Film-maker & Educator
Julie
Gardner
Portfolio
Award-winning
film-maker and educator
Julie’s vision for driving stories from their initial concept to the screen sees her working across all stages of productions, from development through financing, development, physical production, distribution and licensing.
Julie is respected for her expertise in both the creative and the business sides of the screen industries.
With more than 20 years experience working globally in film and TV Julie is a motivated and enthusiastic teacher. She fosters a supportive learning atmosphere with a real zest for sharing her passion for all things arts, story and creative media.
Areas of expertise
Great storytelling with the highest production values
Film Work
Counsel
Single drama
A barrister complicates her professional and personal life when she takes on a young client.
Counsel was one of two dramas commissioned for BBC NI’s New Perspectives drama initiative. Written, produced and filmed in Northern Ireland these dramas portray and represent Northern Ireland on screen in new ways, nurture and develop new talent both on screen and behind-the-scenes and continue to support the local creative sector.
Olivia, played by Valene Kane (The Fall, Thirteen, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), has it all: a powerful career as a senior barrister specialising in family law and a husband in the running for Lord Chief Justice played by Declan Conlon (Any Time Now, Calvary). But Olivia is growing tired of playing second fiddle to her husband Malcolm’s career. When Malcolm’s loyalty and integrity are questioned, Olivia finds herself drawing closer to her 18-year-old client Gareth Fleming, played by newcomer Adam Gillian.
Eighteen year old Gareth’s mother died when he was 15. He finds himself in difficulty when his private school threatens to suspend him as a result of missed fees after his father suffers a stroke. Olivia becomes involved with Gareth’s case to petition the school and insurance company to pay his school fees.
As the relationship between Olivia and Gareth deepens - we witness what happens when these two worlds collide.
'Delivered a Northern Irish take on those slick melodramas about hotshot lawyers with overheated love lives so beloved by American TV... a vivid portrait of life inside the gilded enclave of Belfast's elite legal community'.
Sunday Times Critic's Choice
Film-makers
Writer:
Director:
Producer:
David Allen (debut)
Declan Recks
Julie Gardner
The
Climb
Short Film
Inspired by a heart-breaking true story, The Climb quietly explores the concept of feeling connected to someone you have lost by immersing yourself in something they love. The painful act of remembering by doing.
After the sudden death of her adventure-loving spouse, Julia decides it’s time for a fresh start abroad. Guided by an old climbing friend of her husband, she plucks up the courage to bid goodbye to her former life by doing one last thing – pushing herself to climb his favourite mountain for the first and only time.
A climb, both physical and mental.
Film-makers
Writer / Director:
Producer:
Lynn Davison (debut)
Julie Gardner
"A beautiful film perfectly balancing what was, what is and what could be, and how hard those steps in between are".
Feedback Female Film Festival juror
Sparrow
Short Film
Cara, the first kid in the family to graduate, returns from her gap year to a family celebration in her honour. Older brother Nathan, forced to drop out of his music degree after a life-changing hand injury, is conflicted. Pleased to see his sister; angry and bitter at the world after his accident; stagnating at home looking after their increasingly alcoholic mother, he struggles to contain his jealousy.
But for the accident, this should have been his party.
The script was developed by Northern Ireland Screen’s script consultant and short film executive through their Access Shorts scheme; an initative to find film-makers exclusively from groups that are under-represented in the film and television sector.
Film-makers
Writer / Director:
Producer:
Rebekah Davis (debut)
Julie Gardner
""A charming film exploring the subtle dynamics of brother and sisterhood".
Women in Film and Television panellist
In-house producing
Animation
Puppetry
Outreach
From 2011-15 Julie worked as Head of Production at Sixteen South Television.
Duties there included overseeing the company's own IP Lily’s Driftwood Bay and international co-productions Pajanimals (partnership with Jim Henson Company) and Big and Small Series 3 (partnership with Kindle Entertainment).
