Shauna Keogh – TV Producer releases 5428 Fashion Label
By Hayden Moore
Coming out about your sexuality can be a daunting task, that’s why Emmy-nominated TV producer and director, Shauna Keogh only told her parent’s that she was gay four years ago – when she was 32 years of age.
Now 36, Shauna has released the fashion brand ‘5428’ as a way for those to be comfortable in expressing their sexuality through their clothing and wear a unifying brand that represents who they are all year round.
After spending two years in Ballyfermot College studying Television Production, Shauna went on to produce shows for MTV such as her Emmy-nominated ‘Too Fat For Fifteen’, and other critically-acclaimed shows for National Geographic, Channel 4, and ITV.
Shauna Keogh
Originally from Kingswood, Shauna told The Echo about how being gay was something that was almost non-existent growing up, what inspired her to create 5428, and what she’s been working on with Mayo Gaelic Footballer, Cora Staunton.
What inspired you to get into video production?
I was fascinated from a very very young age with the characters inside of the television screen, and how each character has their own story to tell.
Like the perfect day for me would be going to the cinema, getting some popcorn and watching a film. Your imagination is endless, and I knew I wanted to do something creative in TV production.
5428 is your current project, and it’s a fashion label?
I created 5428 because I feel like my own sexuality and identity merged, which inspired me create something that I could wear that would represent who I was.
I love Pride so much, and I love the colours and feel like they are necessary for what they represent. The vibrant colours for Pride itself are fantastic, but I wanted to make something that I could wear all year round.
Is there a meaning behind the name ‘5428’?
If you type the numbers 5428 into a telephone keypad, it will spell out LGBT. There’s a lot of meaning behind it, and I wanted people to know that they don’t have to explain themselves for anything or for any reason to anyone because you are who you are.
When did you first know about your sexuality?
When I was growing up and I was a teenager in school I had no idea what gay was because it just wasn’t talked about. There was no conversation around your sexuality, it was just that you dated boys and that was it.
Is coming out as gay in today’s society easier than it’s ever been?
Ireland is such an amazing country! I even get people abroad coming up to me saying “Ireland are leading the charge for change”, and that makes me so proud to be Irish.
When I made ‘The Only Gay In The Village’ for RTÉ, I was going around through a lot of rural villages and it is still very tough to be gay in some places like that.
What did it feel like being nominated for an Emmy in 2011?
It was absolutely amazing to gain that sort of recognition for something we had put so much hard work into but at the same time I don’t want to dwell on accolades of the past because I enjoy the process of making and creating more than anything.
Any other projects on the horizon?
I have a few projects in post-production at the moment, I have a feature-length documentary coming out in September about Mayo footballer, Cora Staunton and her journey in Australia playing Aussie Rules.
That will be on TG4, and I also have something in the works with Netflix.
Any advice for those wanting to get into tv/film production?
There are so many options for people today trying to get into the industry, like your phone is a camera and you have YouTube as a way of getting your content out there. Just put yourself out there, but you have to be willing to work and I know that might sound like a cliché but it’s true.
The 5428 clothing range will be going mainstream in a few months, but until then it will be available from Street 66 in Temple Bar, or online at 5428apparel.com
TAGS Lifestyle
