About Us
At StoryKiez, we begin with the philosophy that creators create best when they’re creatively empowered and passionate about what they’re developing. So, we tap into the enthusiasm, drive and unique experiences of our clients and students and provide the tools to craft powerful, dynamic stories stemming from what they're passionate about communicating to their target audience.
The StoryKiez method integrates exercises and insights from years of professional experience in TV writers’ rooms, long-form improv, and story editing. We put great emphasis on the development “process” where each step requires different approaches and mindsets. How one should creatively explore, structure, and write at the beginning of the storytelling process is very different from how one should explore, structure, and write in the final steps.
The goal is to find the right blend of inspiration, personal connection, and craft to create fresh, exciting stories that deeply connect with one’s target audience.
Kevin Napier is a Berlin-based writer/producer and and co-founder of the production company, Reckless Fascination Ltd. He has sold TV show concepts in the United States to companies such as ABC, NBC, FOX TV, Amazon and Showtime. He has also worked in writers’ rooms (including on FX/Hulu’s Married) as well as created and produced TV pilots both independently in Bengaluru (Bangalore) and through Fox TV and Ben Stiller’s Red Hour Productions. In addition, he created and directed a multiple episode comedy-espionage fiction podcast for Audible U.S. As a creative producer and development lead, he has recently shepherded multiple projects to be awarded development funding from Screen Ireland in 2024. As a teacher, he has run numerous writing courses, including co-teaching a sitcom writing class as part of Princeton University’s Atelier Program. His classes use techniques and exercises drawn not only from his work as a writer and producer but also from his extensive experience as a long-form improvisor. He has performed and taught improv in Berlin (independently and through Comedy Cafe Berlin and Die Gorillas Theatre) New York (independently and through The PIT Theatre), and Bengaluru (independently). He has found that the skills learned and honed in improv help one’s writing and the skills from writing helping one’s improv. This symbiosis is the foundation of his teaching.
Ciara Gillan is a co-founder of StoryKiez and brings her expertise as an award-winning short film producer to these workshops, having made several funded short films (Frameworks, FilmOffaly, Filmbase and VM Discovers). She also has over 15 years experience working as a Producer in animation and VFX as well as running her own audio production company writing and producing podcasts. She has worked with international clients including The History Channel, Cbeebies, Mattel, Netflix, Nickelodeon and S4C.
Her audio work has also featured on WGBH and WCAI in the US and been commissioned by Coimisiún na Meán. She most recently produced the short “The Head On Him” for Virgin Media Discovers and Screen Ireland.