Western Front Studios shoot film in Mullingar

ON LOCATION Emer and Brian Durcan from Western Front Studios pictured on set in Mullingar with writer/director Craig Moore (centre).

New short movie starring John Connors finishes shooting in Mullingar

Brian and Emer Durcan of Western Front Studios based in Westport, along with writer and director, Craig Moore from Killucan, Mullingar were the recent recipients of the inaugural Westmeath Film bursary. A grant of €10,000 was awarded to them for the production of an original ten to 12 minute short film. The film was shot in Mullingar at the end of January. Titled ‘Barry Versus the Binmen’, the short stars well-known actor John Connors.
The film centres around a down on his luck thirty-something (Barry, played by Graham Earley), who becomes fixated on a feud with his bin collectors, when they begin leaving his wheelie-bin in other people’s driveways. The filming involved both crew and talent from both  Mayo and Westmeath.
The Mayo part of the team included Emer as the Producer, Brian as Director of Photography and Niall Flynn, a resident of Lecanvey on lighting. Niall has also produced a feature called ‘Ann’ that will have its Irish premiere at Dublin International Film Festival on February 26.
The team in Westmeath also consisted of Camera Operator and Movie-Technician Rossa O’Dowd (Castlebar). Extras talent included Catriona and Faye Kelly (Westport and Kinnegad). Catriona and Faye got the opportunity to play a mother/daughter duo who were very shocked to see an enraged Barry running after a bin lorry!
Western Front Studios have received previous support from LEADER and the South West Mayo Development Company. This support allowed them to purchase a cinema camera, top end lenses and other cinematography gear.
Brian Durcan, Director of Photography, said: “We am grateful of the support from Mayo County Council, as well as the Westmeath County Council. It is fundamental for someone like me to get the opportunity to shoot projects like this in order to hone my skills and get my name out there.

Exciting project
“Craig Moore is a formidable talent and I am honoured to have worked with him on this exciting project. Graham and John were wonderful to shoot, absolute pros and really lovely people too. We will be starting the edit here in Westport next weekend and I can’t wait for an audience to see the finished product.”
Emer Durcan, Producer of Western Front Studios, added: “Western Front Studios are honoured to be chosen to produce the first ever Westmeath Film Bursary short film. Craig’s talent is really worth supporting and this is without doubt the strongest crew and most organised shoot we have ever led. We thank all involved for their hard work and passion. We will undoubtedly work together in the future, quite possibly on a project here in Westport.
Stay tuned as we will be having a local screening in Westport in October, along with our other short films shot over the last year. We would also like to give a quick shout out to local Westport company Bourke Waste, there were some shots we needed to pick-up and fair play to them for allowing us to film them this week on their round.”
Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Barry versus The Binman’s writer and director, Craig Moore said: “The aim is to take it on the festival circuit, and have it ready for the Galway Film Fleadh in July. That’s the biggest one in the country, and we’re hoping to have Barry versus The Binman’s first screening there.
“I’m honoured to be directing the first project to be selected for the Westmeath Film Award. The county has incredible untapped potential for filmmakers and I, along with my incredible production team from Western Front Studios and my cast and crew, are massively excited for this shoot. My hope is that this leads to further great things not just for us, but for the scheme itself; paving the way for many other filmmakers to gain access to real support for their ideas and make them a reality.”
John Connors, perhaps best known for his role as Patrick Ward in Love/Hate, told the Westmeath Topic that he enjoyed the freedom of his role as an antagonising neighbour.
“It’s a bit different from what I’m used to, which is good, as at this point in my career, it’s about showing different colours. I know Craig Moore for years now and as soon as I saw the script I said ‘absolutely I’ll do it, it sounds like a bit of fun’.”

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For more on Western Front Studios, see https://onthewesternfrontstudios.com/