a pitch at 9am the next morning, so that chapter was short lived. I have no regrets!