Kildare Filmmakers - Goodbye and Blessings

A script I wrote in September last year is going into production in April, Slán agus Beannacht. It's connection lies strongly in Louth and Drogheda and the people of the area as it is based largely on true events. Names changed and event fictionalised to a degree for dramatic effect of course.

The story arrived fully formed one day as I watched my rent collector walking down the hill toward my house. As I watched I wondered if he ever got into trouble, if he was ever mugged, he was carrying a bag of cash after all and being he collects from council houses he does sometimes have to venture into undesirable parts of town, some places where crime and violence have excavated in the past few years.

So I asked him. He said no, but a colleague of his was a couple of years. He was badly beaten and left in intensive care. It cause rise to concern and it was thought that perhaps it was time to call in the rent collectors. 

It made me wonder about the state of things. How much things in Ireland have changed. And without even realising it we are losing a way of life, a part of our identity by allowing the thugs to dictate how we live and where we go and by allowing the increased rate at which we live our lives to trample over those of a older time and of a slower pace. Why should they lose their way of life because we can't deal with the situation at hand.

Thinking about this for a while I then wrote the script in a matter of hours. With rewrites over the next 6 months when I could get to it. Now we're ready to go.

The film is almost all cast. In the lead role is Paschal Scott (Killinaskully) Tony Leddy (Henry & Sunny) Gerry Shanahan (Fair City, Colour From the Dark) Noel Kelly (Bill, For Short) Shane Murray Corcoran (Angelas Ashes, Emily's Song) Eric O'Brien (Emily's Song).

I still have five more parts to cast, those of 2 teenagers, Mr's Smith, an elderly lady, Liam, the rent collector who is mugged and Ann, his wife. All important roles requiring strong performances.

Locations are locked, crew is set. I think it's going to good. It'll be fun to shoot and I think we'll have a good, strong dramatic piece of value.

Here's hoping eh?!