Paul Ingoldsby: The Irish Screenwriter Blending History, Technology, and Tension
Irish screenwriter Paul Ingoldsby is rapidly establishing himself as a compelling new voice in the film industry, bringing nuanced perspectives to the screen through emotionally resonant dramas and thrillers. With a background spanning academia, TV and film development, and a deep appreciation for storytelling’s power, Ingoldsby is poised to become a significant voice at a time when global interest in Irish cinema continues to rise.
From Academia to the Screen
Ingoldsby’s journey to filmmaking wasn’t linear. Despite writing and directing a short film in high school that won an Irish national filmmaking award, his initial ambition was to become a film critic and academic. However, university brought a pivotal shift. While presenting his undergraduate research at an international academic conference, a moment of clarity struck. Rather than analyzing cinema from the sidelines, he realized he wanted to create it—believing that stories told on the screen could carry more impact than those carried in scholarly journals.
His academic path reflects this evolving passion. After earning a B.A. International in English Literature and Film Studies from University College Dublin and University of Toronto, he honed his writing skills with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing for the Performing Arts from the University of California, Riverside. This academic foundation helped Ingoldsby refine both his narrative voice and cinematic vision.
Signature Style: Morally Conflicted Characters and Rapid-Fire Dialogue
Signature Style: Morally Conflicted Characters and Rapid-Fire DialogueIngoldsby’s work is marked by rapid-fire dialogue, morally conflicted protagonists, and a sly, distinctly Irish sense of humor. He masterfully portrays characters caught in the gears of powerful institutions, where personal and public tensions collide. His goal is clear: to entertain audiences while simultaneously prompting deeper reflection on the world around them.
Notable Works
“Trouble”: Solving an Unsolvable Conflict
Ingoldsby’s commitment to exploring cultural complexities is evident in the award-winning “Trouble,” which depicts one of the darkest chapters of Irish history with skill and nuance. It follows a British agent, Michael, living undercover in the Irish Republican Army during the simmering political violence of 1980s Northern Ireland. Just as the IRA grows suspicious of the mole amongst their ranks, Michael must contend with his own teenage son, Conor, insisting on joining the IRA to fight alongside his father—inadvertently putting Michael’s mission, and both of their lives, at risk. Over the course of the series, as Michael and his family live under the increasingly brutal British regime, Michael is forced to question whether he’s on the right side of a war that threatens to tear a nation—and his family—apart.
“Trouble is about how a society that was fractured by history and hatred ultimately found a way to heal,” Ingoldsby explains. “Given the world we live in today, it felt important to write a story that shows the possibility of peace, even in the darkest of circumstances.”
“Trouble” is ambitious; both a sprawling geopolitical spy thriller and an intimate family drama that showcases Ingoldsby’s talent for navigating large-scale conflict and personal stakes. It was the winner of the $60,000 Dean’s Distinguished Fellowship Award from the University of California, Riverside.
“Analytica”: Big Tech Under the Microscope
Ingoldsby’s “Analytica” swaps the gritty tumult of Northern Ireland for the high-tech sheen of data-driven political consulting, while retaining Ingoldsby’s signature style. It centers on Chris, a brilliant young student who finds himself masterminding a digital-first political campaign unlike any the world has ever seen—and unable to escape its consequences.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how technology shapes our understanding of ourselves and the world around us,” Ingoldsby shares. “And with tech playing an increasingly prominent role in our social and political lives, it’s essential that we recognize and understand the ramifications of that.”
“Analytica” delivers an intoxicating portrayal of ambition, power, and intrigue, one which has further cemented Ingoldsby’s reputation for shaping complex true events into thrilling entertainment. It has received widespread acclaim, including from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an Academy Nicholl Fellowship semifinalist.
“Leech”: Navigating the World of the Ultra Wealthy
Ingoldsby’s upcoming feature film “Leech” further develops these themes of ambition and fractured morality, while situating them in an unashamedly genre-forward context. “Leech” sees a young woman seduced into the world of an ultra-wealthy family, only to discover that the family’s generosity comes at a horrific price.
“It’s a thriller about how much we’re willing to sacrifice to achieve our dreams, or simply to escape our circumstances,” explains Ingoldsby. “I wanted to write something that captured that feeling of making your way in a world when the odds are stacked against you—and the terrible bargains that can get thrust upon you.”
“Leech’s” combination of thrills and cutting satire has led to it being optioned, and it is currently in the early stages of preproduction.
Collaborations and Contributions
Ingoldsby’s career has seen him make significant contributions to several other high-profile film and TV productions, which bear many of the hallmarks of what we’ve come to associate with Ingoldsby’s work.
“Son”: A Parental Horror
“Son,” on which Ingoldsby served as a script editor, follows a young mother who suspects her child’s mysterious behavior may be connected to the satanic cult she escaped from a decade prior. A paranoid parental horror that ranks alongside the very best of the genre (it’s been compared to “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Exorcist”), “Son” received universal acclaim upon its release. It also won multiple international awards, including the Silver Raven at the Brussels International Film Festival, the Jury Prize at Spain’s Festival de Cinema de Terror de Sabadell, as well as prizes at the Irish Film and Television Awards and the Dublin International Film Festival.
“The Good Mother”: Tackling the Opioid Crisis
“The Good Mother,” on which Ingoldsby worked in post-production, features Oscar-winner Hilary Swank, “House of the Dragon” star Olivia Cooke, and Irish-American actor Jack Reynor (“Midsommar,” “The Perfect Couple”) in a searing Albany-set family drama and thriller about the opioid crisis. The film’s thought-provoking treatment of its timely subject matter reflects Ingoldsby’s interest in elevating real-world issues and stories to the screen.
“The Vanishing Triangle”: Revisiting Unsolved Disappearances
That same interest is also evident in “The Vanishing Triangle,” a gripping miniseries which Ingoldsby helped to develop. It revisits the notorious spate of unsolved disappearances of young women in Ireland during the 1990s, and the unlikely allies who have fought for justice. Upon its premiere in Ireland, “The Vanishing Triangle” sparked renewed public attention to the disappearances. It was even shortly followed by a new arrest in the 30-year-old cold case—a testament to that same power of storytelling that initially drew Ingoldsby to a career in filmmaking.
Looking Ahead
At a time when Irish filmmaking is having a moment, Paul Ingoldsby is a writer to watch. His commitment to bringing important true stories to life, his rich cultural insight, and his unmistakable voice position him as a rising force in the industry. As he continues to create and share his unique perspective, Ingoldsby is undoubtedly contributing to a more creative, thought-provoking, and ultimately richer cinematic landscape.
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