Fleadh Hat Trick

What a Fleadh!!! Just when you think it can't get any better.... The standard of films this year was the best I've seen yet. I attended 5 features, 2 panels, 36 shorts, 4 parties, and 1 very special awards ceremony! 

I could not be happier/prouder/more grateful to play roles in 2 absolutely stunning films LILY and SANCTUARY, which took home the Awards for Best Short Drama, and Best First Feature respectively. 

I think the magic of both films lies in how deeply they make you feel and care, yet how effortlessly funny they both were at the same time. That's a delicate balance to achieve but when you get it right, you can feel it in the auditorium and it's so wonderful to be a part of that. Sincerest congratulations to both directors Graham Cantwell and Len Collin, Sanctuary writer Christian O'Reilly and all the cast and crew on both films, working with talented, sound people on great scripts is all you can ask for....

Massive thank you to everyone from the Fleadh - staff, volunteers, filmmakers and audiences for a superlative year and my personal thanks to the Galway Film Centre who awarded my micro-short BODY OF CHRIST 2nd place in the One Minute Film Festival at the Fleadh. 

One Minute Movie Madness!

You know that old adage....
Never work with children or animals
Well some of us just can't help ourselves. (They're just too cute! And funny!) 

Not too long ago I saw this tantalising callout for submissions from the Galway Film Centre for 1 minute shorts for the 2nd edition of the One Minute Film Festival they held last year as part of the Galway Film Fleadh. Such a smash hit it was, they were going again.

Now anyone that knows me, knows my favourite week of the year is the 2nd week of July aka The Galway Film Fleadh. As an actress I am honoured to be part of this year's closing film of the festival, Len Collin's groundbreaking feature SANCTUARY, and equally proud to be a cast member in Graham Cantwell's LGBT drama LILY, but I had a grá on me to direct another short film so when I saw that callout, well.... it called to me.

Cue a very spontaneous and intense eight day pre-production-to-submission turnaround on short film number 3! I got the film submitted mere hours before the final deadline last Thursday, and low and behold to my absolute delight, it got selected to screen!

So, what's it all about? It's a one minute micro short (76 seconds + 5 secs credits to be precise) called Body of Christ starring Sophia (aged 4), Caden (5) and Olivia (8)....plus 2 cats and a dog. It's a comedy needless to say! It was filmed in one day on location in Portumna, Co. Galway. 

BODY OF CHRIST

A look through the imagination of a child at the 'magic' of the Eucharist.

Screening Details: One Minute Film Festival at the 28th Galway Film Fleadh, Town Hall Studio 4.30pm Sunday 10th July 2016. Bookings 

As I write, the screening is already sold out, though they've been known to lay on second screenings when that happens. UPDATE - Yes they have scheduled a second screening so book now! 

I must say a huge thank you to the amazing Joe Conlan who scored this for me, and Graham Cantwell for cinematography. I can't wait to see the other shorts next Sunday!

Here is the full list of selected films http://www.galwayfilmcentre.ie/2016/07/01/one-minute-film-festival-at-galway-film-fleadh/

#GalwayCityofFilm

NOCTURNE PASSAGE Round Up

Well once again I've let time lapse between blog updates so allow me to do a quick roundup of some highlights for NOCTURNE PASSAGE, including screenings, nominations, awards and interviews!

"With a radical take on narrative, excellent cinematography and elegant storytelling, Nocturne Passage is an emotionally penetrating journey to the darkest corners of the human mind." - Cinéwomen, May 2016

Here's an interview I did with Cinéwomen Europe about ‪Nocturne Passage, published recently https://issuu.com/wacconnect/docs/cin_wom_iss0016_art_cinema_dance_-/46

Earlier this year in March, Nocturne Passage screened in Dublin as part of the Filmbase "Movies with the Masters" Screening night where it won the Jury Prize for Best Actress!

Nocturne Passage also picked up two Award Nominations in the categories of Best Actress (Susan Loughnane) and Best Editing (Graham Cantwell) at the 6th Underground Cinema Awards held in Dublin in November 2015, following a successful screening as part of Underground Cinema held in May that year.
You can read the full list of nominees for the Awards reported here by Scannain. 

The film was also very well received at two sold out screenings at the Irish Film Festa. Here I am enjoying the lovely reception they held after the event at the Villa Borghese in Rome. Incredible hospitality and such a beautiful city!

Nocturne Passage - More Festival News!

