Actors Emily Watson and Paul Mescal have said that filming ‘God’s Creatures’ in rural Donegal contributed to the success of the shoot.
The new Irish drama was filmed in south Donegal in spring 2021, at a time when there were strict Covid-19 measures.
Speaking on The Late Late Show last night, Mescal said the cast and the crew gelled together in isolation to create such a special film.
“We were up in Donegal in the middle of Covid, it’s definitely the most isolated I’ve been during a shoot. It felt like a student film, it felt small and compact.”
Emily Watson said: “It was just love, everybody was there for the right reasons and that makes such a difference.”
“We filmed on the coast of Donegal during lockdown, so I felt I became a part of the ground of Ireland. It was a really intense experience.”
The film, which opened at the Dublin Film Festival yesterday, tells the story of a mother’s love tested when her beloved son is accused of sexual assault. Scenes were shot in Teelin, Killybegs and Kilcar.
During this time, Mescal kindly lent a hand to fundraising efforts to repair a damaged footbridge in Carrick. He signed a Donegal jersey and a pair of O’Neill’s shorts for a raffle run by the ‘Brew in Thru’ coffee van, which the cast and crew visited often during the shoot.
God’s Creatures is directed by New York based filmmakers Saela Davis and Anna Rose Holmer. Shane Crowley wrote the screenplay based on a story he co-wrote with Cronin O’Reilly. It will be released in Irish cinemas on 24th March.
Mescal also spoke to Tubridy last night about his now-famous BAFTAs interview with Donegal presenter Caitlín Nic Aoidh. Caitlín was interviewing stars for TG4 when she invited Mescal to speak ‘as Gaeilge’. Although unsure at first, he rose to the challenge. His cúpla focal were highly praised by fans worldwide.
Of the interview, Mescal said: “My mum got a text that I should chat to TG4 on the red carpet. I said absolutely. Then I did it and I realised that I was out of my depth very quickly.
“I am very proud of the Irish that I have and I think that it is very important to gatekeep the language.
“But I wish I had dusted it a wee bit better.”
Watch the full Late Late Show interview on the RTE Player at: www.rte.ie/player/series/the-late-late-show/SI0000001694
