Concept and creative process
Opening titles for a series chronicling Ireland's development from pre-Christian times to the present, with specific emphasis on the creation of the modern independent republic and the roots of the Troubles. Jeremy Isaacs was the Executive Producer of the series. Designer Maggie Perry (now Bone) went to Dublin with BBC Photographer John Jefford to shoot stills of craggy human faces, stone carvings and standing stones. The idea was to show real Irish faces, young and old, coming through the stone ones, creating an illusion of a strong resilient nation, steeped in ancient history. The still photographic material was filmed on a rostrum and edited in-camera together with shots of stone carvings by stone mason Alec Peever, who did the carving for the title background which was also filmed on a rostrum camera set-up.