Lights, Camera, Action! Filmmakers collective frame a bright future
A local filmmaking group are creating blockbusters in the lake county as they aim to anchor the booming potential in the industry locally, writes Shane King.
The Westmeath Filmmakers Collective are a group who collaborate on projects and support one another in bringing the projects to fruition. The collective have been going from strength to strength since being established in December 2022, and they have held a number of successful events in that time.
Creator of the Westmeath Filmmakers Collective Liam Hall Walshe told the Westmeath Examiner he founded the group to reach the “untapped potential” in the area.
“I was making a film in my locality a few years ago and I realised there was so much talent with regard to the personnel in the midlands and people want opportunities for independent filmmakers and actors.
“I saw there was a gap there and so I set up the Westmeath Filmmakers Collective to fill that gap and offer grassroots avenues to bridge the gap between amateurs and professionals, while also making it a significant part of our culture here in the midlands,” Liam said.
One of the most successful events to date was held in Athlone in April when the collective in collaboration with the Athlone Drama Festival hosted a networking and screening event showcasing some of Westmeath finest acting, filmmaking and music talent. The event was supported by the RTÉ All-Ireland drama festival and the Technological University of the Shannon.
Local films that hit the big screen at the event included Arrow in the Sky’s new music video ‘time of need’ which was shot around Mullingar, stars local comedian ‘Dogroy’ and was directed by Conor English. The powerful Vanishing Grace starring Marie Devine was also screened with a compelling performance from the local actor. Andrew Nolan screened his self-directed documentary filmed entirely in Africa, and ‘Icky Gacky’, directed by Calvin Doyle and shot by Conor English, which was filmed entirely in the Mullingar pub Canton Casey’s, concluded the local line-up of movies.
Speaking about the event Liam said they received a “huge response” to the showcase in Athlone.
“The networking event and screening of the short films was hugely successful. We had people from all around the country attend the event and the visitors were really impressed the short films and the sheer talent there is in the county. They also noted how diverse the towns were and the variety of different material that we showed off at the event,” he said.
Liam the collective are currently in the early planning stages of a major event. “I don’t want to say too much about it because it is still in the early stages but I am looking to put together an event that’s never been done before in Westmeath. The objective of the event is to unite filmmakers and screen actors of all different levels, and by the end of it we will come out with a variety of different films, and hopefully it would be open to the public so we would be able to showcase just how accessible the art form of film can be.
“It’s not confirmed yet, but it will happen at some stage in the future, whether that be this year or further down the road. I think if people experiment and give it a go, it could change their lives, as this particular event changed my life when I initially attended it. There is something hopefully coming in the future that I think people can get really excited for,” he concluded.
Any budding filmmakers or screen actors from around the county who would like to get involved with the Westmeath Filmmakers Collective can get in touch with the group by visiting their social media pages or email westmeathfilmmakers@gmail.com.