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JohnCallister.com

Helping people in Northern Ireland, Record, Publish, and Promote their Stories
More About This Cottage

 

Publishing

 

 

 

 

 The Dark Hedges, County Antrim  

Photography:  John Callister 

 

Photography

 

Near Castlewellan, County Down.

Photography: John Callister

 

Filmmaking

 

Dundrum, County Down.

Photography: John Callister

 

 

Broadcasting

 

 

 

Ballintoy Harbour, County Antrim.

Photography: John Callister 

ABOUT ME Passionate About Story-Telling

John Callister
John Callister
Love shooting stills and video at tourist locations in Northern Ireland. In particular, those that have stories behind them.
Love shooting stills and video at tourist locations in Northern Ireland. In particular, those that have stories behind them.
I am passionate about story-telling! And I’m thrilled that there are so many opportunities for sharing stories these days, especially through using visual media – photography, film-making, YouTube, blogging, and other Internet-based social media content outlets. And then there’s book publishing. Writing and self-publishing is now within the grasp of anyone with a story to tell. Marketing and selling has been made easy through Amazon, etc. I have had the great pleasure of playing a role in helping a number of people get their book published over the course of the past few years. And after the book has been published we have promotional strategies to inform people about its availability.
 
I’m equipped to conduct interviews on location, in studio or online whether for video or audio only. Services I have provided for video and podcast programming include scripting, narration, editing and production.  
 
My media career began in 1979 when I joined the staff of BBC Northern Ireland to train as a film editor.  Later, I had the chance to produce and direct TV documentaries and after 12 years on staff, left the BBC to set up the independent TV production company, Callister Communications. 
 
In this new role I continued to carry out work for the BBC as well as other broadcasters as an independent producer/director. My company also offered broadcast editing facilities to other independent TV producers. New opportunities and business ventures opened up including setting up a network of remotely-controlled adverting screens in public places across Ireland, north and south.
 
During my career, especially in the 1980’s, I helped package too many broadcasts about bombings and shootings which went around the world. I vowed then, that if God would answer our prayers for peace, then I would spend as much time sending positive stories from Northern Ireland around the world, as I had spent sending negative ones. Now that we have relative peace, my goal is to promote the beauty and potential of Northern Ireland as a prosperous and attractive country for investment, as a tourist destination for overseas visitors and a beacon of peace to the world. 
 
At the same time I also feel an empathy with people who have been adversely affected by the Troubles in Northern Ireland and who want to ensure that their story is told and their voice heard. They have that right, and it has been my privilege in the past few years to help some of these individuals write or record their stories and have books published and their stories then promoted to an audience via video and social media outlets, etc.. 
 
But what about your story? Have you a story from the Troubles that you’d like to turn into a book or booklet? Or a story or specialist expertise that could simply inspire or help others?  For starters, if you have a story that I could use for a blog or a broadcast, etc., then I’d love to hear from you. Please send even an outline at this stage to  john@callister.tv  Don’t put it off. DO IT! Many thanks! 
 
 
 
I was privileged to produce the story of Margaret Gallagher and her cottage in Belcoo, Co.Fermanagh, for BBC N Ireland, in the 1990's. Remarkably, it's still as popular in 2024, with more than 4 million views on You Tube and over 5000 favourable comments.
I was privileged to produce the story of Margaret Gallagher and her cottage in Belcoo, Co.Fermanagh, for BBC N Ireland, in the 1990’s. Remarkably, it’s still as popular in 2024, with more than 4 million views on You Tube and over 5000 favourable comments.
Feel blessed to have had a career doing what I love doing - filming and photography, as well as editing a full range of BBC programming including network drama and also producing and directing broadcast documentaries.
Feel blessed to have had a career doing what I love doing – filming and photography, as well as editing a full range of BBC programming including network drama and also producing and directing broadcast documentaries.
Ray Davey, Founder of the Corrymeela Community, outside the old Corrymeela House, Ballycastle (1989). Ray influenced my decision to stay in Northern Ireland when I decided to leave because of the Troubles.
Ray Davey, Founder of the Corrymeela Community, outside the old Corrymeela House, Ballycastle (1989). Ray influenced my decision to stay in Northern Ireland when I decided to leave because of the Troubles.
St Ptrick's Centre, Downpatrick, a good starting point for a tour of historic sites
St Ptrick’s Centre, Downpatrick, a good starting point for a tour of historic sites
John in the 1980's, in his BBC film 'cutting room' with his much-loved 'Steenbeck' .
John in the 1980’s, in his BBC film ‘cutting room’ with his much-loved ‘Steenbeck’ .
The old Corrymeela complex as it was in the 1980's, with Ballycastle village in the background.
The old Corrymeela complex as it was in the 1980’s, with Ballycastle village in the background.
John Callister 2023: Helping people tell their stories
John Callister 2023: Helping people tell their stories

Current Activities: 2024 Publishing and Promoting Storytelling

In 2024, in semi-retired mode but working from home, John is the builder and webmaster of the following websites: Peacenireland.com, ScriptureIreland.com, encouragement.faith, and JohnCallister.com. As well as producing photographic and literary content for these and accompanying social media outlets, he is still pursuing his passion for storytelling.

For the past few years he has worked closely with a local book publisher. This relationship has helped people – mainly from Northern Ireland – tell their stories and have them published in book format and then re-purposed so that the story is then promoted to the world via video, audio, blogs and other outlets. In a number of cases, an author completed their manuscript but needed help with some self-publishing services such as cover design, editing, proof-reading, formatting / interior design, printing, etc. These are all services we love to provide to authors.