I am very excited to attend the 7th Edition of the Irish Film Festa in Rome later this month for a screening of NOCTURNE PASSAGE, which is one of 10 live action short films in competition at the festival.
www.irishfilmfesta.org/english/short-films-selection-2014/

The film will screen before the main feature at the Casa del Cinema, Rome at 6.20pm on Friday 28th March. I'm so delighted to be attending the festival alongside such guests as Kate O'Toole, Bob Quinn and Lelia Doolan to name but a few! www.irishfilmfesta.org/english/guests-7th-edition/

Casa Del Cinema, Rome

Here's a short interview with the Galway Advertiser I gave recently about the film, ahead of its Galway Premiere. www.advertiser.ie/galway/article/62208/amy-joyce-hastings-rising-galway-actress

Nocturne Passage - The Festival Journey Begins

I've never been much of a blogger so I've let a year lapse without comment (!) But what an exciting time it's been...

After a few months further post production, I submitted NOCTURNE PASSAGE to The 25th Galway Film Fleadh in July, and I was absolutely delighted to receive word it was selected to premiere there. I couldn't have asked for a better occasion, and the reception it got was so rewarding.

Here's a couple of cheeky pix from the festival...

Myself and Nocturne Passage's cinematographer Graham Cantwell, and (below) with composer Stefan French after the screening

The Shorts Programme

'Nocturne Passage' Suite

For months now I have been raving about the amazing score Stefan French Music has composed for NOCTURNE PASSAGE. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed the process of scoring a film, something I had never done before and I'm fully aware I was as lucky as can be to land this young composer for my short. 

He has put together a 4 minute Suite featuring some of the themes from the score.........have a listen, it's a thing of beauty!

http://soundcloud.com/stefanfrench/nocturne-passage-suite

NOCTURNE PASSAGE Teaser Trailer

Here's a very short teaser for 'Nocturne Passage' which we released on Halloween 2012 (the teaser that is, the film itself is 98% ready, just a couple more cues to be composed and a touch more sound design).

Anyway I was very excited to get this teaser cut together and hope you horror fans enjoy it, and share it round. F*ck Xmas, tis definitely the season for things which go bump in the night!

Written and directed by Amy-Joyce Hastings, the film stars Susan Loughnane (Love/Hate, Britain's Next Top Model) alongside Ciara Bailey (St. Dracula 3D, Food Guide to Love).

NOCTURNE PASSAGE Poster

The fabulous Martin Moylan of Helix ID came onboard to design a poster for 'Nocturne Passage'. I'm very pleased with the results! Finishing off the score and sound design right now, and it will be ready to go.

'Nocturne Passage' in post production

Well it's been a little while since I have posted about 'Nocturne Passage' as I was kept very busy throughout 2011 with other projects, notably 'The Callback Queen', however my New Year's Resolution was to complete the film and who am I to argue with myself. ;)

After a 3 day gruelling edit, the assembly is nearing a rough cut. I am very happy with how it's coming together. Edit-wise it has been a lot more complex than 'Hear Me Now' due to the large amount of setups, and the ambitious effects we are aiming for. My huge thanks to Graham Cantwell for tirelessly editing it for me as he has his hands full right now so the time borrowed from his schedule is greatly appreciated!

By the way the second actress in the still on the right is the lovely Ciara Bailey (I don't think I mentioned her before). She plays a pivotal role in 'Nocturne Passage' and was a joy to work with on our night shoot in February!

I have also been putting a lot of thought into the finish of the film, and am delighted to have attached two extremely talented creatives to see it through.

Award winning director Natalia Andreadis has agreed to grade the film for me. I met Natalia a couple of years ago when she was colourist on a short film I acted in called 'The Letter'. She did such a beautiful job on that short, it was the first time I really became consciously aware of the importance of a grade on a film. I am particularly honoured she has agreed to colour NP as her own short film 'Without' is one of the most impressive shorts I've ever seen, and her directing career is going from strength to strength having recently been selected as co-director on Ridley Scott's documentary feature 'Life in a Day'!

I am also really lucky to have attached upcoming film composer Stefan French to score the film. The score will be absolutely pivotal for this piece and I am excited to begin work with Stefan in March.

That will leave me with just the sound design and the poster artwork to complete the film. I'm already buzzing with ideas for both. In the meantime, welcome 2012, the Year of the Dragon... Make it a good one!

