‘As an Irish film-making team, making a film about LGBTQ+ characters feels really important’

The last thing I saw and loved is… A Complete Unknown. I think it may have helped that I am a music lover but this was based on the story of Bob Dylan and I just thought it was so well done. It felt like old cinema that was made for entertainment – it didn’t feel like it was trying too hard and I loved that! The music was also incredible. The cast all played live and learnt the instruments which was really cool to see.

The book I keep coming back to is… Big Magic. It is a book I often pick up over and over again as it is all about living a creative life and not sitting in fear which I really appreciate. I’m currently reading Have I told you this already? Lauren Graham (who played Lorelai Gilmore in Gilmore Girls) is fast becoming my favourite author. This particular book is a collection of essays about her life and it gives the exact same cosy, warm vibe that Gilmore Girls did.

I find inspiration in… music. Music is the biggest one for me – if I ever need inspiration, it is always music I go to. If I need a boost of energy, it’s music I go to… anything I need, I will always go to music!

My favourite film is… I recently watched My Old Ass and even though it is a new film, I think it might take the spot as my favourite! It’s so perfectly made and has every aspect of what I feel a film should be. The storytelling was amazing and natural and the lead Maisy Stella took it to a different level. It feels like magic on screen. The story makes you laugh and cry – it gave me goosebumps and I can’t stop telling people to go see it (so watch it if you haven’t already!).

My career highlight is… setting up my own social media agency was a big highlight for me. I’ve been able to work with so many amazing clients, creating content for brands like Calvin Harris, Liz Earle Beauty and Paco Rabanne, while also managing accounts for Prime Video and so many other cool brands that I could only dream of working with! I love owning my own business and watching it evolve.

The song I listen to to get in the zone is… “Her” by JVKE. Listen to it right now, I promise it’s beautiful!

I never leave the house without… my AirPods – I’m probably listening to music 99% of the time. At the moment, I’m listening to a lot of Chelsea Cutler… which I guess isn’t unusual for me as she is regularly my most listened-to artist!

The piece of work I still think about is… I went to see a show called Furuza Buruta probably six years ago now and I often think about it. I went to see it in Limerick and was blown away. I was kind of standing within the piece and at one point, the cast was on a clear glass roof above me dancing. At other points, they were on a giant treadmill doing such cool, energetic choreography. It is still for sure one of the best things I have ever seen!

The best advice I’ve ever received is… “Someone has to” – it’s something I always remember being told, As simple as that is, I think it is so clear and always pushes me forward. When something feels impossible, sometimes you just have to think, ‘well, someone has to’… and someone will, so why not you?

The art that means the most to me is… this is a tricky question because there are just so many things I could choose for this, all for different reasons. I actually think watching live music as an art form is the art that means the most to me. There isn’t one particular performance that comes to mind – sometimes I will know the artists and other times I won’t. It could be a pop song or a trad session but live music, for me, does it all and is so inspiring. It makes you feel so present and creates such magic so I think that means the most to me over any one specific piece of art!

My favourite moment in Dollar Baby’s is… it’s so hard to pick just one moment. Working on it meant that I had so many different days and so many different highlights! I think the more light-hearted scenes in Silver’s house are some of my favourites. I feel like it is rare to see a bright pool party scene in short films, particularly an Irish short, so I’m proud of us for being able to bring those bigger scenes to life.

The most challenging thing about working in content creation is… constantly being switched on and always being aware of documenting and creating. Because we are so attached to our phones, it is very hard to switch off and not think about it!

If I wasn’t a content creator, I would be… probably a music therapist as it is what I did my Master’s in. I worked as a music therapist for a few years and adored it, it’s something I know I will 100% come back to and I would love to own my own music therapy private practice someday.

The magic of film to me is… naturally, the storytelling aspect and being able to tell stories that feel untold or that people need, is magic. I think as an Irish film-making team, making a short film about LGBTQ+ characters feels really important – it’s a way to continue inserting LGBTQ+ stories naturally into pop culture so young people get to see representation on screen. That feels really cool to be a part of!

Erris Burke’s short film ‘Dollar Baby’s’ premieres at the Dublin International Film Festival which runs from February 2- to March 2 2025. You can watch a teaser clip for the film below.

Photography courtesy of Erris Burke.