Two young trainee filmmakers from Donegal have joined the production team of a much-anticipated new comedy film – Grace and Goliath.
Fionnula McCann from Greencastle and Ciaran McGlinchey from Raphoe have started work in Belfast on Cinemagic’s second feature film. Fionnula is the trainee Script Supervisor and Ciaran is trainee Continuity supervisor.
Fionnula and Ciaran were selected to join a team of 37 young trainee filmmakers, aged 18-25, who will have the chance to earn their first credit on a feature and train alongside industry professionals. The production team is led by director Tony Mitchell (The Bible, AD The Bible Continues, Primeval, Supervolcano and Flood) and actors Ciarán McMenamin (Paula, Saving The Titanic), Emy Aneke (The Predator and Star Trek: Beyond) and Aoibhinn McGinnity (Quarry, Love/Hate).
Grace and Goliath is set to be a big comedy with an even bigger heart. The story follows Josh Jenkins, a Californian silver screen star who arrives in Belfast with a big ambition to make a movie, but soon his world comes crashing down in this strange city.
Joining the cast are young actors Isaac Heslip (11) from Banbridge, Maitiu McGibbon (11) from Lurgan and Savanna Burney Keatings (5) from Moira, along with Northern Ireland television, theatre and film actresses, Olivia Nash, Cheryl O’Dwyer and Jo Donnelly.
L-R: Declan McVey, writer Maire Campbell, Ciara McLarnon, director Tony Mitchell, Fionnula McCann, producer Joan Burney Keatings, Cinemagic CEO, Ciaran McGlinchey, Johnson Orr. Photo by Simon Graham:
Young filmmakers across all departments will have the opportunity to develop their talents and skills on the film, produced by Cinemagic Chief Executive, Joan Burney Keatings MBE and written by Maire Campbell (Delicate Things, Chancer, A Christmas Star).
Grace and Goliath follows the success of Cinemagic’s first feature, A Christmas Star in 2014-15, which gave young filmmakers an invaluable opportunity to work across disciplines such as directing, production, costume and make-up, sound, lighting and music composition.
With the experience from this Cinemagic opportunity, trainees have gone on to secure work with various film and television companies in the last two years including BBC, HBO, Disney, Sky Atlantic, RTE, and Bedlam Productions.
The Grace and Goliath trainee filmmakers will be joined by 10 young students from Los Angeles, from Cinemagic partner schools based there who have participated in Cinemagic LA Festival activity over the last 8 years.
Filming will take place throughout June in Belfast and on the North Coast, including scenes at Odyssey Pavilion and Belfast’s National Football Stadium at Windsor Park.
