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STORY FACTORY |
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STORY FACTORY are multi-award winning short filmmakers from Dublin, Ireland. That is, our films are short; we are average height. View press kits for horror drama, PRODIGAL SON, and new adventure comedy, THE BLOW-INS.
Buy writer-director CJ Scuffins' latest short story CHIPS in the Irish Times/Powers Whiskey anthology CELEBRATING WHAT TRULY MATTERS.
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News and Media
- Welcome to our page of 'rolling news'! It's updated regularly. You can use the following short link to bookmark or share the page: http://bit.ly/YTxU7j. Enjoy...CJ UP FOR KENNETH BRANAGH AWARDJILL'S NEW SHORTMay 17 2013
JILL SARTINI is one of leads and the Costume Designer on A History of Amazement, the new short by Polish Director Alexsander Szeser, which hits the festival circuit next month.*May 17 2013
CJ SCUFFINS' new play 'Unmusical Chairs' was long-listed for The 10th Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing at the Windsor Fringe Theatre in London. The play placed for the prestigious award from 307 scripts submitted from 18 countries worldwide....*BLOW-INS AT FASTNETMay 17 2013
Story Factory's new short THE BLOW-INS screens at the 5th Fastnet Film Festival in Cork next week. We visited in 2011 and have the pictures to prove it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57929174@N02/sets/72157626866413976/.... Next up is the industry screenings of The Blow-Ins in Cannes...*INDUSTRY BIBLE RECOGNIZES PRODIGAL SON SUCCESS14 May 2013Irish industry bible IFTN have published a great item on PRODIGAL SON's latest festival win in England. We had a delayed reaction to this article due to a hyper-busy April. Coming soon: Huuuuge festival news in June! But first we'll have pix from our industry screening of The Blow-Ins at Cannes...
Thanks to Gerard at IFTN. Read more at IFTN site here: http://bit.ly/11AWzUA*YES WE CANNES!
April 11, 2013
Our West Cork located adventure comedy, THE BLOW-INS, is swapping one small fishing village for another from May 15-26 after being selected for the 66th Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner (Cannes Court Metrage).
Story Factory's Jill, CJ, Richard, and PR lady Clare are heading to a beautiful HQ on the beach side Boulevard de la Croisette for a week of the festival. Be assured that we will do our level best to promote the film, while simultaneously soaking up the sun, atmos, and €20 beers.
For more information on Cannes and the film, visit our online press page: http://bit.ly/MzcG72. To get our festival updates, you can LIKE our page on FB (http://www.facebook.com/StoryFactoryIreland) or FOLLOW us at Twitter (http://twitter.com/storyfactoryirl).
The news follows an extremely busy Jan-March for Story Factory, in which The Blow-Ins received coverage from 10+ news outlets in US and Ireland following its US debut, and Prodigal Son was nominated for the Deadline Award in Munich and won a best film award in England.
Many thanks to the folks of Courtmac, Kilbrittain and surrounding areas for their hospitality and help in making The Blow-Ins in West Cork. Ditto Cork County Council and Cork Screen Commission.
Link to The Blow-Ins page in the Cannes Court Mertage Brouchure.
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LOVE HURTS FOR PRODIGAL SON IN MUNICH
March 16, 2013
Fresh from its latest award win in England last week, Prodigal Son goes back to business with a screening in the 'Love Hurts' programme at the 14th Landshuter Film festival in Munich this Paddy's weekend. We're delighted that the film is nominated for the Deadline Award for Best Genre Film.
Check out the brilliant website:
http://www.landshuter-kurzfilmfestival.de/deadline-award/shock-block-6/prodigal-son.html
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PRODIGAL SON WINS BEST 18+ FILM AT ENGLAND'S ST ALBANS FILM FESTIVAL!
March 10, 2013
Our pact with the devil continues to pay dividends as PRODIGAL SON won Best 18s Film in a very strong field at the St Albans Film Festival at the weekend. Thanks to Festival Director Leoni Kibbey for the initial selection and for everybody who made the event such a great success.
As indie filmmakers know, it's hard to get films selected for festivals, never mind to win awards at them, so we are absolutely delighted to have picked up our third in three different countries in the past year. Congrats and thanks to all who worked on and supported the film.
Richard Jolly (Soundtrack) & David Kennedy (Concept Art) scrubbed up really well at the Closing Ceremony
News Article With List of Winners
Festival Website
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BLOW-INS MEDIA MENTION MADNESS!
MARCH 7, 2013
Below are is a selection of the fantastic media coverage that The Blow-Ins has been lucky enough to receive since its Chicago screening announcement.
Outlets include The Chicago Tribune(!), Irish-American News, Film Ireland, Cork News, Southern Star, and the West Cork News.
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE - 'SHORT, NON-DEPRESSING IRISH FILM...
