This week on All Lit Up, Managing Director Claire Finn steps in as host to welcome writer, comedian, TV host and activist, Martin 'Beanz' Warde to the Lighthouse Library.

Martin unpacks what it meant to grow up a gay Traveller in a small Irish town, how creative storytelling is in both his blood and his name, and how he considers which projects to work on next. He shares how his play (soon-to-be short film) The Dead House, was inspired by the sight of men laughing at a funeral and why he thinks comedy is the best way into hard subjects.

Plus, hear an exclusive scoop on a new project Martin is working on with Lighthouse Studios...

In a conversation that ranges from the nomadic history of Irish Travellers through how the nickname 'Beanz' came about to the sound of rain on a tin roof, Martin closes with a reading of an original piece written to a 1963 photograph of his grandparents' wagon, Home.

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Martin Beanz Warde is a multi-disciplinary artist and a prominent voice in today’s Irish media. As Ireland's first gay Traveller comedian, he uses his platform to advocate for human rights, most recently as the TV presenter of RTÉ’s sustainability docuseries The End of the World with Beanz (2024-).

As a comedian, he’s worked with Des Bishop on Joy in the Hood (2005) and toured Ireland with his stand-up show Gomey Feen (2019). As an award-winning journalist and photojournalist, he writes for The Irish Times and the Examiner and has opened two exhibitions on Traveller identity and experiences - Through Our Eyes at Photo Museum Ireland and The Mincéirí Archives with the National Museum. As a writer and performer, he sold out his one-man show The Dead House (2023) at its opening run in Dublin Theatre Festival, and has just wrapped production on the short film adaptation.

With a BA in Sociology and Politics from NUI and an MA in Journalism from University of Limerick, Martin is also highly-sought-after TV and radio guest.

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All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

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Emmy winning Foley artist Ellen Heuer talks performance, animation, and the emotional cost of a career spent making movies sound real.

Ever wondered who makes the sound of a kiss, a footstep, or a spaceship snack floating in zero gravity?

On this episode of All Lit Up, host Gilly Fogg is joined by Ellen Heuer, an award-winning Foley artist with over 45 years of experience bringing Hollywood's biggest films to life through sound.

From her home in LA, Ellen takes you from her surprise start as a dancer-turned-Foley-artist to unforgettable stories from working with David Lynch, Pixar, and the team behind Apollo 13.

You'll hear how she built sounds for Ratatouille, The Incredibles, and Cars, and get an honest look at the physical and emotional toll of decades spent performing for the screen.

Ellen also shares two short film recommendations; including the sound-driven animated short (and 2026 Oscar Nominee) Butterfly. Settle in and press play.

WATCH BUTTERFLY on YouTube

Read more about Ellen's upcoming book on her life in the industry, If These Shoes Could Talk, over on her website.

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Ellen Heuer is a celebrated foley artist and storyteller whose career spans over four decades in film and television. Her work has been heard in countless acclaimed productions, though rarely seen — until now.

Now, her currency is the joy to share with you this exclusive and unique world of sound with all the old-fashioned, analogue charm one could imagine.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Ellen resides in the Hollywood Hills where she teaches at USC, Motion Pictures Sound Editors, Crossroads Elementary, and various international panels on sound design.

Selected Credits

12 Years A Slave —Foley Artist / 2013

The Fifth Element —Foley Artist / 1997

Shawshank Redemption —Foley Artist / 1994

Schindler’s List —Foley Artist / 1993

Who Framed Roger Rabbit —Foley Artist / 1988

Back To The Future —Foley Artist / 1985

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All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios

In S2 E01 of the All Lit Up! podcast, we're chatting to animation legend, Tom Bancroft, about how challenges can lead to opportunities; the importance of self assessment; and his drive to make sure "young Tommy" gets his hopes and dreams met.

Tom lays out how frustrations can drive growth and fuel passion projects - though not always without a cost. Gilly and Tom also discuss how breaking into the animation industry differs now vs then and how to balance nostalgia with modern advances.

In this not-to-be-missed launch of season 2, we also welcome the return of the Short Film segment as Gilly and Tom discuss his recommended watch "The Cat Came Back" by Cordell Barker (1988).

Watch The Cat Came Back

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All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios

In Episode 12 of the All Lit Up! podcast, we're chatting to Georgina Hayns about the world of stop-motion and the types of people who are drawn to work in the sector.

Plus we hear why Georina chose the 1930s classic, The Mascot, for her short film selection.

Watch The Mascot here!

Georgina Hayns. Director of Character Fabrication

Georgina Hayns has served as a puppet creator and creative director for over 30 years. Her career began in the UK, working for Cosgrove Hall Films with puppet-makers Mackinnon & Saunders. She worked on projects including BBC Television’s Noddy, HIT Entertainment’s Bob the Builder, Lipton® Brisk® Tea and Puffs Tissues. She also worked on the animated feature films Mars Attacks! and Corpse Bride and shorts including the Academy Award®-nominated Periwig Maker.

She was the Creative Puppet Fabrication Supervisor at Laika for over 10 years, supervising the puppet builds on the Oscar-nominated films: Coraline, ParaNorman, The Boxtrolls, Kubo and the Two Strings and The Missing Link.

