Woody Allen's Next Movie For Ireland

Irish eyes are smiling - albeit through near continuous rain at present - with news that ace cinema photographer Woody Allen (pictured, inset) is eyeing up Ireland for making a movie, (Giant's Causeway, Co Antrim, main picture).
Already a regular visitor to Sligo, Kerry and Wicklow, he said at the launch of his latest film: "If I got the offer of financing, I wouldn't hesitate to go and make a movie in Ireland.
"Ireland is a place I would not have a problem living in for the couple of months it took me to make the film.
"The light is so beautiful; you know right away you're going to get a beautiful film," he said.
He also enthused about the weather - ironically a major talking point in Ireland at present given persistent rain and widespread flooding: "Those grey skies and the terrain: Ireland is one of those places that lives up to the hype and is as beautiful as everyone tells you it is," he said.
"Ireland is a misty and isolated place. You really have to have the right story for it but it's a great atmosphere."
Atmosphere there may be, but sunshine remains in short supply across the whole island at present - and throughout August - as torrential rain and floods plagued the country.
He would be making a considerable transformation in the setting - his latest movie, 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona', was shot in sunny Spain.
The film is an erotic story about young Americans Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) who spend a summer in Catalonia where they become involved with an intense painter (Javier Bardem) and his disturbed wife (Penélope Cruz).
For years he set most of his work in New York, but then he was approached with an offer of finance from London. The BBC put up a large part of the budget for both 'Match Point' and 'Scoop', both shot in Britain.
"When I did 'Match Point', I thought I was going to shoot it in New York, but London called and said 'we'd like you to make a picture' so I changed it around," said Allen.
"After that they financed Cassandra's Dream and then a company in Barcelona called and asked if I would film there and they would finance it. Since the financing came so fluidly and had no strings attached, I felt it was a great opportunity."
Despite directing small-budget films, Allen's casting still comes from the top drawer. Colin Farrell, Ewan McGregor, Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Danny DeVito are among the A-list actors who have appeared in recent films.
(BMcC)