FOR ROCKABILLY MOMS WITH FAST CARS AND DAD ISSUES'!
Read online at Chicago Tribune.
FILM IRELAND - 'PRAISE FOR THE CINEMATOGRAPHY & ENTERTAINING STORYLINE'
Steven Galvin at Film Ireland broke the story of The Blow-Ins selection for the Chicago Irish Film Festival 2013.
Read online at Film Ireland.
THE SOUTHERN STAR - 'WONDERFULLY ABSURD ADVENTURE COMEDY'
Read online at The Southern Star.
THE CORK NEWS - 'STRONG, WITTY FEMALE CHARACTER'
Read online at Cork News.
IRISH AMERICAN NEWS - 'THE EGANS HAVE LANDED!'
Read online at Irish American News.
CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL - 'HIGH ADVENTURE...TOTALLY IRISH!'
http://www.chicagoirishfilmfestival.com/spotlight-on-shorts
WEST CORK TIMES - 'CHARMING'
Read online at West Cork News.
AFLOAT.IE - 'ACCLAIMED AT THE CORONA CORK FILM FESTIVAL'
Read online at Afloat.ie
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THE BLOW-INS SELECTED FOR CIFF
March 1-6, 2013
We're delighted to announce that The Blow-Ins has been officially selected for the 2013 Chicago Irish Film Festival in a special programme that includes Sundance animation winner 'Irish Folk Furniture'.
Our new adventure comedy short has been given pride of place, screening before the superb line-up of feature length films at the Film Board-affiliated festival from March 1-6.
Festival Director Jude Blackburn saw The Blow-Ins at the recent Corona Cork Film Festival and said that she is "really delighted that The Blow-Ins is screening in the Windy City". She praised the film's cinematography and "entertaining storyline."
It's lovely to see a prominent photo of Jill and Ellen, fighting about fish, at the top of their coverage. Well done to all who worked on the film.
More information at
'Spotlight on Shorts' at Chicago Irish Film Festival http://www.chicagoirishfilmfestival.com/
The Blow-Ins web page: http://bit.ly/MzcG72
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PRODIGAL SON SCREAMING DATE ANNOUNCED IN LONDON
Feb 11 2013
St Albans Film Festival have announced that our horror short Prodigal Son will screen at The Maltings Arts Theatre in the "Over 18s Shortlisted Short Films" section from 9-11pm on Sat 9 March. Their programme is beautifully designed:
http://www.stalbansfilmfestival.com/docs/Festival_Programme_Final_AWlowres.pdf
The summary for Prodigal is "A gangster's son returns from the dead in this award-winning Walking Dead/Tarkovsky-inspired short film."
It's true that the film was written after devouring hoards of Walking Dead comics in a frenzied swarm, and I hope after his mention that my film directing hero Andrei Tarkovsky isn't clawing away at his casket in an attempt to make it spin. The atmosphere around the film is macabre enough. -cj
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PRODIGAL SON SCREENS IN NEVADA
Feb 6th 2013
Excited to officially announce that our award-winning zombie noir Prodigal Son screens this coming Wed 6th Feb in Nevada at the 2013 Dam Short Film Festival in the Int'l Stories programme.
Why not pop in if you're in the neighbourhood? Sure beats hallucinating on peyote in the desert, or gambling your kids' college fund in Vegas. OK, nothing beats those. But rest assured it'll be damn close.
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HOBBIT'S MARTIN FREEMAN SHARES BILL WITH PRODIGAL SON IN BERLIN
Jan 12 2013
At the prestigious "British Shorts" Festival in Berlin tonight, our horror short Prodigal Son screens alongside a Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, Sherlock, The Office UK) short called The Voolman Problem, plus some other highly rated shorts. We've been told that tickets are selling rapidly. Hmm, wonder why?
More information in the festival programme: http://www.britishshorts.de/_pdf/BRITISH_SHORTS_2013.pdf
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EVENING HERALD - FAIR CITY'S RYAN STARS IN ACCLAIMED ZOMBIE FLICK
Jan 7 2013
"A cross between Love/Hate and a zombie movie."
The Evening Herald, Ireland's most popular evening paper, published a great article by Claire Murphy on TV star Ryan Andrews' role in our "acclaimed" Prodigal Son.
Article online here: http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/fair-citys-ryan-stars-in-acclaimed-zombie-flick-3344756.html
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PRODIGAL SON ARTICLE on IFTN
Jan 3, 2013
Gearóid Gilmore writes an in-depth piece on Prodigal Son, following its Deadline Award nomination in Munich and selections in Berlin and Boulder City.
Read the article on IFTN.
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PRODIGAL SON ARTICLE on FILM IRELAND
Jan 2 2013
Steven Galvin at Film Ireland breaks the news of Prodigal's latest award nominations and festival selections in Munich, Berlin, and Boulder City, Nevada.
