The wintery weather didn't put off hardy animation and live action directors on Thursday evening when they came together at the Director's Club animation screening of Darragh O'Connell's 'Olivia the Pig'.
Darragh screened two episodes of Brown Bags children's animation series aimed at 3 - 6 year olds which currently screens on US network Nickelodeon. He then gave a presentation which took attending directors through the process of developing the drawings of 'Olivia the Pig' from the original look of the book illustrations by Ian Faulkner through the many changes to reach the final version that we see on our screens today.
Fifty two twelve minute episodes have been made of 'Olivia the Pig' with a new series currently in production. It is also envisaged that RTE will bring the series to Irish audiences later this year.
Kicking off the 2009 season of SDGI Director's Club screenings Ian Fitzgibbon screened his black comedy 'A Film with Me in It' on Monday January 12th in the Sony Director's Screening Room.
Speaking to a full house of fellow SDGI member directors Ian explained how he found the script came to his attention and how it immediately resonated with him.
He recounted how working with well known comedy actor Dylan Moran led to a certain amount of improvised performance becoming part of the final film and explained how he kept the film look and feel minimalistic in keeping with the genre of cult films such as Shallow Grave and Withnail and I.
The next Director's Club screening will be Darragh O'Connell's 'Olivia the Pig' on February 5th in the Sony Director's Screening Room from 6pm.
Over 40 SDGI members attended the 2008 AGM, which took place on Monday November 24th in the Irish Film Institute on Eustace Street. The meeting began with an overview of SDGI’s achievements in 2008 from Ciaran Donnelly (Chairman) and Birch Hamilton (Executive Director) with highlights such as the hosting of the 2008 General Assemblies of both FERA and IAESDO in Dublin begin reported upon.
The new Minimum Terms for Directors, which was launched at the meeting and explained by SDGI lawyer Geraldine East, who travelled from London for the AGM, was warmly received by members.
Tomm Moore reported on winning the Finders Award 08 and his experiences in LA. Paddy Breathnach, who chaired the IAESDO General Assembly meeting reported on the work of the meeting and a report was read out from Trish McAdam, who was unable to attend the meeting due to illness, on the recent work of FERA. Steve Woods of the Animation Sub-Committee and Neasa Hardiman of the Women Directors Sub-Committee also addressed the meeting.
George Morrison was also awarded Honorary Membership of the Guild in recognition of his contribution to Irish filmmaking and was presented with an engraved silver bowl to mark the occasion by Jim Sheridan.
Lance Daly, Conor Horgan and Declan Recks were re-elected on rotation to the board of SDGI.
After AOB the meeting concluded with members retiring to Le Cirk on Dame Street for refreshments.
Iconic Irish director George Morrison (Mise Éire) who has influenced documentary film makers globally since the 1950’s was recognized for his contribution to Irish filmmaking and directing at the 2008 SDGI AGM when he was awarded honorory membership of SDGI. His films which include Saoirse (1961) and Rebellion (1963) are considered classics by his peers.
George who has developed many techniques that have become standard and vital in the industry and who as recently as 2000 designed a post-graduate Masters Degree Course in Motion Picture Arts has also worked in the field of Ambiances Sonores.
George was delighted to accept an engraved bowl to mark the occasion from fellow international Irish director Jim Sheridan, who said he was honored to welcome George into the Guild and shake the hand of such an ‘inspirational photographer and film maker’.
‘WC’ selected to screen in Competition at 2008 Cairo Int. Film Festival.
Irish Writer/Director Liam O Mochain’s second feature film ‘WC’ has been selected to screen in competition at the upcoming 32nd Cairo Int. film Festival Nov 18-28 2008. O Mochain says on hearing the news “We are delighted to screen at Cairo, the festival is listed in the top 20 film festivals in the world and over the years the festival has hosted and awarded the who’s who of the industry from Peter O’Toole, John Malkovick to Sophia Loren and Oliver Stone”
WC received it’s world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival, where it sold out. The film also recently screened at the Galway Film Fleadh, Montreal World Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Zimbabwe Int. Film Festival and the Waterford Film Festival where it picked up the Best Feature Filmaward.
‘WC’ is a quirky drama set in and around the toilets of a Dublin Jazz bar, it follows a day and in the life of two toilet attendants, Jack (Liam O Mochain –‘The Book That Wrote Itself’), an Irish guy who has recently been released from prison and Katya (Julia Wakeham -‘The Tudors’), a Russian girl who has come to Ireland to find a better life. As Jack and Katya deal with argumentative customers, an interfering bar manager and an inept thief, they find an unlikely friendship with one another in the last place one would expect – the toilets. Described by the director as a “social drama”, the film examines topical issues like racism, social integration, sex trafficking and low paid workers in a every day setting. In making ‘WC’ O’Mochain has drawn inspiration from the films of Mike Leigh, Ken Loach and Michael Winterbottom.
‘WC’ boasts a cast of 80 and a crew of 60; the main cast includes Adam Goodwin (‘My Boy Jack’, ‘The Tudors’), Karl Shiels (‘Eden’, Intermission’, ‘Batman Begins’), Mary Murray (‘The Magdalene Sisters’, ‘Adam and Paul’), Eamonn Hunt (‘The Running Mate’, ‘Inside I’m Dancing’), Tim Ruddy (‘BallyKissAngel’, ‘Gods and Generals’), Julie Hale (‘Ash Wednesday’, ‘My Left Foot’), Sean McDonagh (‘Kisses’, ‘PaddyWhackery’), Donal Gray (‘Omagh’, ‘Legend’), Rory Mullen (‘Hunger’) and Daniel Wu (‘Yu Ming Is Ainm dom’ winner best short film award at the 2004 IFTA’s).
Working behind the scenes on ‘WC’ were; DOP Mark Waldron (‘Once’, ‘Bachelors Walk’), Sound Designer Cathal O Mealoid (‘Paveen Lackeen’), Costume Designer Allison Byrne (‘The Daisy Chain’, ‘Song For A Raggy Boy’), Stunt co-ordinator Alan Walsh (‘Tudors’, ‘Braveheart’, ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’), Editor Stephen Doran (award winning short film‘A song for Emily’) Composer Richie Buckley (‘Goldfish Memory’,‘The General’), Co-producer Liz Kenny (‘Benedict Arnold: A Question of Honor’, ‘The Magnificent Ambersons’), co-producers Michael Wechsler and Terry Keefe (‘Braise yourself’, ‘Slaves of Hollywood’) and Producers Liam O Mochain and Bernie Grummell (‘The Book That Wrote Itself’- winner Lodgers award at the 1999 Austin film festival, ‘Fortune’-winner best short film 1998 Worldfest Houston Int. Film Festival.).
WC will be released in cinemas in Ireland and the UK in MARCH 09
For all inquires about WC:
Email: siar@ireland.com
tel: 353 86 3970623
