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Wednesday, 11 July 2007
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King of the Fleadh
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Derry born director Tommy Collins tells benjamin coombs why he thinks GAlway Film Fleadh is the best festival in Ireland

Do you enjoy coming to the Film Fleadh?

Well I've been to every Fleadh since its conception, so I guess I must. (laughs) I remember when it used to be held at the old cinema at the Claddagh. For me, it's the best festival in Ireland; it's great craic. What's more you get to meet all sorts of people, from students to high financiers, and that's the beauty of the Fleadh. In fact, three years ago I was at the Fleadh and I sat with members of TG4 and the Film Board and talked about the idea for 'Kings', so the movie was actually hatched at the Fleadh.

Tell us about the genesis of the film?

Well I'd been looking to do a film in Irish; I wanted to challenge myself. I'm also very interested in the generation of Irish people who moved over to London, and then I saw Jimmy Murphy's play 'Kings of Kilburn High Road' and I was very taken with it. There was something about it. It's all about men finding themselves in the corner of the pub, their lives disintegrating, and being trapped and not being able to leave. It's a trap of their own making because they have promised themselves that they will stay.

You've had a great initial response to the film, haven't you?

Yeah, we've already shown the movie at the Taormina Film Festival in Sicily, and we got a very good response. People said the movie was very poetic and warm, and so hopefully its appeal stretches well beyond the Irish and the UK market.

Was it an enjoyable movie to make?

The process of making a movie is very enjoyable, even though it's massively hard work, even when you're on a tight budget and you're working in the middle of a maelstrom. I live for it, even though it's a tough gig at times.

Was the film difficult to make from a technical point of view?

Well we didn't use a tripod; the film was shot with hand held cameras because we wanted a sense of that energy amidst the hustle and bustle of Kilburn, so that was challenging to say the least!

The movie also features actor Colm Meaney?

Colm brought his own experiences to the part and he has a great presence on screen. Certain actors have a presence which finds the camera and just shines through.

I suppose that as a director you need good 'people' skills to deal with your actors?

Yes, part of your job is to facilitate the actors; to get the best out of them. Actually a few years ago I made a short film in Galway called 'Phantom Knut', a sort of comedy revenge movie, and I got to work with some great local Galway actors then.

What about the music in the film 'Kings'?

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