The most exciting news at the moment is that one of Ireland’s largest ever productions, ‘Reign of Fire’ from World 2000, is due to start shooting early next year. Starring Christian Bale and Matthew McConaughey (pictured), this big budget production will use every available stage at Ardmore Studios as well as other locations in Co. Wicklow.
Subotica Entertainment have made an eight part TV Drama called 'Random Passage' set in the 1830s, about Irish and British settlers in Newfoundland. This is currently in post-production and will be released next year. ‘On the Nose’, also from Subotica has been completed and is due for release next year.
The German-Irish project, ‘Kaos’ is shooting at the moment and should wrap before the end of December. Geraldine McCreede is directing Irish actors Jason Barry and Lindsay Harris together with a German cast including Peter Lohmeyer.
After shooting in Ireland over the summer, ‘The Count of Monte Cristo’ finished filming in Malta recently and is currently in postproduction in London.
Grand Pictures’ ‘Piece of Earth’ has been renamed ‘Mapmaker’ and the company hopes to begin shooting this and ‘Waiting for Godofsky’ in 2001. Also from Grand Pictures, ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ and ‘Day One’, both Short Cuts projects are due for completion by Christmas.
In pre-production at the moment with Samson Films and Temple Television is ‘Bachelor's Walk’, a romantic comedy written by Tom Hall, John Carney and Ciaran Carney. Set in present-day Dublin it features the lives of three men looking for love in the millennium. Two of Samson Films’ co productions, shot this autumn have wrapped and are in postproduction. ‘Morlang’ is a thriller developed and produced by Phantavision, Holland, and written and directed by Tjebbo Penning. ‘The Abduction Club’ is a period action drama set in Ireland in the 18th Century. Written by Bill Britten and directed by Stephan Schwarz it was produced by Gruber Films (UK) and Samson Films for Pathé Pictures.
In animation news, Treasure Films are set to go into pre-production in the new year with ‘Ape’, a twenty six minute project and ‘Duck Ugly’, the Terraglyph production will continue shooting here until mid 2001.
- Nick Wilkinson