Development financing - from initial budget and schedule creation to pitching and presentation of projects to financiers such as broadcasters, distributors and HALO investors. Pitching Claude and Lily’s Driftwood Bay to audience of 120+ at Cartoon Forum in Toulouse, France in 2013 and 2014.
Production finance – budget management (average budget level £2-£4M), cost reporting. Ensuring individual project production managers keep within budget and schedule, troubleshooting where required.
Development planning for 20+ projects including own IP, optioned works and co-productions. Overseeing commercials and corporates for sister company, Inferno. Clients include: National Museums NI, Dunnes Stores, Irish Jobs.
Freelance Employers
PANZER-DAVIS
RAFFORD FILMS
Education & mentoring
Industry training and mentoring
Education
PT Lecturer media and performing arts 2015-present
Teaching a wide range of professional stage, screen and interactive media skills from Level 2 (16+) to Foundation Degree level at Northern Regional College.
BTEC Level 4/5 HNC/HND - Performing Arts
BTEC Level 4/5 HNC/HND - Web & App Design
Foundation degree - Interactive Design
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma - Creative Media Production
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma - Performing Arts
BTEC Level 2 First Diploma - Creative Digital Media
ScreenSkills Mentor 2016-2020
Regional industry mentor to ScreenSkills' Northern Ireland High End TV / Feature Film scheme trainees. Quarterly meetings with mentees, ad hoc advice, selection and interviewing candidates annually.
'Best mentor ever. So much fun. So much experience... Julie has a way of getting to the heart of a problem and has helped me work through a couple of tricky situations'.
Mentee
Networkshops 2015-2018
NI Screen / British Film Institute funded programme to prepare emerging filmmakers to be industry-ready. Devised curriculum and produced annual series
of 3 x 5 day long expert-led industry workshops. One week focusing on detailed areas in each of three sectors – live action drama, factual and animation.
'Great. Did two years at film school and didn't get this information'.
Workshop participant
CV Clinic (2018)
Produced and ran a one day CV clinic funded by NI Screen, filled with 1-to-1 advice sessions for crew at all stages of their careers, designed to improve the standard of their job applications and CVs.
A candid, unbiased assessment of applicants' CVs accompanied by an open presentation of recruitment practices in film and television, to give a greater understanding of what information they are required to present potential employers. An assessment of softer skills such as how they handle a two-step application process, and their digital footprints. Career signposting where appropriate.
I've already had an interview after making the changes to my CV you suggested.
Clinic participant
Thank you for helping me to get my CV out of its awkward teenage years. I've already had an interview.
Clinic participant
Production Co-ordinator training (2016)
Devising and producing a programme of 8 x day long expert-led industry workshops for junior production staff in production co-ordination skills. Funded by NI Screen, to address skills shortages. Covering each of three core local sectors – live action drama, factual and animation. Teaching 50% of module with remaining 50% taught by industry experts.
Truly inspiring. I feel ready to move forward on my next few projects.
Workshop participant
Animation Academy (2015)
One of three industry employers advising on panel to construct new intensive animation training course to address local animation skills gap and offer quality assurance that skills will be appropriate to industry.
3 weeks teaching showreel module on this intensive fast-track academy for 16 new creative talents, designed by leading NI companies, Department for Employment and Learning, Invest NI and BMC.
CelAction 2D Animation Training (2015)
Devised bespoke intensive CelAction 2D training course to address skills gap, facilitated and funded by EU Honeycomb.
A week long intensive lab-learning experience followed by a 4 week project and in-studio placement, with a view to producing employable local junior animators and leaving a legacy of tutors in FE.
Production Co-ordinator training (2013)
Leading scheduling workshops with a group of emergent film makers for NI Screen training scheme.
W5 STEM Ambassador (2012-15)
Industry expert. Offering work experience, animation studio tours and production case studies, showcasing careers where STEM and the arts intersect. Averaging 10 such presentations each year to young people and DEL careers advisors.