Award-winning director Tom Sullivan writes about his new TG4 musical comedy-drama, Fir Bolg.
It all began two Christmases ago when an old friend and work colleague called me out of the blue.
Writer and producer Brian Reddin had written a six part comedy drama about a Celtic rock band called Fir Bolg. They split acrimoniously in the 70's and get back together to fulfill the dying wish of their former band leader. Brian was close to a green light on the project, and thought I would be a good fit to direct.
I have worked as an actor in TV and film for fifteen years. Five years ago in 2011, after an extended period of career inertia I made my writing and directing debut with Drowning, a radio play for RTÉ Radio 1. It was a milestone for me for I had attempted writing many many times in my life but could never get to 'The End' of anything. This encouraged me to write Asal, a short film about a little boy who rescues a donkey from it's abusers. The script went into the Film Bord and they gave me fifteen grand to make it.
Fir Bolg director Tom Sullivan
Asal premiered at the Galway Film Fleadh that year and to my astonishment and delight won Best Live Action Short that year. Since then, I have directed two other short films and two half-hours for TG4, all of the work has been well-received and there's been a bit of silverware along the way.
So I've clocked up a bit of experience but directing a six part drama series? I felt very lucky to be considered but Brian had been following what I had done and felt I could do it. So that's how I found myself sitting at a table last May with some of Ireland's greatest actors turning page one on episode one of Fir Bolg.
So we rehearsed. This might not sound unusual, but in TV and film in my experience it is. We were afforded the luxury by Brian, who thankfully also produced, of a full week's rehearsals. So when it came to the first day of the shoot. we were ready to go.
Because I am an actor, my directing approach has always been informed by that. I believe character is at the centre of all good storytelling, I found this to be true, particularly when directing comedy. Through good characterisation, an audience can empathise with the people on screen and join them on their journey.
Another big challenge is getting the tone right. The characters have powerful back stories: they experienced fame, but it affected them all differently. We get to know the band as the story unfolds, and it ain't always pretty, so the aim was always to make a drama that made you laugh, not just a comedy.
Having said that, there are a ridiculous amount of well known faces that pop up in comic cameos. Between myself and Brian we managed to pull in old friends and people we've worked with in the past: Amy Huberman, Liam Cunningham, Stephen Ray, Marty Morrissey, Brendan Grace, Daniel O' Donnell... even Paddy Maloney. Some of them had scenes written specifically for them. I think the quality of the writing sealed the deal with the some of them. My experience with most actors is if the scene is funny they'll do it.
Fir Bolg is about lost potential, unexpected journeys and second chances - but, most importantly, as Patrick Bergin's character Sean tells us from beyond the grave: "You either get busy living, or get busy dying."
Fir Bolg screens on TG4 from Thursday, November 3rd for 6 weeks.
