140 Irish Premiere!!!

I'm very excited to announce the Irish Premiere of 140 at long long last!!!

It's going to be taking place in the Irish Film Institute on Sunday October 10th at 1pm! I'm thrilled! Thrilled to finally be able to show 140 to an audience in Ireland. And thrilled that it's happening in the IFI! Bit of a dream come true if I'm honest!

I used to frequent the IFI when I was at college (then the IFC) I was in there most days, buying videos, books, postcards, posters and imported magazine that were available nowhere else - as this was, I'm showing my age, before the internet was in every home and so widely available! I remember seeing John Lassater there in a retrospective of his career and the premiere of Toy Story 2. Followed by a Q&A, where he signed a poster for me (which hangs framed beside my DVD collection! Geek Alert!)

I know many prestigious directors have screened and appeared there, so it's a special honour to be joining them... not that I'm comparing myself to any of them! This is just a great opportunity and I'm grateful for the chance to be able to show 140 in such a great venue. My huge thanks to the IFI and Sunniva O'Flynn, the IFI curator, for agreeing to show the film.

Tickets are available at the box office and from their website! I hope if you're in, or close to, Dublin you'll pop in and check it out. I'll be there for a Q&A afterwards... please come and ask lots of questions, I love talking about the film.

See you there!

(The October Programme, 140 is on page 21.

Bit of a coincidence being in the same issue as

'The Social Network'! Considering the theme!)

Some News...

I can finally announce, and I am very happy and proud to do so, that 140 has been Officially Selected as part of this year Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis.

I'm very excited about this. I think I've mentioned my relationship with Heartland before, but just in case you don't know - I won a Crystal Heart Award in 2006 for Emily's Song, Bill, For Short was an Official Selection in 2008 and of course, it's where I met Maryann, my wife. She was the film programmer in 2006, so if I hadn't been selected, won the award and gone, we never would have met, fell in love, got married and had Evelyn! So you can see why I have a strong connection and appreciation of the festival!

We Live In Hope.

Hmm, bit of a dilemma at the moment - wether or not to move ahead with an idea I've been harbouring for almost a year. It's a feature, but the idea is to shoot for nothing in five days. I think it's doable, I just need certain people to say yes and commit to make it happen.

Might step on the toes of Ghoster a little bit, but probably not that much. Ghoster is a much bigger production than this and needs a lot more time, and probably couldn't really be done without some investment. I'm going to ask a few people, see if a few heads are willing to jump in for a week long experiment. If it works, I think it could be really cool. If not - hey, it's only a week!

If it looks like it's going to happen i"ll post more about it.

Meantime, screening of my short films as part of Culture Night on Friday 24th, in association with Nexus Art Project on West St. in Drogheda, the old ACC Bank building - 6:30 - 10pm and it's free. I'll also be screening a film that has inspired me and one I love, Tokyo Godfathers. It's also a tribute to Satoshi Kon, one of my favourite directors, who died last month aged only 46 and in the middle of his latest film.

On Wednesday I'm attending a Screen Directors Guild of Ireland event, a conversation with directors Michael Apted and Alan Parker (Peter Weir was supposed to be there, but I guess he pulled out) I've met Michael Apted before, at the same festival where I met my wife in fact - Heartland 2006. He was there with Amazing Grace, I was there with Emily's Song. Lovely man, complete gentleman. So should be fun.

I did an interview for French television show Les Film Faits A La Maison last week, via Skype. It was interesting, spoke for 30 minutes about 140 and the internet and the positives and negatives of using it to make films. They'll edit my answers and use them in a show at a yet-to-be-determined date, but I will certainly post it when it airs.

Apparently the Downtown Film Festival screening was great. Got a bit cold, but people stuck it out and the reaction was positive! Trampas Thompson introduced the film, thanks Tramp! Another fest coming up soon, will be able to announce later this week. And big screening in October, again, announcement to come!

OK, I'm off to see if I can put a feature film together in Five weeks! Hah! Right... I hear you say. Well, we'll see!?!? We live in hope.

Alot About Nothing.

Sorry, two weeks since the last blog. Not much happening. 140 had it's screening at the Downtown Film Fest in LA last night, haven't heard how it went yet, LA is still sleeping!

I've started the rewrite on Ghoster. Just getting the beat sheet out. Haven't had much time on it. Being a stay-at-home Dad doesn't leave much time for writing! Will get to it soon I hope.

Still waiting to hear back on Iscariot. Been with the producer for 2 months now and no word. So not sure what the deal is there. Hopefully find out what the plan is, if any, soon.

I have a few things coming up, none of which I can announce yet - typical! Raise My Hands the short film I did with Elliot Kotek and Scott McDermott is on hold, it's finished, but we have to wait for word, or approval, or something, from one particular organisation before we can release it - if we can release it, may turn out to be a big fat waist of time! I hope not. It's a great piece. Powerful and moving and I'm proud of my work on it. Fingers crossed.

I have a big premiere of 140 for Ireland, in a great venue, the venue. But need to confirm some details and wait till they go to press before I say what it is.

Another Big fest coming up for 140 in the states, again, have to wait till they're ready to announce! Sorry! Maybe I should just not post this blog, it's a whole lot of saying nothing about stuff that's not happening! Think how great the blog will be when I do get to say stuff's happening!

One thing I can announce is that all my shorts, Emily's Song, Bill For Short and Slán agus Beannacht, will be screening as part of Culture Night here in Drogheda, introduced by my good self and in association with Nexus Art Project. I will also screen a film that has influenced me, which I'm taking great delight in! I love sharing films with people, even if they don't always like what I suggest! It's like a tiny glimpse into my workings and where I've come from. I'm not 100% sure of what to screen yet I'm back and forth on a lot of things. I had an initial idea, but then I start thinking of all these other amazing films! I'll narrow it down. I'll think of something good. That's on the 24th of September!

Not much happening on the Ghoster front with regard to production. I was talking to a producer recently, who's had quite a successful career in this country, but is finding it near impossible to get stuff going at the moment, even with a green lit project they can't quite get all the cash they need to pull it together! Production companies are closing down all the time. Films just aren't getting made. At least not as many as have been in recent years.

But maybe that's just at the higher end of things. I still see a lot of people getting no-budget stuff up and running. Films made on favours, goodwill and pure grit and determination. I know Terry Mahon, who's efforts on his own film were part of the inspiration in getting Ghoster off the ground, is in post on that project 'Charlie Casanova'. I notice Jason Figis' retelling of 'A Christmas Carol', 'Savage' is coming out soon (though that's a micro budget IFB film), Paddy O'Shea has been shooting 'Treekeeper' all summer in Cork. I'm just getting into 'Covies' by Len Collins, which is actually a Web Drama, but it's a no budget piece that was made independently with local help and people working for biscuits! And of course not forgetting my favourite Web Series 'Vultures', also shot on a shoestring. From what I've seen of all of them, they're quality work and entertaining and the fact is, people are doing stuff. Gives me hope for Ghoster.

But we'll see what happens. You never know what around the next corner.