Today we’d like to introduce you to Meghan O’shaughnessy
Meghan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I fell into film almost by accident. At 16 I joined a local Youth Theatre to get signatures—sort of like extracurricular work outside of school. Initially, I didn’t take the Youth Theatre seriously. I wasn’t committed to it and would often skip it if it didn’t suit me. That changed when Chris Fitzgerald, the head of the Youth Group, explained to me that he didn’t take on “stragglers.” He said, “You’re either in, or you’re out.” And so, I committed! I started attending every week and gradually fell in love with theatre and acting on stage.
Then, the Youth Theatre hosted a film week called Fís na hÓige—which means “Vision of the Youth” in Irish. This was my very first introduction to working behind the camera, and I instantly fell in love! I always knew I loved art and literature, but I wasn’t skilled enough as an artist to become a painter, and I certainly didn’t have the patience to write a novel—so film just made sense. It was a real “aha” moment. For the first time, I felt like I had some direction in my future. I finally knew what I wanted to be when I grew up.
The rest is history, really. I went on to study film at the National Film School in IADT, Dublin, and I was very fortunate to major in directing where I directed my debut short film ‘How to Skin a Cheetah’
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s never a smooth road when you want to pursue something in the arts. When I decided I wanted to study film, it took a lot of convincing. My parents are the most supportive people in the world, but naturally, the idea of their daughter going into the film industry sounded like a dead end. There were a lot of heated family dinners about college applications. The conversation always came back to money and career prospects. When you’re not close to the film industry, you don’t realise the number of jobs that exist within the sector. I remember trying to explain to them that the credits at the end of a film are a list of potential roles I could have in the industry.
It’s no secret that film is a male-dominated space, and going into college, I found that incredibly daunting. It took me a while to find my voice as a female director, and I was frustrated by the fact that my male counterparts didn’t have to jump that extra hurdle of just being listened to or taken seriously. Nobody was ever outwardly misogynistic to me, but there was definitely an unconscious bias. It was a tough pill to swallow—the realisation that, because of my gender, I was automatically brought down a peg. That has a serious knock-on effect on your confidence too. It seeps into the cracks of your brain—the idea that maybe you aren’t good enough. It took a moment for me to learn to trust my own instincts, but with every project that comes my way, I can feel myself getting more and more confident in my own style and vision.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a film director and writer drawn to stories with feminist themes, often set in rural Ireland. I adore absurdist cinema and draw great inspiration from the German Expressionist movement. I take pride in my ability to find the human element in bizarre scenes or settings, and I often find myself exploring human nature more accurately through the absurdist lens.
How to Skin a Cheetah is my debut short film, a coming-of-age thriller that tackles themes of motherhood and violence in an absurdist world.
I’m at the beginning of my film career and am excited to create and define more weird and wonderful narratives.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I have fond memories of playing Gaelic football with my local team, Gerald Griffins. Although I no longer play, I’m sure anyone who’s ever been part of a team sport can relate to the unique camaraderie that comes with it—the distinct smells, routines, and emotions that define the experience of training and playing together. I often find myself missing the freedom of running through the fresh air, fully absorbed in the game. That memory is deeply tied to my sense of home and identity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghan_shox/
Image Credits
Poster by Koleman Angle and Photography by Evanna Divine & Ethan Dodd
