Teresa McGrane, former Deputy CEO at Screen Ireland, offers reflections on the passing of Irish producer James Flynn, who has died aged 57.
When I heard of James' passing I felt a shift – an axis shift – a feeling that everything had suddenly changed.
I first met James when he just started his role as Business Manager at the newly established Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board. He was so impressive - dedicated, knowledgeable and approachable. In those heady early days he instilled in filmmakers a confidence that enabled people to start the journey of making films in Ireland. He, along with Lelia Doolan and Rod Stoneman, played a really critical role at a vital time in the establishment of the film industry, formulating what was the start of audio-visual public policy.I look back at those days with such fondness: everything was possible.
I wasn’t surprised when he made the leap to hands-on producing, leaving the Board to set up Metropolitan Films with Juanita, his wife, by his side. I felt his heart was really in making films and working with filmmakers.
I started work at the Irish Film Board in August 2001, in the same role as James once had. Together we closed the financing on many Irish films including Inside I’m Dancing, As if I Am Not There, Ondine, Greta, and projects he co-produced such as the recent Kin and The Banshees of Inisherin. Working with James was always a pleasure – he was always extremely exacting and utterly professional.
Alongside his producing partner Morgan O’Sullivan, James tirelessly developed crucial Hollywood relationships, bringing major international film and TV productions to shoot in Ireland. Projects such as King Arthur, The Count of Monte Cristo and more recently The Last Duel and Disney’s Disenchanted were all produced in Ireland due to James and Morgan’s hard work. They were innovative in their approach to large-scale TV production years before that became the global phenomenon we see today. Between them, their entrepreneurial efforts have afforded more Irish careers, livelihoods and opportunities in the film industry than one could ever count.
James continued to play a vital role in the development of the industry working with Screen Training Ireland across skills development and Screen Producers Ireland in the formulation of policy and advocacy.
James was very witty. He had a wonderful, cynical sense of humour and he was a treasure trove of film trivia. You would do well if you got an obscure quiz question on Irish film that James couldn’t answer.
Most of all I will remember the banter, chat and many arguments we had over the years about the industry. James was not short of opinions, and he was always a passionate advocate about the growth of the Irish screen industry.
We, as the collective that is the Irish film and television industry, feel an enormous sense of loss because we have truly lost a founding father of Irish film.
Our condolences to Juanita, Alex, Anna, Frances and Ronan.
Teresa McGrane was Head of Business Affairs and Deputy CEO at Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board – Fís Éireann / Screen Ireland from August 2001 to January 2023.
