A new feature film written, produced and directed by Rita-Marie Lawlor will begin shooting this July at various locations around Dublin. The independent, low-budget film is Lawlor’s first feature, and has already received positive feedback from industry professionals after a 40-minute pilot episode was screened last February.
‘Apollo Music Club’ focuses on the ups and downs of an eclectic group of people who meet on a part-time music course and end up living together. Characters include Ziggy (Frank O'Keeffe) a survivor of the swinging sixties; Milly (Johanna Budzilowicz) a bouzouki- playing American; Mandy (Rita-Marie Lawlor), a lost soul who falls for womanising Tim (Stephen Murray). Newly weds Linda and Spud (John Nesbitt and Klara McDonnell) are already having problems, will ambitious Linda choose a music career over her ten minute marriage?
Pre-production began on the movie last September. Set in contemporary Dublin, ‘Apollo Music Club’ will be shot in Ballymun, Coolock as well as locations around the inner city. Lawlor originally wrote the story as a six-part series, but re-wrote it into a full-length feature. Post-production will be done by Lawlor’s former tutor, Wil McDermott from Colaiste Dhulaigh
Rita-Maire Lawlor graduated from Colaiste Dhulaigh in 2004 with a B. TEC HND in film production, and has worked on many shoots as a stills photographer, extra and production assistant for the past ten years. She co-directed and produced the film ‘Innocence’ with Andrea Caslin, which won a ‘Best Film’ award and was screened at the IFI.
'Apollo Music Club' is due for release April 2008 and will be entered into various film fests around the globe. The film is a RML Films production in association with Thin Ice Productions.
