Filmmaker Ronan Gallagher tells IFTN about the making of his digital short, 'Guest of the Nation' (screening at Darklight) over 5 days during the Galway Film Fleadh.
The call from the Galway Film Centre came on a Thursday. The news was good. My short script 'Guest of the Nation' had been selected as part of the Film Centre and Galway Film Fleadh's award, which would allow three short films to be made over the course of the festival. I was to start shooting the following Monday and the film would be screened five days later at the closing night of the Festival.
After the initial euphoria I began to plan my strategy. As soon as I began to do this the seeming enormity of what I had taken on hit me. My euphoria quickly dissipated to downright depression and fear. How could this be done? Five days to make a film? But what I hadn't counted on was the fact that this was to be a digital film and with digital film while the rules of filmmaking remain basically the same, the rules of engagement are very different.
The first thing that is evident about digital filmmaking is the cost factor. Fifteen euro for an hour of DV tape is significantly less than working in traditional film plus the fact that you can reuse your tape again and again if you're not satisfied with the take. And the equipment needed? Well it may surprise some readers to know that everything I needed to make 'Guest of the Nation' including cast and crew, could fit into the back of my battered old Peugeot 205.
After two days shooting we then retired to the editing room which basically consisted of a computer, software called 'Final Cut Pro' and of course an editor. Two more days and we have a final cut, just hours before our screening. Five days in all to shoot edit and screen a five-minute short with (dare I say it) excellent production values.
What does all this mean? Basically it means that with mainly conventional off the shelf equipment i.e. Camera, computer, and software, anyone can make a film, and what's more have it ready for screening in a matter of days if not weeks, depending on the length of the film. Add in the Internet as a means of distribution and suddenly independent filmmakers have a complete turnkey solution to making their films and accessing a global audience. This process is going to revolutionize filmmaking in that it will level the playing field and allow for greater diversity and expressionism among filmmakers.
The film industry of the future will I believe be made up of the large studios, but increasingly will include small independents whose only limitations will be their imaginations. For filmmakers like myself whose basic drive is a need to express themselves, this technological breakthrough is a blessing and will change the nature of independent filmmaking forever.
Long may it last.
Ronan Gallagher's 'Guest of the Nation' screens at the Darklight Film Festival on Friday 20 September at 12.30pm as part of the 'Margin' programme.
www.darklight-filmfestival.com
