They Shoot They Score

The popularity of social media, video sharing and music-related websites is a boon for creative types. A visit to YouTube, Facebook or Twitter – and indeed to hotpress.com – is increasingly part of our everyday lives. And as the demand for video content increases, bands and brands alike are finding a growing need to incorporate video into their menu of promotional activities.

Enter Event Junkies, who provide a variety of different types of content for big brands like Marks & Spencer, Unicef, Google and today’s customer, Red Bull. The EJ story is a familiar one. Ross Killeen was working in the production department in RTÉ, but had become increasingly frustrated by the lack of creative opportunities there. His response was to found Event Junkies.
“I had ideas for documentaries and stuff like that, and I’d bring them to the broadcaster and they’d try and change my ideas. It was very frustrating,” he recalls. “I used to do a lot of freelance work years ago, and photographers would come along and take photos and they’d be in the newspapers the next day. So I kind of wanted to do a video equivalent to that – and that’s what we’re striving to do.”
Killeen started the company from a studio in his back garden in January 2010, filming, editing and building up a steady client base. Almost three years on, he has a Baggot St. office, and has just made his fourth signing for the Event Junkies team. Killeen and his staff have already secured work at most of the major music festivals next year, and will be heading out to Sri Lanka soon to film a documentary for Unicef. These are busy times.
The basic ethos of Event Junkies is simple and of the moment. Film it. Edit it. Share it. “People want quality content for their YouTube pages, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. We’re creating that content for big brands and we’re doing it quickly,” says Killeen whose job description is owner/editor/manager/cameraman.
We are talking en route to Grouse Lodge Studio, Westmeath, where he is filming the Red Bull Bedroom Jam winners Walking On Cars’ at work.
Grouse Lodge is an impressive place. It’s been temporary home to some of the biggest stars in the world, including the late Michael Jackson, REM when they were in their pomp, Snow Patrol, Editors, Block Party – and far too many more to list here! We pull in, the Event Junkies team unpack the jeep and take the gear into the hallway. The band are already here, chilling out around the kitchen table. Banter exchanged, it’s straight down to business.
After a quick change of clobber, the band are ready to shoot their acoustic set. Killeen issues instructions from the balcony. He’s worried about the sound on the first couple of takes. A few ideas are thrown around and it’s decided: the tambourine has to go. The band also tone down the use of the djembe drum. Those adjustments do the trick and Walking On Cars rock back into action, performing superbly.
There is one last piece of filming to do. This time it’s just pianist Sorcha and lead man Pa, who take up positions at the grand piano, nestled in a dark corner of the studio. The lack of lighting is a problem, and it’s all-hands-on-deck as the band and crew scramble to find lamps, lights and candles to help brighten the room. Once there’s enough going on in the illumination department, they begin filming. For the second song, the rest of the band gather around and the day is brought to an inspiring end.
Later on, the equipment packed away, before we hit the road to Dublin, Killeen reflects on what’s been a thoroughly enjoyable day for everyone.
“When I compare when I was editing television shows, stuck in a small room you know, very much alone, bashing away at a computer, to now, it’s a sea change,” he reflects. “We never know where we’re going to end up. Today we’re in Grouse Lodge, a beautiful recording studio in the countryside. Yesterday we were in the Monopoly factory in Waterford. It’s great to be out and about, meeting people.”

Contact Event Junkies at [email protected] or on (01) 905 6330.