My name is Kelly Farrell and this is my thesis on nepotism within the film industry . I have focused on case studies from Irish and American actors and aided my reading of relevant literature with four different interviews . Two interviews were with Irish actors within the industry , one of which is a longstanding actress on the Irish soap opera, Fair City . The other two interviews were conducted with casting directors to gain an insiders view on casting processes, access and gatekeeping within the industry . An in dept analysis on four award ceremonies, The IFTA’s, The Galway film fleadh, The Golden Globes and The Academy awards from 2006-2026 were conducted. Throughout my research I gained a thorough understanding of how nepotistic practices occur and through these structural frameworks, the implications they can have on so many levels.
Nepotism, gatekeeping and privilege in The Irish film industry 2006-2026
Nepotism in the film industry has often been a taboo topic of conversation. From industry figures on the inside specifically, a certain level of caution is upheld on the topic for fear of saying too much especially with Ireland’s film industry being so tightknit. This caution was evident in initial research, with the reoccurrence of short answered emails from possible participants or a sudden retraction of eagerness once the word ‘nepotism’ was used. Also, literature on this topic heavily emphasises nepotistic practices in a broader sense. Research
on the topic rarely speaks directly on specific industry figures or actors’ experiences of nepotism. This thesis examines the effects nepotism, privilege and gatekeeping has had on the film industry in the US and Ireland. Through conversations with casting directors and actors, the use of Pierre Bordieu’s framework of “cultural capital” this research explores how nepotism arises in subtle ways. Nepotism can lead to various doors and opportunities being opened to some while others without connections in film are not afforded certain opportunities. A case study of several Irish and American actors including a detailed emphasis on Domhnall Gleeson’s career contextualised, how in a real-life scenario, nepotism feeds its way into so many avenues. Through interviews with actors and casting directors, perspectives on nepotism in the Irish film industry the research concludes that nepotism despite caution on the topic “who you know” matters.
