About us

We are Take Two Academy, a hands-on filmmaking programme for schools in London

Who we are

We are Liam Izzard and Megan O’Meara, college friends who discovered a shared passion for film. Inspired by Megan’s brother John’s love for movies, we began creating short clips together and realized we could bring this experience to schools. Our first program, run in an inner-city Dublin primary school where Megan taught, was a huge success, leading us to expand into other schools.

Down Syndrome Ireland later invited us to run the program for adults with Down Syndrome, including Megan’s brother.

Down Syndrome Ireland later invited us to run the program for adults with Down Syndrome, including Megan’s brother. The end result was a huge success and is something that they will have to remember and share forever, we even managed to get Jack Black involved for the premiere!

From there, we developed a program that helps children explore creative writing and the film industry, gaining hands-on experience as actors, directors, editors, and cinematographers. This approach aligns with curriculum objectives while offering a fresh, engaging way to develop literacy skills.

The end result was a huge success and is something that they will have to remember and share forever, we even managed to get Jack Black involved for the premiere!

Liam Izzard

I graduated from the NFTS in Dublin in 2016 with a first-class honours degree in screenwriting. Since then, I’ve worked as a video editor for TV channels and production companies while pursuing my writing. I’ve collaborated with directors like Hugh Mulhern, including on my debut feature, It Comes In Waves, currently in development with Screen Ireland and Motherland.

At NFTS, I realized how much of what I learned about the film industry, creative writing, and narrative structure could benefit primary and secondary school literacy curriculums. The hands-on, practical approach to writing and film wasn’t accessible at that level, but it could have greatly enhanced my skills if introduced earlier.

My goal is to share my knowledge of the film industry, focusing on screenwriting, to inspire children to understand how their favorite films are made and how they can create their own. Through a fun, interactive approach, I want to teach story structure and writing in a way I would have loved as a child.

Megan O'Meara

I am a primary school teacher from Ireland with over nine years of experience, including two years teaching in an autism-specific class. While I love teaching, I wanted to explore how my skills could be applied in new ways. Making films with Liam and my brother, as well as with primary school classes, was an incredible experience. Watching children engage with something new and exciting in a learning environment inspired me to develop this further. My work with Down Syndrome Ireland reinforced these ideas, and after moving to London, Liam and I created a film program designed for all ages and abilities.

With my classroom experience, I understand the challenges teachers face, from covering the curriculum to motivating and inspiring diverse learners. I also see the value of facilitators with teaching experience who can tailor workshops to students’ needs while supporting teachers effectively.

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