News

Another remake on the cards “The Crow”! Now this one was bashed about for a bit and it looked as though it wasn’t going to see the light of the day again. Well not the remake away as Relativity Media was caught up in a lawsuit with the Weinstein company over the rights to the character.
However, it all seems like it’s been about to get the green light and F. Javier Gutierrez has been named the director to take the remake to the next level. Gutierrez isn’t exactly a household name but he has previously worked on fantasy crime drama “Before The Fall”.

As to who is going to be cast well only time will tell some ideas have already come out like Bradley Cooper. Although it’s just a rumour and really let’s be honest there are other actors better suited to the role. Who knows maybe casting will be really strong? We’ll just have to watch this space…. again!

Terry George’s The Shore and Peter McDonald’s Pentecost were both nominated for Best Short Film (Live Action) today as the nominations for this year’s Oscars were announced. Congratulations to all involved in these two great short films

Parallel Films’ co-production Albert Nobbs secured three Oscar nominations. Glenn Close is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role and Janet Mcteer is up for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. The film has also been nominated in the Make Up category recognizing the work of Matthew Mungle, and Martial Corneville and our very own Lynn Johnston. Congratulations.

Pentecost : Ireland 1977. Eleven-year-old Damian Lynch (Scott Graham) is called in at the last moment to serve as an altar boy at an important mass in his local parish. Following his last appearance as an altar boy when he knocked Father O’Toole off the altar, Damien is serving a 3 month ban from his only passion in life…football. To make matters worse, Damian’s team, Liverpool FC, are playing in their first European cup final in two weeks time.

Damien’s father (Michael McElhatton) offers him a reprieve and crucially a chance to see the European cup final if he serves the mass correctly. Damien now faces a choice: either conform to the status quo or never watch his beloved Liverpool play again…

The Shore is the inspiring story of two boyhood best friends – Joe (Ciarán Hinds) and Paddy (Conleth Hill) – divided by 25 years of misunderstanding. Their world and their friendship is shattered by the conflict escalating in Northern Ireland, the two boys’ lives take very different paths until, 25 years later, Joe returns for the first time to his homeland with his 24-year-old daughter, Patricia. In his absence Paddy, his best friend, has married Joe’s former fiancée Mary. What happened all those years ago? Can old wounds be healed? The answer is in equal parts hilarious and moving.

The awards will be presented in a ceremony on 26th February presented by Billy Crystal.

To see the full list of nominees. Check out the Oscars website HERE>

You have only seven days left to apply for funding to participate in the Community Outreach Digital Switchover Programme!

The aim of the programme is to involve community and voluntary organisations in reaching out to the people who otherwise may not make the switch to a digital television service, before the analogue signal is turned off on 24 October 2012.

To ensure that nobody is left behind, we aim to harness the goodwill, energy and ‘can do’ spirit of people involved in organisations that already work with, and provide essential services to, the target group - many of whom are elderly, disadvantaged or isolated.

The programme will be implemented at a local level through the appointment of one local organisation per county/area to lead an outreach programme. Community and voluntary groups across Ireland are invited to apply for funding to engage a Digital Outreach Champion (a person who will undertake this work on their behalf).

We’re looking for organisations that are networked within a particular county/area and both interested and capable of supporting the designated person to implement the programme. Your Digital Outreach Champion should have strong organisational, motivational, networking and project management skills, and have a real interest in assisting the target group.

The funding will take the form of an all-inclusive grant of €25,000, to include all contracting/employment costs, equipment and expenses.

For further information visit the FAQ section on the Community Outreach Digital Switchover Programme page and download the Application Pack. To apply, download the Application Form.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday, 31 January 2012 at 5.00pm.

http://www.wheel.ie/content/community-outreach-digital-switchover-programme

‘Love/Hate’ seris has been recommissioned by RTÉ for a third series. It’s hardly surprising though after being nominated for an amazing ten awards at this years IFTAs including the BAI associated award for Best Drama.

Series producer Suzanne McAuley said, ‘All of the cast and crew are very much looking forward to beginning work on the third series of ‘Love/Hate’. The first two series certainly got a great response from the viewers and attracted critical acclaim, so it is really gratifying for all of us to be working on such a successful project.’

Production is due to start in March.

http://www.rte.ie/tv/programmes/love_hate.html

The extremely sad news of Bingham Ray’s passing has shocked the indie film community to its core. Many of which can’t believe the veteran film executive is no longer with us. Ray was always so passionate about his work and spoke openly about his love for what he did only last year. Each of the panelists was asked where they see themselves in 15 years. Ray’s answer was pure and simple:

“I’d like to be able to do this in whatever form, and over a wide array of areas, until I drop,” he said, “whether that’s in an hour and a half or 30 years from now.” he said while talking to the Indie Wire.

