Simon McGuire

After over a years worth of work on this project, there is a sense of excitement and anticipation with the cast and crew on the upcoming screening at the Limerick Film Festival.

This ambitious project was realised by Film Limerick Project Manager Ronan Cassidy and acclaimed Limerick writer and director Gerry Stembridge, with the support of Behind the Scenes in partnership with Limerick City of Culture. The scheme also received assistance from Screen Training Ireland.

The idea behind the project was a way of providing training and experience for those seeking to break into the film industry. Three short films were produced using local filmmakers mentored by industry professionals. Gerard Stembridge selected three writers from Behind The Scenes and worked with these writers individually to make each script as good as it could be. He also took an overview, looking for connecting features and elements that would create links between the stories.

The writers were given maximum freedom to tell whatever story they wanted to tell. The stories had to be contemporary and preferably unfold within a limited time period and Limerick City itself was to be evident as the backdrop. The use of locations in the city is therefore at the heart of each of the films. Even though the films are quite separate stories and work as stand-alone films, seen together they are subtlety linked.

Three teams were put together with everyone who took part gaining invaluable experience from top industry professionals. The teams consisted of three first time writers and three first time directors. In addition there were DOP’s, sound operators, set designers, assistant editors wardrobe, make-up, hair etc., each team being mentored by designated industry professionals.

Gerard Stembridge worked with the directors on casting to secure the best available local talent for the individual films. He also oversaw the filming and mentored the directors on set and ensured that the important linking elements between the stories were taken care of, so that the final product would stand up as a single entity.

Mentor Gerard Stembridge, three writers and three directors all from Limerick, set about creating three short films to be shot in Limerick, featuring a cast of local actors. The films can stand alone but are also a trilogy, linked and intertwined in a number of subtle ways, not least the presence of the city itself as a character across all three films. Come see how this genuine community film project came together.

The Apparel – Featuring Andrew Bennett (Angela’s Ashes) and Aidan Crowe (Game of Thrones)

Joseph is a 40 something whose life has taken a turn. Moved into emergency accommodation with an unkempt 20 something, he clings to the last vestiges of the life he knew and the status of his job as curator of an art gallery.

Day Off – Starring Dawn Bradfield (The Clinic) and Joe Mullins (Pilgrim Hill)

Laura struggles at first to come to terms with her husband’s life-changing affliction, her only distraction is her Day Off, where once a week she finds time to see her friends and socialise.

Date:Time – Main characters played by local actors Mark Griffin and Erica Murray

A romance develops between Ann and Bob, but his bad habit of being continuously late is taking the excitement away and she feels taken for granted.

All the offline editing took place at the post facilities of Limerick Institute of Technology, with three assistant editors gaining experience under the mentorship of myself. I would like to say thanks to Mark Griffin, Patrick Czekalski and Maeve Humphreys for their attention to detail and commitment to the project. Well done guys and enjoy the screening.

The special screening of the Film Limerick Trilogy is taking place on Friday 15th at 8pm in the Millennium Theatre, LIT.