Cardel's "The Presenter" commissioned by RTEJr as part of World Mental Health Day in October.

Five short animations were selected from five Irish companies looking at mental health awareness and issues that affect children and young people.

The Presenter, a short animated film, written and directed by IFTA & BAFTA nominated director Josephine Lohoar Self was selected. In 2020 Josephine was also commissioned to make Günter Falls In Love, another short animated film for RTÉ as part of their Christmas programming.

Writer & Director Statement

When I was given the opportunity to pitch an idea for World Mental Health Day I wanted to focus on the anxiety and fear many children develop when they are asked to read aloud in class. I was diagnosed with Dyslexia from an early age and (with the help of my very supportive parents) quickly discovered that I learnt and processed information differently from my peers. I am a visual learner and learnt best, if not better than my peers, by learning through pictures. Despite this though, I struggled more than others with tasks such as math, languages and reading.

Throughout my research, I learnt that one of the biggest obstacles Dyslexic’s report is the anxiety which often accompanies it. When asked to read aloud, I, like many Dyslexics get caught up in the ‘what if’s’,what if I make a mistake? What if I look stupid, what if the teacher thinks I haven’t been paying attention? What if my peers think I’m not as clever as them? Being Dyslexic doesn’t necessarily pre-wire you to being anxious around reading, but for many people, including myself, the thought of stepping into a classroom and being asked to read aloud often filled me with dread.

I wanted to make The Presenter for anyone that has even felt alone in their anxiety about reading aloud and give those who don’t, an insight into how it feels.

Synopsis

The Presenter is set within a bustling news channel where Niamh, a shy 20-something-year-old production assistant tries her best to fulfill the demands of the job. But when a news anchor beckons her over to the news desk, Niamh suddenly finds herself presenting the evening news. Her pleas fall on deaf ears, and we soon find out that things aren’t quite what they seem.

Key voice actors include actress Alison Oliver known for Conversations with Friends.

You can view The Presenter along with the other selected animations on RTÉ Player.

Production Company: Cardel

http://cardelentertainment.com/