New short film: Chairs [2017]

Just before Christmas I was busy with a number of student projects ahead of updating my showreel. I need new filmed footage, and there's three major film courses being run in Belfast, by Queen's University, Belfast Metropolitan College, and Ulster University, so there is usually a lot of eager young film makers looking for actors.

The first to be completed is a lovely little silent (well, no dialogue) film called Chairs about a hapless janitor's struggles with an unruly group of apparently sentient chairs!

Roles without dialogue present a unique challenge to actors - all communication must come from the face and the physical form. Looking at this now, I feel I made a couple of missteps, but I have identified them and will know what to be aware of in future.

It was a delight to work with the student's of Queens for this one, (directed by Ciara McLarnon; DOP Ben Ross; production Jenna Mealiff) and the writer/sound man Jack Tollerton has put the finished project up on his Youtube channel.

Filming in Belfast with Queen's University students

Today I was filming for Queen's University students in Belfast city centre. It's a project I got into late, having only received the script on Monday, but we got through the first of two days filming today.

Produced by Shauna Coyles, the film, as yet untitled, was written and directed by Declan Murray, with DP duties being handled by James Ward, sound by Conall McMeekin and editing by Kerri Kelly.

We were shooting in Queen Street Studios, in the offices of Triplevision Productions, with the owner, Eamonn Devlin, doubling as actor in the project.

There is another day of shooting tomorrow, and the completion date is set for December 15th, so I should be able put some footage on the site then.

Performing in Accidental Theatre's Fast & Loose program

I am teaming up with Accidental Theatre again for their inaugural Fast & Loose program. It is going to a chaotic staging of a short play that will have been conceived a mere 24 hours prior.

Working in conjunction with The Queen's University Players, and being performed as part of the Queen's Quarter Weekends - an initiative to promote the cultural value of the unique area of South Belfast that surrounds the University - the project is the brainchild of Accidental's dramaturg, Emily De Dakis.

I am doing my play with Jack Geary, who I have been working with on The 39 Steps as well as Incident at Vichy, so I have a good working relationship with him.

It's being performed this Saturday evening in The Space in the Queen's Student's Union building, so come along and see four plays for a measly £3 (or £2 for QU Players members, or with a Romeo and Juliet ticket stub).

Screening of Number 35 at QFT

Deborah McCartney informed me yesterday that the film Number 35 (title subject to change) is to be screened in the QFT on Wednesday.

This is a film I have been really looking forward to seeing, based on a family's coping with a bereavement, while also sorting out the intricacies of bequeathments.

The film was directed by Cliodhna O'Halloran, and written by Shauna Mohan, who I expect will be in attendance.

Incidentally, the completion of this project means that I only have to wait for the full length edit of Hope to complete my current show reel. I will be posting it as soon as I have it completed.

Shooting Simpleton

I just wrapped on the first day of my latest project, Simpleton. It's a supernatural tale about a young bullying victim, who gets a wish to be smarter. I play Mr. Rosseau, his suspicious teacher.

The production has taken on Gilliam-esque difficulties, with two of the actors dropping out at literally the 11th hour, and one of the crew breaking her wrist, but we got through a day of shooting, and will be meeting up again on Monday for another day.

Finished shooting “Number 35″

Yesterday I completed shooting for a group of Queen's students on their family drama, tentatively titled, Number 35. It is based around a house, whose bequeathment is uncertain, due to the owner of the property passing away, without leaving a will.

I play Mike, the self-centred older brother, who wants to sell the house immediately, to reap the financial rewards - neglecting his younger brother who lives in the house with his family.

It was written by Shauna Mohan, directed by Cliodhna O'Halloran, and produced by Deborah McCartney. Other members of the group were Claire Corr (editor) and Declan Holmes (sound). The other actors were Steve Armstrong, who played my younger brother, John, and Emma Walls, who played his wife Sandra.

Production wraps today, and editing should be completed by May.