Irish Travellers' Movie Begins Shooting

Mark O'Connor's King of the Travellers is the latest Irish feature film to go into production and is currently shooting in Dublin and Galway.
King of the Travellers is O'Connor's second feature film, following his previous feature Between the Canals which highly acclaimed by Irish critics on its Irish release earlier this year.
The film stars newcomer John Connors as the main protagonist, as well as Michael Collins (Man About Dog, Strength & Honour), Peter Coonan (Between the Canals, Love/Hate), Packy Lee (Killing Bono), Thomas Collins, Carla McGlynn (The Disturbed, Zombie Bashers), Mick Foran (Between the Canals) and Stephen Jones (Between the Canals).
O'Connor developed the story with Michael Collins, a professional traveller actor and their aim was to bring an authentic and compelling drama set within the travelling community to the screen - a film that would dispel some of the myths and negative portrayals of the travelling community in Irish society.
King of the Travellers is a co-production between Vico Films, Stalker Films and Black Sheep Productions and produced with financing from Bord Scannán na hÉireann / the Irish Film Board, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland's Sound & Vision Fund and TV3.
The filmmaker's previous feature film Between the Canals was widely praised for its ability to realistically explore the underbelly of Dublin's inner city life. Through the use of improvisation coupled with a long process of work shopping with locals from the community, O'Connor was able to ensure a sense of realism throughout the film. O'Connor is bringing this same approach with King of the Travellers, a film grounded in the traditions of the Irish traveller community and driven by emotive Shakespearean themes of love, betrayal, friendship and revenge.
It is being produced by Cormac Fox and executive produced by John Wallace. The drama is being shot on the Red One Camera by DOP Dave Grennan. Production designer is Padraig O'Neill, sound recordist Dave Dorgan, editor John Murphy, costume designer Joan O'Clery, key make-up Steve Foot, and stunt coordinators Paul Valentine and John Sheridan. The film will complete its post-production in ScreenScene in spring 2012.
(BMcC/GK)