IRISH HIGH-TECH firms are being given the chance to make their mark in the entertainment industry, as innovation comes to Hollywood, writes CIARA O'BRIENin Los Angeles

The Irish Technology Leadership Group has established a southern California chapter of its business network to help firms take advantage of the opportunities on offer in the entertainment industry, and its message is clear: the Irish are coming.

“If you’re in Ireland and you’re knocking on a door from Ireland, it’s pretty tough to get that door opened when you’re not literally on the ground working with those companies and working with the key executives there that can really make the decisions,” said Cian Hughes, head of operations with the group.

The US, according to the ITLG, has three major hubs from a business perspective: Wall Street, Silicon Valley and Hollywood. The ITLG’s network reflects that, and has over 3,000 members, with outposts in New York and California. “We wanted to create a very strong Irish American network and really test the whole premise that there was a really strong Irish diaspora out there,” said president of the group John Hartnett. “The answer is 100 per cent yes.”

The newest chapter of the group was launched at an event earlier this month, intended to put Ireland under the spotlight. It took place on Sony Pictures studio lot, with industry figures from the major studios on hand to see just what Irish tech firms had to offer.

Attendees ranged from Warner Brothers’ senior vice-president of post-production Bill Daly, Sony’s chief transformation officer George Bailey, Rovi Corporation’s Fred Amoroso and Jay Roewe, HBO’s senior vice-president of west coast production.

“These are decision-makers. They’re making decisions in terms of investment, they’re making decisions where they’re going to do the next movie,” said Hartnett.

As part of the technology showcase, companies such as Mcor Technologies, Livematrix and MediaMelon showed off their different offerings.

Mcor has received a lot of attention in recent months. Founded by brothers Conor and Fintan MacCormack, Mcor has developed a printer that can produce 3D models using A4 reams of paper. It’s cheaper, quicker and easier to create the models than other methods currently in use.

“Our biggest selling point is that we’re 60 times cheaper than the market-leading technology. And because we use paper and a water-based adhesive, we’re the only eco-friendly 3D printer on the market,” says Conor MacCormack.

Green Parrot Pictures is one of Ireland’s technology firms that has made its mark in the entertainment industry.

A spin-out from Trinity College Dublin, it was founded in 2004 by Prof Anil Kokaram, an associate professor at the department of electronic and electronic engineering. Green Parrot Pictures has developed technology to help improve low-resolution videos, and was acquired by Google earlier this year. "We've been asked to try to build our technology into YouTube to try to influence picture quality," Kokaram said. The company has already provided special effects for such movies as The Matrixand X-Men, and won an Oscar for its efforts.

“I don’t think people understand how much technology has influenced entertainment and vice versa,” he said. “In the 1970s and 1980s, it was the cold war that was driving technology – but now it’s entertainment.”

Sean O’Donoghue, chief information officer with Dreamworks, is familiar with what the Irish industry has to offer. He grew up in Castletownbere and went to school in Killarney. “On a day-to-day basis, you get very focused on high-profile stuff that’s coming out of Silicon Valley,” he said. “It’s good to have the opportunity to get something coming in from another angle. It’s refreshing. I personally know there’s a lot of talent in Ireland.”

Warner’s Bill Daly has his own Irish connections, as an Irish citizen with family links to Abbeyfeale. “I’m really happy that they’re bringing a chapter to southern California,” he said. “I didn’t realise there was so many Irish technology people around.”

The ITLG is determined to boost Ireland’s profile in Hollywood. “This is building and strengthening the relationship right into the heart of Hollywood, demonstrating what Ireland has to offer, saying that Ireland is open for business,” said Hartnett.