Georgina is currently at Shadowmachine and served as Creative and Technical Director of Character Fabrication for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio. She then moved on to the TV show In The Know, currently streaming on Peacock and Season 2 of The Tiny Chef Show, which airs on Nickelodeon.

Georgina serves as a creative and technical consultant and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios

Designer, showrunner and cartoonist, Lisa Hanawalt, discusses the making of BoJack Horseman and Tuca & Bertie, from designing a whole surreal animal universe to suddenly running a writers’ room for the first time, and learning how to deal with "joke-per-minute" notes.

If you haven't already seen Lisa's latest work, we recommend you head straight to Netflix for Long Story Short, the highly anticipated adult animation from the team behind Bojack. Season One is excellent - and Season Two is on the way!

This one’s for anyone obsessed with character-driven comedy, and the messy, collaborative craft that is adult animation.

All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios

Emily Brundige and Gilly Fogg discuss the power of self belief, the meaning of 'Li'l Toughy', and how community building and crowdfunding can hold the key to success - when deployed thoughfully.

Plus we hear Emily's short film choice, the 2019 short film Goldie - written and directed by Emily and which was later adapted into a series on Apple TV+.

Goldie

A giant girl feels out of scale in her colorful little town, only to realize she takes up just the right amount of space.

Watch Goldie here!

Emily Brundige

Emily Brundige is the creator of GOLDIE on Apple TV+ and the mind behind the cult-favorite YouTube series Pubertina, with over a decade of experience crafting original, heartfelt, and slightly oddball stories for kids and families. She served as Story Editor on Hilda Season 3 and Head Writer on Big Nate. Emily recently self-published A Guide to Developing Animated Shows, praised by animation legends Joe Brumm (Bluey), Jorge Gutierrez (El Tigre), and Chris Viscardi (The Adventures of Pete & Pete). Her latest project, Strawberry Vampire, is a Kickstarter-backed pilot animatic about a family of strawberry-draining vampires trying to blend into American suburbia.

Find Emily and Li'l Toughy on Substack here.

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All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios

In Episode 9 of All Lit Up! we're chatting with Posy Simmonds, long-time cartoonist for The Guardian and a major figure in British comics who has influenced generations of artists.

Posy's landmark characters include reworkings of female characters from 19th century literature Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe, both of which began as serialised cartoons published by The Guardian and were later published as graphic novels, before being turned into feature films.

In 1997, Famous Fred, the Joanna Quinn short film adapted from Posy's children's book, Fred, was nominated for BAFTA Award for Best Short Animation and won the British Academy Children's Award for Animation the same year. The film was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Animated Short Film in 1998.

Join Posy and Gilly as they discuss Posy's lifetime of storytelling, from her early love of creating comic strips right through to her retrospective exhibition in Paris's Centre Pompidou and winning the prestigious Grand Prix at Angoulême in 2024, the first British comic creator to ever win the prestigious award.

Plus, we hear Posy's short film recommendation, Un Chien Andalou by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí.

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Un Chien Andalou

Un Chien Andalou is the 16-minute debut film from Spanish and Mexican director, Luis Buñuel, who teamed up with artist, Salvador Dalí for this surrealist, dream-like narrative that has both shocked and influenced audiences ever since its release in 1929.

Watch Un Chien Andalou here!

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All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios

Join Maggie Kang and Chris Applehans for a no-holds barred telling of what it took to make the smash hit of 2025, the glorious KPop Demon Hunters, which has just this week been nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards!

Maggie and Chris share the steps they took to push their film forward, when they had to push back instead, and how an idea pitched over brunch became a multi-million-dollar production.

Hosted by interviewer extraordinaire, Gilly Fogg.

Recorded in October 2025

MAGGIE KANG - DIRECTOR

Maggie Kang is a director of Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters, which originated from her idea and is now streaming on Netflix.

Kang began her career at DreamWorks Animation as a story artist on various projects including the Puss In Boots franchise and The Croods: A New Age, as well as Rise of the Guardians, Kung-Fu Panda 3, Trolls, Shrek Forever After, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa and Over the Hedge.

Prior to joining Sony Animation, Kang contributed her talents as a story artist at Illumination Entertainment on Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Warner Animation Group, where she was Head of Story on The LEGO Ninjago Movie.

Born in Seoul, Korea, Kang grew up in Toronto, Canada and attended Sheridan College where she studied classical animation.

CHRIS APPELHANS - DIRECTOR

Chris Appelhans is a director of Sony Pictures Animation’s KPop Demon Hunters, now streaming on Netflix, with fellow director Maggie Kang.

Appelhans wrote and directed Sony Pictures Animation’s 2021 animated feature film Wish Dragon, also streaming on Netflix.

Prior to joining Sony Pictures Animation, Appelhans wrote and developed several original projects with major studios including Disney, Laika and Paramount.

Appelhans began his career as a concept artist on animated hits such as The Princess and the Frog, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, and Monster House, before moving into production design on the stop-motion feature Coraline, which earned him an Annie Award nomination for his work on the film.

Appelhans’ other credits include story artist and illustrator on The Little Prince and character designer on Rise of the Guardians.

