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.

Top ten websites for production jobs

www.iftn.ie
www.filmmakersnetwork.ie
www.crookedhouse.ie
www.castingzone.ie
www.callsheet.ie
www.crewger.ie
www.creativeireland.com
www.creativecareers.ie
www.mandy.com
www.mercuryboy.com

Give me a script

Getting itchy feet for a new film script. Told myself I should take it easy for a couple of weeks,and it's just not happening. Need to keep busy. I had a very interesting meeting with Colin Scuffins this evening.(Plenty of films to be made here). Looking forward to meeting with The Indian Film Festival team tomorrow and also researching a documentary to be filmed in S. Africa. It's going to be a busy summer. Finally relaxing today after a hectic week of Pick up's for POAZ and an even madder wrap party.

Zombie of a throat

I sound like a zombie today, after yesterday getting my hair pulled out by David Harte (Our 1st Ad). It was so sore, that I screamed and screamed and screamed, only to wake up this morning to a croak. I came home covered in blood last night, so strange was it, that I stopped at a petrol station and shocked a couple of passer by's and when I got home, I scared the husband too ( never did that before).
The shower looked like a murder scene and my eyes and hands are still red.
We filmed in a Steel warehouse today in Tolka Valley. It was a really cool exterior, and looking at some of the footage Gerry Shanahan and the gang look fantastic. I'm so looking forward to seeing Portrait of a Zombie on the big screen.

POAZ in Finglas

It's seems like coming home again, oh Finglas and the Mellowes Ave, where did the last few months go? You still look the same, and we are going to be churning out more zombies to walk on your weeds and smell the roses on your lampposts.
The Village Inn, must be the liviest pub in Dublin, I never saw a more packed pub, with zombies and locals dancing to Michael Jackson's Thriller,it was seriously the funniest scene ever!
Onto Day 2 tomorrow. It's going to be a fun week!

Filmbase member!

Finally got around to becoming an official Filmbase member! I'm so excited- free Film Ireland magazines!. After all those wonderful years of college and developing my social circle, I immediately for some very odd reason became addicted to doing lots of courses.
I am nearly finished my acting classes with Terry Mc Mahon, which I am really enjoying, lots of monologues & duologues, I'll have a you tube presence soon, watch this space Sophie Merry!!!
So my reason for joining Filmbase is totally career orientated as I am doing the weekend course 'Being an Independent' with Edwina Forkin.I have heard so many recommendations for this course, so I am expecting to learn lots. Today my friend Constanze was showing me photos of her Pole Dancing class, that I was very nearly tempted to put my name down for, if I hadn't meet Gerry Shanahan for a drink and then headed to The Duke for the Prodigal Son wrap party, where I met the travel presenter king Colm Hanratty ! This guy know's everything you need to know about travelling!
Oh dear, What the poor pole class members missed!( That's another class for down the line!) Onto another day tomorrow. Visiting a warehouse in the morning, sourcing a hospital bed in the afternoon and renovating a house in Sandymount in the evening- why is there always so much to do????

You should know.....

http://www.donegallive.ie/ : Is an event taking place on Sunday May 16th 2010, 12noon-6pm in Curved Street, Temple Bar. We are promoting Donegal as a holiday destination for Dubliners! There are 1000 holiday breaks to be won, if you enter the competition online or if you are in the area on the day!

www.bollywoodireland.com :
The FIRST IRISH INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL is taking place in The Swan Cinema Rathmines, Dublin on June 25th-28th 2010. There are Indian Festivals all around the world, but this will be the first one to be held in Ireland. The aim of the event is to encourage and promote Indian and Irish Film connections and will be a fantastic networking opportunity between the two countries for filmmakers, actors & directors. There will be lots of media publicity too (In Ireland & India).

www.portraitofazombie.com : And finally,Pick Up's of Portrait of a Zombie are confirmed for next week. We shot most of the film in Finglas last October, but from May 3rd-7th we are looking for lots of zombies again!!. We are expecting Portrait of a Zombie to hit cinemas October 2010.

Meeting the Irish Film Board

I think the The Irish Film Board should hold a big party in that big building that they have on Dame St. It's like a big polished building of little decoration. Don't get me wrong but there are a couple of posters thrown in for good measure. I believe I should manage that big building. It needs to be brought to life. There are so many beautiful and unique buildings in Ireland, being a location manager you are in the most wonderful position available to view secret hideout's in Dublin as well as being able to bring fantasy and life to that space momentarily on screen!

Final Ramblings

And so off to Ballinteer we go, to film the short 'Final Ramblings', by Eimear Ennis Graham. Eimear is a genuine gorgeous gaffer, who likes Beamers and she's a screamer!! ( A song we made up while sitting in the interview room of Irishtown Garda Station during the filming of Charlie Casanova!!)It was a bit of a mad dash, to get everything together, as we only learned of our involvement this afternoon, but as the old saying goes in Showbiz, 'It will be alright on the night'. Ray Kinsella is Tipp's hardest working actor. Met Megan , 11 yr old actress and Billy Barry dancer is a youngster with talent. Check this space. Final Ramblings will be a long night, I wonder?

Rehearsing in Filmbase

Filmbase is a good joint to hang out in, you know even before you walk in the front door, that you are bound to bump into someone that you know or recognize. In my case yesterday it was Ken Wardrop, the creator of lots of award winning documentaries, most recently 'His and Hers'. All the more funnier, it was to see Ken as only a week earlier, I had my first audition in 15 years for his upcoming feature 'Probable Parent'.On the day, I passed the initial meeting to get through to audition for him. I was so nervous and excited to see him that when I walked in, I couldn't stop smiling, as I was so delighted. And him obiviously so delighted to see me also that he asked 'Do I know you?!' and I said no, but I know of you!!!!
And so I got my second chance yesterday to smile at him again from across the sofa. I hope he recognizes me!

Welcome to The world of Del Solar Films!

Del Solar Films is a midnight oil burner energy fun loving crazy chick, who loves films. Making films, being on films, watching films. Just finished working on the short futuristic urban western that is 'Prodigal son', Shot in Pelletstown, The Gentlemans Club on the Green, Grand Canal Quay and Rua Red, Tallagh. Synposis: When a gangsters son comes back from the dead, it unsettles his family! This may sound tamish but it is far from it. 4 days of 15hrs. Hardcore. Thankfully the weather was wonderful, and the fun as always was great. Now onto the next task of arranging reshoots of Portrait of a Zombie!