Film And TV
04 Sep 25

DkIT Graduate Lauren Corlett: “I knew I needed something hands-on and creative”

From camcorder curiosity to award-winning filmmaker, Lauren Corlett – a recent graduate from DkIT – has already carved out a promising future in the film industry.

Originally hailing from Greystones in Co. Wicklow, Lauren Corlett’s earliest memories are of the buzz in the area when film crews arrived to shoot nearby.

“Shows like Vikings would roll into town like a small army,” she recalls, “It was like watching a petri dish – I was hooked.”

Lauren, aged 22, recently graduated with a BA (Hons) in Film and Television Production from Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). But her path to film wasn’t exactly planned.

“I fell into it,” she admits. “I knew I needed something hands-on and creative. I couldn’t picture myself in an office forever.”

As a child, she was already crafting short films on a family camcorder and editing them in Movie Maker. A deep dive into film courses led her to DkIT which, she soon discovered, had “a little bit of everything, covering several elements of the industry.”

The state-of-the-art facilities, including edit suites and a TV studio, were another draw. Reflecting on her course, Lauren says there was “no average day” – and with film projects always on the go, she was constantly kept on her toes. The course also provided the flexibility to explore roles in pre-production, production, and post-production before committing to a specific path.

Following her passion paid off – with her quiet curiosity ultimately transforming into award-winning storytelling. Lauren’s third-year short film Echo, which she wrote and directed, not only wowed her lecturers, but went on to win Best Drama Short at the Royal Television Society Student Awards.

She urges those considering a creative career to explore the many behind-the-scenes roles out there – and “don’t be afraid to change your mind.”

“Try things,” she resumes. “I was going to study law – now I’m here. The industry is vast. There’s a role for every kind of brain. And college is the one place you can afford to take risks. Use that freedom. Push yourself.”

With pilots in development and a clear vision for the future ahead, Lauren isn’t just chasing her ambitions – she’s already making them a reality.

For more, go to dkit.ie