In the end I guess that’s all any of us can ask for, to follow our passion and live the life that we love today rather than tomorrow!

Check out his fantastic career and amazing work below:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712759/

Selena Gomez has decided to add another string to her bow. Producing! Her production company, July Moon, has optioned the film rights to The Sky is Everywhere, the first book from author Jandy Nelson. In addition to bringing the pages to the silver screen, the actress/singer plans to star in the picture as well.

The plot follows Lennie Walker, an introverted 17-year-old geek who is constantly overshadowed by her older sister, named Bailey, who is her exact opposite. When Bailey dies unexpectedly, Lennie suddenly finds herself forced to fill her sibling’s shoes. In addition to this role she is also attached to star in Spring Breakers, the new movie from writer/director Harmony Korine. No screen writer or director has been publicly released to be part of the flick “The Sky is Everywhere” as of yet so watch this space!

Find out more about the book below:

http://www.theskyiseverywhere.com/

The Cinema chain Odeon are behind a new 12-screen theatre with an IMAX screen that is set to open in March as part of The Point Village plan. Developer Harry Crosbie speaking to the Irish Times explained that ‘The cinema complex is expected to include a shopping centre with Dunnes Stores as its anchor tenant,’ adding that it will staff 75 people.

http://www.odeon.co.uk/

The Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) is delighted to announce that Fionnula Flanagan will be honoured with the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award at the 9th Annual Irish Film & Television Awards, in Dublin on Saturday 11th of February 2012.

Speaking about Fionnula Flanagan and her Lifetime Achievement Award, IFTA Chief Executive Áine Moriarty said: ‘IFTA is proud to pay tribute to one of Ireland’s finest actresses, celebrating her work spanning almost 50 years and showcasing her great skill and craft in illuminating every character she has portrayed, captivating audiences around the world. Fionnula is a wonderful representative internationally, of Ireland’s film and television industry and continues to support home productions along with her international work; she has the greatest respect from her peers here at home.’

Speaking about receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Fionnula Flanagan said: ‘I am bowled over to be chosen by the Irish Academy to receive this wonderful Award. It is a great honor to be invited to join the ranks of the gifted former recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award and, having checked, I am encouraged to find that their work lives continue, some even flourishing, so that if I learn my lines and hit my marks and don’t bump into the furniture, my own career might just continue on also. All the more enriched by this beautiful recognition from my IFTA colleagues to whom I say a big thank you!’

http://www.ifta.ie/

For the last two years there has been rumours floating around the independent film community in Limerick that we were going our own Filmbase or Filmcentre. No one seemed to know when or where it would happen or who was going to run it. So you can imagine when I heard that it was to be run by the City of Limerick VEC I decided to find out the details. So I got an interview with the two main players in the project Dave Burns and Paul Patton (Head of the City of Limerick VEC).

Interview with Professor Dave Burns, former member of the Department of Computer Science and Information Systems in the University of Limerick and one of the main collaborators on this project with City of Limerick VEC. He has been actively campaigning for a digital cinema for Limerick since 2008.

To read the interview click here

Have you a burning desire to direct an award winning documentary like Spellbound, Hoop Dreams or Roger and Me? What about His & Hers, The Pipe or Pyjama Girls? Is there a story you’d like to tell on television about Ireland today and your generation’s place in it? Do you have an observational tale that viewers need to hear and see? Does that story reveal something original, layered and challenging about life in Ireland amid the country’s changing times?

As part of RTÉ’s TV50 celebrations, the RTÉ TV Documentary Unit and Filmbase are launching ‘Doc on the Box’: a forward-looking initiative designed to encourage a fresh, emerging voice in video documentary direction and production. The competition (open to over-18s) offers a single, three-month contract to one individual to produce, direct and deliver a 25-minute, original video documentary story that is aimed at a twenty-something audience for RTÉ prime-time television broadcast. The successful applicant will display a sense of directorial vision,they will also have DV or other camera experience as well as an understanding of video production: from prep to shoot, editing to delivery. The production will be mentored by an RTÉ Executive Producer.

An optional information morning will be held at Filmbase, Curved Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 10am to 1pm. Bookings for the morning can be made via telephone: 01 679 6716 or email: clare@filmbase.ie.

‘Doc on the Box’ guidelines and more information are available on our website HERE> or through www.rte.ie/tv/doconthebox/.

Deadline for submissions closes 5pm Friday March 2, 2012.