“There’s a weird snobbery and general wankiness in Dublin around location and status that’s fuelling gentrification. I’m part of it” – Conor Finnegan, Art director at Jam Media
Your creative highlight of 2018?
I finished making the first season of Becca’s Bunch with JAM Media. It’s a 52-episode kids show for Nick Jr featuring a Bird, a Worm, a Squirrel, and a Fox that make up a bunch of messers who go on adventures and get in trouble.
It’s a sort of spin off of a short film I made in 2012, and took a long, slow, sweat and tear dribbling four years to make. It looks great though, has lots of miniature sets and puppets, tons of heart, some bangin’ tunes by Richie Egan, and I hear the kiddos love it.
Your personal creative goal for 2019?
I want to start the long, slow, sweat and tear dribbling process of making a feature film 🙂
You get to redesign or reimagine Dublin in one way, what would you do?
There’s a weird snobbery and general wankiness in Dublin around location and status that’s fuelling gentrification. I’m part of it, as are a lot of our generation and probably lots of the readers here. I’d love to see an end to that along with an end to the housing and homelessness crisis.
How would you describe the Dublin of your dreams, in 18 words or less?
Last summer was pretty dreamy.
Three of your local creative heroes, people who people need to know about.
First up, Conall Kelleher – he’ll hate me for saying it but – he’s a super human and all round sound fugger with amazing storytelling and insight in his illustrations. If you were lucky enough to get one of his 2018 calendars you’ll know what I mean.
My cousin Niall Sabongi who runs Klaw, and Klaw Cafe (both in Temple Bar). They do the best ‘n freshest fish in Dublin by a long shot, with a sustainable ethos. They’re both super casual and have done away with a lot of the pretence that typically surrounds seafood.
Finally, I love what the guys at And Maps and Plans are doing with their animated short films and music videos – check out their short film, An Island.
jammedia.com/team/conor-finnegan/
Words: Richard Seabrooke