And then there’s the question of getting the book out there, whether just publishing additional formats on Amazon as eBooks and audiobooks, or getting the book distributed to relevant bookshops. We have experience in all these areas and it’s surprising how many people we have been able to help. They had a good idea for a book and even had the ability to write, but held back because they didn’t know how to tackle all the technical aspects. So if you’re in this category then please get in touch and see if we can help.

One thing I have been acutely aware of is the need for authors to promote their books after publication without spending big bucks on adverts, etc. This was brought home to me in a practical in 2023 when I took on the responsibility for the re-publication of an out-of-print book by the late Northern Ireland Bible teacher, Derick Bingham.

A lot of my time is spent using the Adobe Creative Suite which is a bundle of programmes which includes software for video and audio editing, Photoshop and Lightroom for still photos, and other design and publishing software. So I decided to create a simple template for a book promotion so that Derick’s book could be promoted on social media. There may be potential for this template to be used to create a low cost ad for your book. You simply send your book cover and the script for the text telling the public how and from where your book can be purchased. Have a look by clicking HERE and see what you think. Then send me an email to John @callister.tv and let me know.

 

My Peace Mentors: Ray and Kathleen Davey

Two of the Foremost Peacebuilders of the Twentieth Century 

Founders of Northern Ireland’s Corrymeela Community 

When Kathleen Davey told me (when she was in her seventies and I was still in my thirties) that if she and Ray had their lives to live over again, they wouldn’t want to change a thing, I was hugely challenged by her remark.  From that moment on, I knew that I wanted to ‘learn’ from them. 
 
If Ray and Kathleen had been raised in wealth and had lived relatively trouble-free lives, those words would not have been so thought-provoking. But the fact is, Ray spent three years during world war two as a prisoner of war in six different prison camps. Now, here they were, spending their lives as a married couple during the height of our Troubles, helping to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland.
 
They had a philosophy for living, where they saw themselves as agents of God’s love and peace in this world – as part of the answer to the problems in our troubled country and the wider world. What attracted me to this couple was their obvious sense of ‘contentment and purpose’. 
 
Corrymeela House, Ballycastle, County Antrim, as it was during the 1980s.
Corrymeela House, Ballycastle, County Antrim, as it was during the 1980s.
Davey Village, Corrymeela, Ballycastle, named after its founders.
Davey Village, Corrymeela, Ballycastle, named after its founders.
Ray and Kathleen Davey, photographed in 1989
Ray and Kathleen Davey, photographed in 1989
Ray and Kathleen lived as part of a ‘wider picture’ in which they didn’t focus on the world as things were, but as how things could be. It was motivated by the Lord’s prayer, “thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” In the context of our Troubles in Northern Ireland, they created, at Corrymeela, a microcosm of how our country could be. Where people were free to be ‘different’ yet feel accepted and respected, not threatened. They held the vision for a country of beauty, respect, love, spirituality, and above all, peace. And I knew that I wanted to ‘learn’ from this couple – to be mentored by them. 
 
What a privilege it was for me to get to know them, to spend time with them at their home as well as at Corrymeela as I researched and ultimately produced a TV documentary about their lives and work. “ The Path of a Peacemaker” was broadcast by the BBC to mark the 25th anniversary of the Corrymeela Community. I have them to thank for the decision to remain in Northern Ireland at a time when I wanted to leave because of the Troubles.
 
I’m dedicating a blog category to expand on how their lives spoke to me, and how what I’m now doing was hugely motivated by their influence. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Click HERE for Path of a Peacemaker screenshots gallery
Ray Davey, Founder of the Corrymeela Community
Ray Davey, Founder of the Corrymeela Community
“Corrymeela and the many other Christian communities in Ireland see themselves as spiritual descendants of Patrick and Columba. We seek to carry on their message. While so many things have vastly changed, the message of Christ the Prince of peace does not change.” Ray Davey

St Patrick Learning about him and from him

I’m currently working on photography and film projects relating to St Patrick-related sites around Ireland, north and south. My goal is to partner with tour operators, guides, bus companies, accommodation and conference providers, historians and others who may have an interest in St Patrick and the creation of peace-themed tours in Ireland.  

The Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, is a good starting point to discover and follow St Patrick's trail.
The Saint Patrick Centre in Downpatrick, is a good starting point to discover and follow St Patrick’s trail.
StPatTara-4550-1920op
Statue of St Patrick, photographed at Hill of Tara, County Meath.

Partner with me

Need help getting your story out there? We have decades of experience helping businesses, non-profits, churches, and individuals, promote their story or message on social media or publication, online or off-line. 

If you’re interested in self-publishing your own book we can help. My team has helped a number of people with all aspects of self publishing, including ghost-writing, editing, cover design, interior book design, ISBN, proof-reading, etc. Then we help with video ads, cover photos, PR, dedicated and branded websites, sales outlets and distribution. 

My photos on the site at PeaceNIreland.com (with or without quotations) are also available to be white-labeled. This means the current PeaceNIreland.com name can be replaced by your own brand or web address, etc. 

Don’t forget to join the more than 4 million viewers on YouTube and more than 5000 who have made favourable comments re my BBC documentary film about Margaret Gallagher from Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh, and her thatched cottage without modern amenities. It’s on YouTube at this link:  https://youtu.be/lRL9iIN3R8s

Don’t forget, your story is precious and yours could be next. Let me know about it.

I’d love to hear from you. Please email me at john@callister.tv