S481 Screen Talks: Jo Spain in Conversation with Stephen Jones

Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland as part of S481 Skills Development Screen Talks is delighted to present a special talk with screenwriter Jo Spain taking place at the Irish Film Institute on Tuesday, 25th June 2024 from 13:00 to 15:00.

Jo Spain is the author of thirteen top-ten Irish and international best-sellers, including the Tom Reynolds detective series and her latest No.1 Bestseller, The Trial. She is published in over twenty countries. A full-time screenwriter, Jo co-writes and showruns Harry Wild (starring Jane Seymour, AMC/BBC America) with David Logan, into its fourth season. She has also written for Sanditon, the ITV/PBS Jane Austen drama and her co-written show The Boy Who Never Was (Subotica/RTÉ/France TV) which airs on RTÉ this winter. Jo’s new series Mix Tape (Subotica/Aquarias/Binge) is filming throughout 2024. Jo and her co-writer David Logan are also working on the adaptation of several of her thriller books with production companies including Archery and Yellow Films.

Jo Spain will be in conversation with Stephen Jones, an actor and writer from Tallaght. Stephen is a graduate of UCD. He has been a regular on stage in Ireland for over a decade working many times with The Abbey Theatre, Druid Theatre Company, Fishamble and Verdant Productions amongst others. He has staged his own plays with his theatre company Awake & Sing. His most recent stage performances were Falling to Earth: My Summer with Bowie at the Dublin Theatre Festival and Tuesdays With Morrie at The Gaiety theatre. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows such as Flora and Son, Dublin Oldschool, Love/Hate, Red Rock and Kin to name but a few. He is the writer and lead actor of the television series Northern Lights. Produced by Deadpan Pictures and Lionsgate, the series was recently nominated for four IFTA Awards including Best Script and Best Drama. It can be viewed in Ireland on the TG4 Player and has been shown in multiple countries. He was the recipient of a Stewart Parker Trust Award as well as the Phelim Donlon playwright bursary. He was been nominated for an Irish Times theatre Award and an Irish Writer’s Guild Award.

Schedule of Events

13:00 Introduction

13:05 Guest speaker: Jo Spain in conversation with Stephen Jones

14:10 Q&A

14:30 Tea & Coffee

15:00 Event ends

Participant Profile

This event is open to all screen industry professionals and aims to give participants firsthand insight into the knowledge, expertise and working processes of an experienced screenwriter.

Please note that places are limited and are available on a first come, first served basis.

Host or Publisher Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland