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Screen Arts graduate Eve Mahoney returns to Arts University Plymouth to talk about her career
Tuesday, 14 June, 2022 — Class of 2013 alumna Eve Mahoney has progressed from a runner to self-shooting, editing and directing her own films. We catch up with her to chat about self-confidence, social media and her future plans.
<p dir="ltr">Since graduating from the <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-film-screen-arts">BA (Hons) Film & Screen Arts </a>programme in 2013, Eve Mahoney has progressed from a runner to self-shooting, editing and directing her own films. She came back to campus in May to answer questions from current students about her work. She talks to us about having confidence in your work, using social media to promote yourself and what she plans to do next…<strong><br /></strong></p>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>What has your career been like since graduating from Arts University Plymouth?</strong><br /></p>
<p dir="ltr">After graduating, my first job was as a runner, which was a great introduction to the whole process of filmmaking. From keeping abreast with all the jobs coming in and going out by managing Wiredrive to liaising with post production, I was able to familiarise myself with workflow and processes. I recommend getting in at this entry level, because by making sure all the edit suites were ready for work, I quickly found myself hopping on the computers and picking up the media composing software Avid.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I soon moved to another company as an office manager, which was a great way to get involved with all aspects of filmmaking and to try out what you like. As it was a small company I was in charge of directors’ diaries, assisted on shoots and pitches, and cut down showreels. <br /></p>
Eve Mahoney
<p dir="ltr">Today, I self-shoot, direct and edit my own projects at the same time developing my own style and learning on the way. In 2016 I was shortlisted for ADCAN with my commercial film<a href="http://www.evemahoney.com/girlhood-commercial" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> 'Femininities'</a> for the organisation GirlHood. I've also been working in commercial production whilst making music videos and spoken word trailers. I’ve also collaborated with record labels such as Sony, Warner and Universal, creating content for artists including Alewya, Wunderhorse and Surya Sen. I’ve also worked with Dazed and Confused magazine, ad agencies McGarryBowen and Publicis as well as brands like Nike and the BBC.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I think the favourite part of my job is editing, where you discover ideas, notice small things and physically put the film together.</p>
Still from Ato - No Caro Remix
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Do you think you have to move to London to get somewhere in the creative industries?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">I think that there is a misconception that you need to move to London to make things happen for you. I don’t think that is as true anymore, especially with social media. For example, I made a music video for <a href="http://www.evemahoney.com/dystopia-if-i-sleep" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">“If I Sleep” for the band Dystopia</a> and it caught the eye of FKA Twigs, who has supported them with recording facilities, along with featuring the band on her LP ‘Caprisongs’ with all of this happening online. My advice would be to get yourself out onto social media. The whole world is out there.</p>
Still from Surya Sen - So I Just
<p dir="ltr"><strong>What advice would you give someone looking to get into filmmaking?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">My main advice to anyone starting out would be to embrace the problems of filmmaking. There is so much that can go wrong at any stage, and it normally does! In the past, I would have taken all of this on myself but I have learnt to be tougher and not take things so personally. There is a joy to the process and it’s a good approach to embrace it. You can’t know everything and that is okay! So many good ideas can come out of what would be considered a ‘mistake’.</p>
<p dir="ltr">I would also recommend writing down all your ideas, no matter how out there they sound and even if they make no sense to you. Ideas don’t always emerge fully formed - sometimes I just write down a mood. Don’t put off starting things just because you don’t know what the end product is going to be, often I find that just starting can make the whole thing materialise.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Also, have confidence in your ideas. I have found myself in some very male dominated environments, where it is not easy to get heard. Be confident in yourself.</p>
ATO - COLD, Directed and Edited for Eve Mahoney
Still from ATO - COLD
<p dir="ltr"><strong>What have you got coming up for you?</strong></p>
<p dir="ltr">I’ve recently just directed a new factual entertainment format for E4 digital, called Gross Up. The concept of the show is to find out how filthy our belongings are. Using state of the art microscopes and cameras you get to discover exactly how many viruses, fungi and bacteria are lurking on our things! </p>
<p dir="ltr">Other than that, I’ve always loved the idea of comedy so I would really like to explore that more. I have an idea for an up and coming grime music video where I really want to use some comedy ideas!</p>
<p dir="ltr">You can keep up to date with Eve’s work via her <a href="http://www.evemahoney.com/">website</a> or <a href="https://www.instagram.com/evebelieve_/">Instagram</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Would you like to become a filmmaker? Find out more about our <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/courses/undergraduate/ba-hons-film-screen-arts">BA (Hons) Film & Screen Arts</a> degree by coming along to our <a href="https://www.plymouthart.ac.uk/events/open-day-june">Open Day on Saturday 2 July</a> where you can tour our studios and meet our lecturers.<br /></p>