Am delighted to announce that four films of which I edited have been nominated for the Richard Harris International Film Festival in late October.
‘Day Off’, ‘Date:Time’ and ‘The Apparel’, have all been accepted. These films were the brain child of Film Limerick Project manager Ronan Cassidy with renowned director Gerry Stembridge.
The scope of the Film Limerick project was not for the faint hearted. To bring the three stories together with three writers and three directors took organising and at times needed a delicate professional hand to harmonise everything together and allow the interweaving of the narratives, characters and locations of Limerick city to compliment each other. Project mentor Gerard Stembridge and project manager Ronan Cassidy brought all this together and with the support of the Limerick City of Culture, Behind the Scenes, Limerick 2020, Limerick Institute of Technology. The same amount of hard work, dedication and attention to detail was given to all three and the fruits of the labour of all cast and crew involved can be seen in every shot and piece of sound. This was certainly evident when all three had their cast and crew screening at the Limerick Film Festival back in April to an audience of nearly two hundred.
As editor on the trilogy, i’m taking great pride in the effort from everyone’s talent and patience with these films. I would encourage everyone to take a look at all three when ever you get a chance to see the film making talent that is growing in this city and region. They need the support and encouragement to continue their passion and goals. Film in Limerick needs to be supported now and into the future, whether the Limerick 2020 bid is successful or not… culture is not just for one year it’s for life and the Film Limerick Project has been only one part of many available by different groups and individuals in the city. It has achieved its goals set way back between the Limerick City of Culture 2014 team and Behind the Scenes. Regardless of people’s difference of opinion of each other, the trilogy films… all films… created in Limerick should not suffer… it is our creativity,… our art,… our culture and long may we continue to practice!
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The fourth short film nominated is Tommy C. Conlon’s, ‘The Sons of Robert Schuman’. Edited in early 2016 this is Tommy’s second short film after the success of ‘Play It Again Son!’.
SYNOPSIS
An Irishman, a Frenchman, a German and an Italian are working in the public relations department at the headquarters of the European Union in Brussels.
On this particular day they are each giving guided tours to visitors. They explain the history of the EEC/EU. Naturally they portray it is a visionary project, built on the ideals of great statesmen who after World War 2 dedicated themselves to a future Europe of peace and prosperity.
Tours over for the day, they return to their office upstairs. Whereupon they swiftly begin haranguing each other, insulting the others’ countries, resorting to caricature and national stereotypes. The united façade presented earlier to the public has disintegrated.
Writer’s note
While this film is essentially satirical in intention, and hopefully comedic in its execution, the writer is trying to make a point about basic nature. Can human beings successfully erase their tribal identities and atavistic instincts for the sake of a greater common good? And is the vast EU project, currently generating widespread resentment across the continent, ultimately a chimera that cannot be sustained.
Shot on location in Dublin, and edited here in Limerick, the short has a particular contemporary feel with the current unfolding news stories of the Euro 2016 and the UK Brexit referendum.
Tommy’s previous film ‘Play it Again Son!’, has had previous success at the 2015 Limerick Film Festival, winning the award for best acting for Pius McGrath’s performance.
The Sons of Robert Schuman is currently doing the rounds on the Irish Film Festival circuit as well as the European stages. As information on screenings become available they will be posted here.
Congrats Tommy.
I was delighted to work on all four of these films and look forward to the festival which takes place from October 27th to 31st.
Simon McGuire 