May Edition 2007
 
 
 
 

 

Cannes calling for young Irish Filmmaker

By Cillian O'Brien
Production still from the film 'Home Lobotomy Kit'. David Reynolds (left) and Ian Higton
Midlands based Irish filmmaker David Reynolds is showcasing a short film at the prestigious Cannes film festival this May.
Originally from Harmonstown in Dublin he has been based in Birmingham and Redditch for over two years.
In 2004 he achieved a BA in Media Production from the University of Wolverhampton, a university with long established links to colleges in Dublin. Prior to his time in Wolves he was a student for three years at Coláiste Dhúlaigh, Coolock, on Dublin’s north side. The college has a reputation for producing successful media talent.
As a student he made a number of innovative short films. This year he brings one of his recent shorts to France, his first time entering a film in a festival.
David’s day job is working behind the camera, on lighting, sound and direction at a Midlands based digital TV station.
“I started making short films when I was about 11 with my dad’s camera (that) he borrowed from work,” the indie filmmaker said.
This year is the 60th Cannes Film Festival. It is one of the most influential film festivals in the world.
“I went there last year. Just on a whim really. I’ve always loved films and it just hit me that for two weeks in May, Hollywood flocks to Cannes, which isn't too far away. I booked my tickets, got lucky with accommodation and had a great time. I got off the bus at ten at night and the main road by the beach, The Croisette, was jammed full of people wherever you looked. X-Men 3 was having its premier and there was photographers everywhere.”
“Everybody you talked to asked what films you had seen. But I’m from Ireland, the weather was far too good to be stuck in a cinema
all day.”
“The only problem was I didn't have a festival pass. Without a pass you can’t go see any films, or get into any of the tents to network so I decided the following year I’d get a pass somehow. Which is where the short film corner comes in.”
“The Short Film Corner is a market for filmmakers trying to get their short sold. It’s open to anybody who has a short film and 50 pounds to spare. The Short Film Corner seemed the best route to get a pass and it would motivate me to make something while I was at it. It's just a place to show your film and meet other filmmakers.”
David has entered ‘Home Lobotomy Kit’; a film about the lengths people will go to seek pleasure.
It focuses on two junkies who embark on an ill-advised pleasure-seeking mission.
The director also takes on acting duties in the film along side Ian Higton.
Cameraman on the film was Matt Sullivan from County Kerry.
“My unofficial tagline for the film goes, ‘It’s a comedy horror. In that order.’ Which I think is pretty accurate”, David said.
He explains the inspiration behind it. “I was watching TV with a few friends and the show was examining how laughter triggers the painkilling area of the brain. This prompted a friend to say how she heard of people who gave themselves self-inflicted lobotomies so they could trigger those zones. As soon as I heard this I instantly had the idea.”
“I knew there was going to be a brutal lobotomy scene but instead of creating some gory bloody effects, I went the route of Hitchcock and Spielberg, that being to suggest rather than show.”
“I’d planned on the characters having a computer with detailed schem-atics of the procedure but simplified it to a drawing of a head with an arrow pointing to the word ‘brain’. I figured the less these guys knew about lobotomies the funnier, and scarier it would be.”
He directs, writes, edits and acts in his films. What is his favourite part of the process?
“I think editing. I enjoy trying to figure out the best way to tell the story. I love to write as well, and they say the final draft is in the edit, so maybe that's why I enjoy it so much.”
“My friend Eoin MacIonmhain made a great soundtrack and I edited it over the course of a few days.”
“Home Lobotomy Kit has nothing to boast about technically, there'll be thousands of better looking films at the festival but it does manage to get a reaction out of people. And hopefully one of those people will help me make better films in the future.”
”It was an amazing experience, even though I had to survive on about 40p for the rest of the month.”
The Cannes film festival takes place from May 16th to the 27th.
Last years winner of the Palme D’or, the highest prize in the competition, was The Wind That Shakes The Barley, by midlands born director Ken Loach. The film tells the story of the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War.


Galway student
death
A 17 year-old student from Co Galway passed away from blood poisoning caused by meningitis last month. The young man was admitted to hospital and died two days later.
His family were immediately treated for protection from the often-fatal bacteria.
New convention centre for Citywest Hotel?
Citywest Hotel owned by Jim Mansfield (developer) has lodged a planning application for a 4000-seat convention centre at the hotel Saggart in Co. Dublin.
The centre was in controversy three years ago when part of a roof and a steel frame was erected without planning permission.
An Bord Pleanala has refused permission twice before for the development. Citywest has been granted leave to pursue a judicial review of the decisions.
Better health after smoke ban
Research has proved that the health of bar workers and customers have rapidly improved since the ban came into force in the Republic of Ireland in 2004.
The ban was started in Scotland in March of this year, Wales and Northern Ireland last month and will hit England this July.
The ban will see smoking in indoor public places a thing of the past and anyone caught lighting up will be subject to a fine.
Kate Walsh RIP
Kate Walsh, the Kildare North Senator passed away after suffering from a long term illness.
She recently announced with regret that due to ill health and that she would not be involved in the General Election.
She was described as gentle but brave woman with achievements that made her inspirational to others.
She will be sadly missed by all that knew her.
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