Writer Mark O’Halloran
talks about writing Garage
“THERE’S NO SUCH THINGS
AS TOWNS ANYMORE…”
from Garage (2007)
The Idea
«I wanted to write something about the countryside. Any films I’d seen set in the Irish countryside treated it as a joke. I was interested in the reality of loneliness in rural life. I was interested in how towns are changing and what that means. I was interested in the fact that there is no more room for the village idiot. The idea for Garage came from that interest.»
Garage Description
«The Romanian film director Cristi Puiu talks about films as testaments. I believe that Garage is a testament to Vaudeville. Inherent in the archetype of the idiot is the absurdity of us all, the slapstick and ultimate tragedy.
It’s also a testament to Josie. There’s a type of writing that I want to do - writing for people who are helpless. There’s an inevitability to what happens to them that is awful. I see Josie like that. There’s a smallness to Josie’s life, the life in the town is desperate and yet he richly receives it. But he’s seen as an idiot. The film is a testament to him and people like him; to their goodness.»
Writing Style
«I write character-driven scripts. They’re driven by the music of the way people speak: the rhythm of it, the pace of it. It’s all about the truth of the characters speaking. I have an improvised method of writing. The story unfolds. As long as you know your characters and are truthful to them, they’ll sort out your plot for you.»
Casting Josie
«I don’t think this one would have happened without Pat Shortt. I can’t think of another actor who would have pulled it off in the same way. And he is even better than I imagined. He is so incredibly beautiful in it. I was very moved by his performance.»
|
Producer Ed Guiney talks
about producing Garage
The Background
«Ever since we were in college together, Lenny and I have been talking about making films. We worked together on short films and our first feature - together with Speers Film - was Adam & Paul (2004).
In February, 2005 at Berlin, Lenny, Mark and I discussed the idea for Garage, which was pretty well formed at that stage and decided to go ahead.»
Financing Garage
«Given the subject matter and where the film was coming from, it didn’t need too big a budget. Myself and Andrew (Lowe) approached Simon Perry at the IFB Bord Scannán na hÉireann / The Irish Film Board as the key financier. He came on board straight away. They were and have been brilliant, incredibly supportive all the way through.
We were looking for an international partner which would give it the credibility in terms of the international market place. We’d done three or four films with Film4 recently (Omagh, Isolation, League of Gentlemen’s Apocolypse, Death of a President). We sent Garage to Peter Carlton, Commissioning Editor, there. He came back very quickly and was very positive about it and Film4 came on board just after Cannes last year and have been a tremendous partner on the project.
Jane Gogan, Commissioning Editor, Drama at RTÉ, also responded very positively and agreed to back the film. That enabled us to then apply for BCI (Broadcasting Commission of Ireland) funding, which we also secured and which was incredibly helpful in terms of closing the financing and getting the film made.»
Producing Garage
«Lenny creates an environment in which people feel free to offer up ideas, suggestions. It’s a very inclusive and very fertile environment so very enjoyable to produce.
We leave a long editing period. This allows the film to emerge in a much more gentle, organic way. It facilitates experimentation and becomes a process of working and reworking.»
Garage at Cannes
«We’re delighted to be at Cannes with Garage. It’s the perfect place to begin the international campaign. The profile and visibility lent the film by being here is crucial to how it is launched on the international stage.»
|