Nocturne Passage

Still from Nocturne Passage, Photo by Poppaea Bicknell

22:22 PRODUCTIONS are very excited about our second short film NOCTURNE PASSAGE.

Nocturne Passage is a 9 minute psychological horror centering on a girl's attempt to detox, after a fateful drug fuelled night out with her best friend. She is haunted by guilt and paranoia or possibly something more...

Written and directed by Amy-Joyce Hastings, the film stars Susan Loughnane, a finalist in last year's 'Britain's Next Top Model' who has also just starred in 'Love/Hate' Season 2, an IFTA award winning drama in Ireland. Actress Ciara Bailey also stars.

The film was shot in London over 3 days and nights in January and February and is currently in post production. More to follow!

26th Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market

Hear Me Now will be screening as part of the Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Market from 5th-11th February 2011

New Poster Artwork

Portobello Film Festival Official Selection

Hear Me Now will have its UK premiere as part of the comedy programme on September 8th at the 15th Portobello Film Festival, 2010. The venue for this screening is Inn On The Green and HMN will screen at 8pm in the lineup.

You can also request to view the film as part of the Festival's Video Cafe Menu at Westbourne Studios from 6-11pm on 13th-15th September. Hear Me Now is no. 355 in the 'menu'.

HEAR ME NOW UPCOMING SCREENINGS IN LONDON

WED 8 SEPT
Comedy
INN ON THE GREEN 8pm

MON 13 SEPT
International Drama plus Video Cafe
WESTBOURNE STUDIOS 6-11pm

TUE 14 SEPT
Documentaries plus Video Cafe
WESTBOURNE STUDIOS 6-11pm

WED 15 SEPT
Art Documentaries plus Video Cafe
WESTBOURNE STUDIOS 6-11pm

For more details on the Portobello Film Festival visit their website or to download a full festival programme click here.

Hear Me Now Screens at Underground Cinema

22:22 PRODUCTIONS are happy to announce that Hear Me Now will be screening as part of Dublin's Underground Cinema lineup on 18th February 2010.

Teaser Trailer for Hear Me Now

Hear Me Now TEASER from 22:22 PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

Also, check it out on IMDb

Ready to Go!

So the film is done, Withoutabox account is loaded up with credit and now begins the festival submission process. Here's the poster:

Post Production

So at 3am last night we finished the final edit on Hear Me Now. Actually it was probably more like 2.45am, but I was so happy I had to watch it five times in a row before bed. It's 3:03 minutes long without the credits. Short and sweet! I'm looking forward next to getting the sound mix and grade sorted, but even to see it cut together was a rush. I think it's got a lot packed into its modest 3 minutes - conflict, romance, humour and a little post-modernism to wrap it all up. My actors turned in some delightful moments (it made it a challenge to choose between certain takes) and the location looks beautiful on camera. I couldn't be happier and am really enjoying the process. Can't wait to take it to the next stage.

Hear Me Now Shoot - 23rd August 2009

Here is a slideshow of some production stills and behind the scenes from our short film shoot Hear Me Now on 23rd August 2009. Location- Crane River.

Hear Me Now, Shooting Wrapped

Yesterday was the shoot date for our flagship short film Hear Me Now.

Eighteen sandwiches were made, costumes were donned, makeup was applied and troops and kit alike were marshalled. We made our way from Unit base along Crane River for about 30 minutes (not in point of fact ten, as I optimistically recollected from the location scout) on foot to our beautiful location. The sun was shining; the Gods were smiling too, for the most part. Admittedly we had a few unwanted extras (and I know they always said not to work with children or animals, but if they will insist on swimming into frame what can you do). But intermittant holdups notwithstanding the shoot went extremely well, and looking back on the footage I am thrilled to bits with the performances from my brilliant cast, as well as being very satisfied from all technical standpoints. I'm looking forward to doing an assembly edit tomorrow.

So....so far, so good.

Cast and crew for the shoot were fantastic. I'm very grateful to everyone for their hard work. Some behind the scenes shots can be seen in the collage above, courtesy of Seán Branigan.

Location Scouting on a sunny day

This is a personal memoir cut together from some footage we took while out location scouting for our short film 'Hear Me Now'. It's along the Crane River in the borough of Richmond Upon Thames, 11th August 2009. The song is The Day We Caught The Train by Ocean Colour Scene.

LOCATION SCOUTING for 'Hear Me Now' from 22:22 PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.