Actor Steve Gunn, best known as Fair City's Dan Keating, makes his directorial debut with the short The Caller, which premieres at the Galway Film Fleadh this Friday.
Based on David Fennelly's stage play Fishes, The Caller stars Fennelly and Alan Howley and tells the story of what happens when an unemployed man (Fennelly) receives a visit from a rent allowance inspector (Howley).
The Caller premieres as part of the Film Fleadh at the New Town Hall in Galway at 12pm on Friday.
Gunn founded his own production company, Barren Lands, to produce the film.
The Caller
He told TEN: "I was looking for an idea for a short film for a while and when I saw David Fennelly's play, Fishes, the scenario presented was perfect for a screen adaptation. After chatting with David about adapting the play for the screen the next challenge was to shorten the play and give it a good twist. Once the screenplay was written, putting the right team together to make the film was the next challenge."
He continued: "Philip Graham, whom I'd worked with on The Mario Rosenstock Show, came on board as Director of Photography, and I knew then the film would look like a proper film as Philip's got a very cinematic eye and we chatted about films we both loved the look of.
"Stephen Farrell, whom I met on Fair City, agreed to do sound, and that was also amazing as he's worked on huge films, including one of my all time favourites, Jim Sheridan's In the Name of the Father.
"When David Fennelly agreed to reprise his role from the play we then cast Alan Howley as the rent allowance inspector and we shot the whole thing on a Saturday afternoon.
"Paul Bush and Brian O'Neil, whom I've worked with on a number of projects and have their own production company, agreed to edit and grade the film.
"Caroline Grace-Cassidy came on board as producer and has been pushing the film to festivals all around the world.
"With a budget of 'goodwill and borrowed gear', the fact that its premiere screening will be in the Galway Film Fleadh is a tremendous achievement and all involved are thrilled at the response so far."