Appelhans studied illustration at the Art Center College of Design. He resides in Eagle Rock with his wife Maurene and their cat.

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All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Visit lighthousestudios.ie or follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios

In Episode 7 of All Lit Up! we're talking with Candy Guard, creator of the iconic Pond Life. Find out what inspired Candy to move from fine art into animation, why she's inspired by female friendships, and how the transition to digital is really going for her. Plus - a hint at a menopausal Dolly? We can't wait for that!

In each episode of All Lit Up! we ask our guests to recommend a short film to our listeners. Candy's choice was....

Hen His Wife / His Wife is a Chicken

This 1990 Palme d'Or nominee for Best Short Film is from Igor Kovalyov and is about the relationship between a married couple, which shatters when a visitor reveals to the husband that his wife is secretly a hen.

Watch Hen His Wife here!

Candy Guard

Writer, author, animator and director Candy Guard began her career with short animated films for Channel 4, the BBC and MTV - 'Alternative Fringe' (1988) 'Fatty Issues' (1988) 'Fantastic Person' (1990) and many others.

Candy then created, wrote and directed 20 episodes of the cult animated series for Channel 4, 'Pond Life', overseeing 20 animators. She had a long running strip cartoon in the Observer magazine called P.T.O and her first novel 'Just A Little Disco on an Open-Top Bus.' was published by Penguin in 2006. Between 2012 and 20015 Macmillan published her series of books for 8 - 12-year olds, 'Turning to Jelly', 'Jelly Has a Wobble' and 'Jelly Breaks the Mould.'

Candy was given a grant by the BFI in 2022 as part of their Short Form Animation Fund to make her film, 'She's My Best Friend (And I Hate Her)'. She was dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century and managed to learn the animation programme, TV Paint, in order to make her film (with the help of a wonderful little crew).

Learning TV Paint, and the sound recording programme, Audacity, allowed Candy to get back to what she did at the start of her career - making short animations in a simple style doing all the production herself, including the voices, except now on a Wacom Cintiq instead of paper!

Candy has a YouTube Channel, 'Dolly Pond - Fantastic Lifestyle Channel', where you can watch all her work including her new mini films.

Candy is currently writing her 4th Novel, 'The Butchers and The Bakers.' She lives in South East London with her husband the animation director and illustrator Robin Shaw and their rescue dog, Bernie.

Find Dolly Pond's Fantastic Lifestyle YouTube Channel here!

Find Candy on Instagram here!

All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

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In episode 6 of All Lit Up! we're talking to MICHAEL ROSE, cofounder of Magic Light Pictures. the studio behind THE GRUFFALO and CHICO AND RITA.

Join Michael and Gilly as they discuss finding the perfect IP to adapt and how to go about securing the rights. Plus, hear Michael and Gilly discuss the Nick Park Oscar winning short, Creature Comforts.

Creature Comforts

Nick Park's 1989 Academy Award® winning short film, Creature Comforts features a series of interviews with the animals in an English zoo. Used to open spaces and sunnier climates, they comment on accommodation, diet and of course – the English weather! The short film premiered in 1989 on Channel Four as part of a series called Lip Synch. The series was ground-breaking, using real recorded voices with animated characters.

Later Creature Comforts also went across the pond to the USA where the unique format was used once again to tell real-life stories from people in America.

Watch Creature Comforts here!

MICHAEL ROSE

Michael Rose is joint CEO and co-founder of Magic Light Pictures.

Michael began his career programming and running independent cinemas in Plymouth and Bristol before moving into television, where he spent four years at Channel Four as a buyer of international programming.

In the mid-1990s, Michael joined the renowned Aardman Animations as Head of Development. There, he played a key role in growing the studio, launching its feature film division and serving as Executive Producer on hit films Chicken Run and the Oscar-winning Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, both produced with DreamWorks.

Earlier in his Aardman career, he produced Nick Park’s Oscar-winning A Close Shave, as well as two other Oscar-nominated shorts, Humdrum and Wat’s Pig. His television credits there include Rex the Runt and the pioneering web series Angry Kid. He has won two individual BAFTA awards for his producing work.

In 2003, Michael founded Magic Light Pictures with fellow producer Martin Pope. Since then, the company has built a worldwide reputation for creating distinctive, high-quality entertainment for children and families. Michael has produced a string of successful productions including The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, Zog, Revolting Rhymes, The Snail and the Whale, Chico and Rita, Pip and Posy, and most recently Tabby McTat. The company oversees not only production, but licensing, global distribution and marketing. Its work has been nominated for four Oscars, and won five Baftas, five International Emmys and two Children’s and Family Emmys.

Beyond animation, Michael’s producing credits include feature films Wild Target, starring Bill Nighy and Emily Blunt; Sparkle starring Stockard Channing, Bob Hoskins and Shaun Evans; and wildlife documentary One Life, narrated by Daniel Craig.

In 2024 Michael was awarded the OBE for services to animation.

All Lit Up! is a Lighthouse Studios production.

Follow the studio on social media to stay up to date with all news and the latest episodes.

Instagram: @lighthousestudiosire

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lighthousestudios