Brian Reddin - RTS Presentation..
RTS ROI Centre presentation
by Brian Reddin Producer/Director/Writer at Dearg Films (24th March 2015)
The Republic of Ireland Centre of the RTS was delighted to invite Brian Reddin Producer - Director- Writer ( Dearg Films), to give a Presentation on documentary production and in particular on his award winning documentary based on Film Producer Roger Corman’s “It Came from Connemara”.
Brian Reddin was Introduced by Charles Byrne Chair of the ROI RTS Centre, who reminded the audience, that Brian after he graduated from NIHE joined RTÉ and started work on the memorable “Scratch Saturday “ series. .. Brian then took up the story and explained that he was born and reared in Dublin and as a young man was obsessed with Elvis and old movies. This inspired him to present the long running series “The Last Picture Show” on RTÉ Television . He went on to be awarded four IFTAs. He said he is still annoyed at Elvis for dying at 42 !
Brian set up Dearg Films and has produced a catalog of films and documentaries.. Recently Brian produced a milestone documentary “It Came From Connemara” which was premiered at the Galway Film Festival last July. The documentary which was based on Film Producer Roger Corman, was selected to be screened at the “Raindance” Film Festival in London.
Brian explained that “we were absolutely thrilled to be screened as part of this prestigious festival and to be the only Irish feature documentary selected was a great honour”. “It’s particularly cool because our documentary is in both Irish and English, which proves that a good story can travel in any language. We are equally delighted for both TG4 and the BAI who funded the documentary, and who had been incredibly supportive throughout the process”
“It Came from Connemara” lovingly tells a fascinating and often amusing story, using the testimonies of those who were involved with the Roger Corman Studios….and who were there to make it happen….
When Corman came to Ireland he brought with him an unparalleled career, which guaranteed him a place in cinema history. He had launched the cinematic careers of Coppola, Scorsese, Nicholson and De Niro. The name ‘Corman’ meant low budget, but it also meant cult, and crucially, it meant not too serious. He was never concerned with awards or creating anything of lasting esthetic value. Instead, he churned out cheap exploitation flicks in the 50’s, which quickly established Corman as a producer and director who gave the audience what they wanted. His Irish films were also designed to do just that.
The Corman Connemara Studios employed hundreds of people throughout its five years in production and made 20 feature films. The movies were all shot in Connemara by Irish crews with Irish actors. Yet, the story of the studios and the movies Corman made there has never been told until this documentary . With unique access to Corman and his archive of Irish films, along with behind the scenes footage and stills, as well as interviews with many of the cast and crew who worked at “Concorde Anois” Reddin’s documentary tells the story of what came from Connemara during those five gloriously and some would day glorious years.
The documentary features exclusive interviews with Roger Corman, Don ‘The Dragon’ Wilson, James Brolin and Corbin Bernsen as well as interviews with the Irish cast and crew, John Brady, Celine Curtin, Maeve Joyce and Evelyn O’Rourke. The documentary was produced and directed by Brian Reddin. The DOP was Gerry MacArthur and it was edited by Ultan Murphy in Windmill Lane. The documentary was funded by TG4 and the BAI.
This was a most enjoyable presentation by Brian Reddin with many visual and audio inserts, which helped the very attentive audience feel the atmosphere of this unique time in Irish Film Production in the West of Ireland. CB
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