Post Eave Interview

Ok, it's been a while since the last post! Oh dear...Producing leaves you with very little time to do much else. Really! Well, I didn't get the interview....hahah. I am remembering it now. Yes. I did attend the interview in London. Got the plane over at 6.30am in the morning, Ryanair as we proud Irish do. Went to the secret destination. I can't remember what street it was now. I arrived an hour early. The cafe/bar was really kinda cool. It was a theatre cafe/bar. No one was there but me and the bar man. There were fancy nuts on the bar table which I tried. It was 9am............................oh god. 45 mins to wait. Sparkling water was good. It did cross my mind whether it would be a good idea to order a sparkling water for my interviewer too. Would charm get me on the course?? I decided not to buy him a water. hahah. So I sat looking out the window at this beautiful hotel. I wonder will he come from that hotel. The cost of my interview might cover dinner for 2? (with a nice wine).
The damn cafe was sooooooooooooooooo warm. Or maybe it's just me because I had so little sleep the night  before and now I remember that the plane was incredibly shaky. At 9.45 my interviewer came. As I was still the only person in the cafe he knew it was me. He didn't come from the hotel, however he had a very welcoming smile. He ordered a sparkling water. Damn! I should of bought it. It would of been a nice surprise. After a couple of pleasantries we got down to business. And after 5 mins, he says- I really don't think you have enough experience under your belt at this stage to be part of the course. UGHHHHH. This is not what i wanted to hear, so I look at the clock, it was 9.50. 5 mins into a f**cking interview and I am not suitable. I flew all the way over and in 5 mins I am told I am not suitable. OK I have another 25 mins to show him that I am suitable and after another 10 minutes as it's not working, I cry and then I spend the last 10 asking him for general advice. ( I might as well). At 9.15, another woman comes into the cafe/bar.She is older than me, pretty but in an older pretty, more experienced way. Yep, that's the next interview. We both know my time is up. So, I thank the interviewer, head to the bathroom, meet woman No. 2 putting lipstick on in the mirror and secretly wish her luck. I walk out and see both in conversation. Thank god the air is cool and so off I go to tend to my private clients plants and flowers for the day. Arriving back in Dublin airport, getting the aircoach home, I meet 2 friends, Piers Mc Grail (cinematographer- Kelly + Victor) and Peter J M Carthy (Director- Good Dog Films). Piers was coming back from the Berlin Film Festival and Peter had also an interview with Eave. We both discussed our interviews.  400 people had applied for EAVE this year with only 50 places available and 10 applied from Ireland. WOW. So, I really never had a chance. I am happy that I did the interview (meeting and networking is hugely important) and I was not ready (known within 5 mins!) ..... So, i guess the q is............when will I be ready?????

EAVE Interview

I applied to join Eave  - the European Producers Work shop. Fingers crossed they will accept me. Only fifty people are selected throughout the whole of Europe- so it's tight competition! I have the interview in 2 weeks time in London! Yay! I am not going in with a project, even though I do have one in mind, but this course will certainly help me put everything on paper and work towards making it. I am aiming to go down the documentary route, as I have experience in this area to date but have a huge amount to learn, that's why this course will be of huge benefit to me. I am especially enjoying thinking about the networking aspect and meeting some really interesting european producers to share thoughts with and work on future exciting projects. Now, to start preparing for this interview!!! lol

www.mariecaffrey.com

2 films at the Galway Film Fleadh!

It's been a good day. Crap weather but things are moving in the right direction. Zanzibar Films will be showing two films at the Galway Film Fleadh! Yay!!! Shimmy Marcus's 'Good Cake Bad Cake', which is a fantastic documentary on LIR- the band that should of been the next U2, and Paddy Jolleys documentary on Antoin Artaud called 'The Door Ajar', which is equally impressive. The Galway Film Fleadh, is one of my favourite festivals, and I can't wait, to catch up with all the goss on the filmmaking circuit. It's going to be a super few days. Work wise -Universal and Zanzibar have been mental lately. Lots of competitions entered into last week- which included, Temple Bar Film Festival, Charlie Chaplin comedy Festival and also Cork Film Centre, so fingers crossed to some good news soon, and to a seventh shortlist. This week, was made up of sending in funding applications into the IFB, and following up on 'The Cause of Progress' indie go go campaign, which I want to thank everyone for supporting , we reached our goal! So, now Chris is heading to Edinburgh to pitch for completion funding! Fingers crossed! With Universal Floral Display, the roll out of the new vans should be happening over the next week. I am so looking forward to seeing the new vans on the road, and hopefully lead to more business! A little bit of Omph! is always good! My birthday is also coming up which is very exciting, don't know what I''m going to do yet, but I will look like a million dollars and intend to enjoy the whole day. That reminds me- I'll have to organise a film networking party soon too!

