Film, performance and dramatic writing
I’m a media educator, writer, director and producer with more than twenty years’ teaching experience in Ireland and the United States. I’ve taught in higher education, professional training and lifelong learning, helping students develop their ideas and bring them to life on screen, on stage and through audio.
I spent eight years teaching at New York Film Academy, working with undergraduate and postgraduate students as well as high-school groups. My teaching combined practical instruction, individual feedback and guidance through the development and production of student projects. I also taught at Studio School, Los Angeles
My teaching draws on my own work in film, television, theatre, radio and digital media. I bring that experience into the classroom while giving students room to experiment, question conventions and find their own creative voice.
What I teach
- Film production and directing
- Screenwriting, playwriting and dramatic storytelling
- Acting for camera and directing performance
- Editing, post-production and visual storytelling
- Creative project development, from initial idea to finished work
How I teach
My particular interest is in storytelling: how words, images, sound and performance work together to create meaning.
I combine practical exercises, discussion and individual feedback. A scene, script or edit gives us something concrete to explore: what is working, what is unclear, and what a different choice might reveal. Theory supports that process, helping students connect their own work with wider approaches to film, performance and dramatic writing.
I encourage students to develop their own judgement rather than simply follow mine. That means offering honest, constructive feedback, making room for different approaches and helping each student find a way forward. Creative confidence matters, but so does learning how to revise, collaborate and finish the work.
Teaching experience
New York Film Academy, Los Angeles
Over eight years, I taught undergraduate and postgraduate students, alongside high-school groups, across filmmaking and performance. My work included practical instruction, creative feedback and guidance through the development and production of student projects.
Higher education and visiting lectureships
I have taught at Dundalk Institute of Technology and TU Dublin. At Dundalk, I guided final-year performance students through their graduating project, supporting the development of the work through rehearsal and production
Creative writing and lifelong learning
I served as Writer-in-Residence at Carlow College, St. Patrick’s. My wider teaching experience includes the Gaiety School of Acting and Liberties College, Dublin, working with learners bringing a wide range of experience to writing and performance.
Across these settings, my aim is the same: to make creative practice accessible and challenging, and to help people move from an idea towards work they can share with an audience.
What students say
“He guided us superbly through the process of writing, directing, post production, all the way to complete our short movies…”
— Andrej Pisoncik
“He provided valuable feedback on storytelling and video editing that pushed me miles ahead of where I’d started.”
— Céline Tshika
“His efforts went above and beyond in encouragement to our group resulting in the production of our works on radio.”
— Gabrielle Wolfe
Read more student testimonials
Get in touch
For enquiries about teaching, visiting lectures, workshops or creative project supervision, contact me at marcivan@gmail.com.
