One Step Back is a comedy feature shot in and around Wexford and Dublin on Sony F900 1080p by DoP Antony Bowes. It stars Frank Carson, Patrick Bergin and Brendan O'Carroll amounst others.
Ghostwood is a Supernatural Thriller in the same vein as “The Sixth Sense”. It was directed by Justin O'Brien and stars Alan Devine (Veronica Guerin, King Arthur), Patrick Bergin (Sleeping With The Enemy, Patriot Games) and Louise Osbourne (Americas Sweethearts, MTV’s ‘The Osbourne's) and is produced by Ned Dowd (Apocalypto, Reign of Fire).
It was shot at Ardmore Studios and on location in the Wicklow mountains and around Dublin in 2005 and 2006. My role as head of the Art department was that of a hands on Art Director. I designed and built all of the sets and props for the film with only a small art department crew. Below are some examples of what was achieved.
Original 'Souterrain' location before building work begins.
Once Souterrain location is locked excavation starts.
Checking measurements.
Finished hole was 12ftLx5ftWx7ftD.
'Souterrain' box section to be buried.
'Souterrain' box fully assembled.
Gearoid filling in around the edges.
Entrance stonework is aged yorkstone. The fake stone slab that covers the entrance is painted airblocks glued together and attached to 1/2inch ply.
With entrance hole cut.
The fake stone weighed only 12kg compared to 189kg for the real thing.
This is a close-up of the realistic stone affect that was acheived.
Nearing completion.
This shot shows the finished area with souterrain box buried underground and 'greens' in place.
The sacrific.
Donal in guts ensemble.
Starting the priests 'insane' room.
Different effects were used to create the overall feel of a room used by a madman.
More interior madness.
More interior madness.
Even more interior madness.
Steadicam on set with Alan Devine.
Ed surveys the madness.
Mad Priests' kitchen interior dressing.
'Made' ancient broken sword prop.
Patrick Bergen with a 'made' crucifix.
Building site set.
'Made' Irish road sign.
The images above are just some of the sets and props that I designed and built for Maxim Pictures 2005/2006.
Prior to working on 'Ghostwood' I worked as Art Director on 'Speed Dating' which was also shot at Ardmore studios. The film is a romantic comedy directed by Tony Herbert about a young millionaire trying to find love before his 30th birthday. It stars Hugh O'Connor ('My Left Foot', Chocolat), Emma Choy ('The Vanguard'), Don Wycherley ('Bachelor's Walk') and Flora Montgomery ('Goldfish Memory').
'Rise Of The Bricks' was written and directed by Ben Keenan for Tinny Productions. The film is a comedy about a boy band trying to make it in the music industry.It stars Emmet Scanlan.