Breakfast with Minister Deenihan

Couldn't possibly miss out on the Media Ireland breakfast meeting with Minister Deenihan. It may have been a short talk, but the networking afterwards was great. A good gang, meeting new and old friends, exchanging ideas and of course the usual topic of funding. The Cause of Progress Indie Go Go campaign is going really well, we are receiving fantastic support out there, and after only a few days have already received half our goal. Thank you to everyone for giving our Director Chris Kelly a hand in making his way to Edinburgh to pitch successfully for completion funding. My friend Leticia Aguado and Paul Mc Grath, also have their own Indie Go Go campaign on the go called 'City Wild'. A short film about the rangers in the Phoenix Park.We did our photo shoot for Universal Floral Displays which went really well. (However, we did have to wait 2 hours to get the photo we wanted as we couldn't get a person to budge!) but we got it in the end! I'm looking forward to seeing Steve Wilson's good work. We want to add a bit of 'oompphh' to the Universal Floral brand! I ended the evening going to Anoucks welcome home party in Abbey St., and on leaving got lost and had to be escorted back to the car park by a couple of students!!!! Mentally tired, I can only put it down to, as how I could get lost just off O' Connell street????

been a long time and I need a $

So, obviously you have noticed, I haven't blogged in ages. Things have been extremely busy.Busy trying to get somewhere, anywhere, out of shortlists please!!!! Got the news today that our team weren't successful with our pitch at the Galway Film Centre/RTE Award yesterday. Our script is on suicide which is a very difficult subject to bring to the table especially with all the guidelines involved in broadcasting.It's a huge pity, as I receive in numerous scripts on the subject, so therefore I believe that if people are writing about it, it's something they want to see, even if it's controversial and tough. It's a hard call, for another day. Found a Director interested in a feature film, which we are putting forward for funding, which is a step forward. This, I believe may be my first feature to produce. On our documentary 'The Cause of Progress' we have set up an indie go go campaign, to get Chris Kelly to the Edinburgh Film Festival (which we have been invited to) to pitch for completion funding. Thankfully so far we are getting fantastic support. It is a vital project that needs to be finished and the story of forced evictions in Cambodia to be told. Visited the Newbridge Silver museum today which was really interesting and I love the jewellery. Caught up with Edwina Forkin, in The Gibson Hotel for a meeting before she went to see SADE in the O2. Looking forward to the Universal Floral Displays photo shoot tomorrow, gonna have a fab photo on the back of the van. I can't wait to see the finished look. Going to plan everything to a T so it will all go smoothly, so check out the new revamped van's coming to an office soon near you!!!!! And I've got that $ song in my head all day! hahha Going to be another fab day tomorrow. Hope it shines.

Middle of May

Good Office day. Being able to go from a set to then contrasting it with sitting in an office, is a wonderful escape, and lets me relax before the next project. Have my course with Edwina Forkin tomorrow- living to learn. Met Rory Mullen ( what a wonderful neighbour to have!), and took it easy all evening, drinking baileys and eating ham, cabbage, and spuds!!! I'm so Irish! Donegal Live Festival this Sunday in Curved St, Temple Bar as well as Africa Day Festival in Iveagh Gardens! So many festivals, spoiled for choice. Festivals are really rocking at the moment. And keeping up on old contacts, as you must do! Hand me the script please.

Chatting to Scott Williams on Q102

Was live today on the Scott Williams Show talking about new mums and peer pressure. All ahead of me! Was a lot of fun taking part on the phone in, even though, I was nervous beforehand, but the whole secret is just chatting away. I did a bit of research before hand just in case, but all it entailed was a little chat with some strangers! It's really funny, as a couple of years ago, I wrote to Q102 looking for work experience which I eventually got in Highland Radio, but it goes to show, everything comes back to you in someway. That reminds me, are there any radio gigs out there? Must check www.radiowaves.fm.