Read the article on Film Ireland.
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DER VERLORENE SOHN: ICH BIN EIN BERLINER!
Jan 2 2013
Prodigal Son has been officially selected for Berlin's British Shorts film festival (who have stretched their remit to Ireland this year!). Our 'zombie noir' short screens at midnight on Sat 12th Jan. The festival is a great showcase for innovative short films and we are honoured that Prodigal has been chosen.
Concept Art by David Kennedy. See more of David's beautiful concept art on Flickr.
http://www.britishshorts.de/programmEN.html
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PRODIGAL SON SELECTED FOR CHRISTMAS SCREENING AT UNDERGROUND CINEMA
Dec 6, 2012
Deck the halls with blood and zombies. We're delighted to announce that PRODIGAL SON was chosen for the Underground
Cinema Christmas Screening in Dun Laoighaire's Kingston Hotel this
Thursday evening 6th Dec.
Prodigal screened earlier in the year at the Underground Cinema's superbly run film festival. Many thanks to Dave, Denise and all the team who organize indie cinema events every month.
http://www.underground-cinema.com/december-screening
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THE BLOW-INS SELECTED FOR CHILDREN'S SCREENING SERIES
IN BEAUTIFUL BLACKROCK CASTLE OBSERVATORY
Mon Nov 12 - Fri Nov 16
We are honoured to announce that our new adventure comedy THE BLOW-INS is selected for a week-long series of screenings at the CIT Blackrock Castle Observatory. Katherine O Riordan, the Education and Youth Officer for the Corona Cork Film Festival, chose the film to screen as part of an eight-film programme for post primary school children from all across Co. Cork. The screenings will take place during the festival from Mon Nov 12 to Fri Nov 16, three times daily (10am, 12pm and 2pm).
BCO Film Website:
http://www.bco.ie/2012/10/cff12/
Special Screening Schedule:
http://www.bco.ie/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/POST-PRIMARY-SHORTS-PROGRAMME.pdf
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THE BLOW-INS OFFICIALLY SELECTED FOR 57th CORONA CORK FILM FESTIVAL
Nov 11-18, 2012
We are delighted to announce that our adventure comedy THE BLOW-INS will screen at this historic festival, the oldest in the world, which also gave Prodigal Son its debut last year.
http://www.corkfilmfest.org/news-and-announcements/made-in-cork-shorts
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UPCOMING SCREENING: PRODIGAL SON SELECTED FOR BOSTON HORROR FESTIVAL
Nov 1 - 3, 2012
PRODIGAL SON chosen for another major US genre festival, the Killer Film Fest, in Boston, Massachusetts. Our award winning horror drama will play with some brilliant independent horror films from the USA and worldwide.
http://www.killerfilmfest.com/2012/kff/films.html
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'PRODIGAL SON' RYAN ANDREWS WINS BEST ACTOR IN NEW YORK!
October 22 2012
STORY FACTORY is absolutely delighted to announce that RYAN ANDREWS won Best Actor at New York's Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival last night in the short film category.
Ryan won for lead role in our horror drama, PRODIGAL SON, which was also nominated for Best International Short Film and Best Short Film Screenplay.
Director CJ Scuffins on Ryan's award win: "Thanks to the judges at the Buffalo Screams Horror Festival for recognizing Ryan's incredibly mature performance as gangster's son Joe, the hunter who becomes the hunted after being brought back from the dead.
This role of two-characters-in-one was a complex, demanding part for any actor, not least one who was still in his teens. Yet Ryan conveyed with consummate skill the very different shades of Joe: the deadpan dark humour, the psychopathy, the existential anguish, and his two(!) physically and mentally demanding death scenes.
Behind the scenes, Ryan was a model of commitment and creativity, arriving on location every morning with his script covered in ideas about how to communicate Joe's extreme emotions in a compelling and entertaining way. As director, I had only to choose the ideas that I thought would work best with those of the other actors.
Prodigal's ensemble deserve a special mention. Without strong performances to bounce off, a strong lead performance falls flat, especially in genre films, which require good acting across the board to make outlandish concepts and unnatural events seem believable to an audience.
Congratulations, then, to Ryan's scene partners: Jill Sartini (ruthless mother Eileen), Raymond S Kinsella (gangster father Denny), Padraig Murray, Sean Conroy (killer The Boy), Clara Kavanagh (ghostly addict The Girl), and the hilarious henchmen Ron (Craig Connelly) & Aido (Colin Middleton).
The standards were kept absurdly high in the remaining scenes by the always brilliant Mark Shrier (who also stars in The Blow-Ins!) and excellent newcomers James Killeen and Baz Hickey.
On behalf of the cast and crew, well done to Ryan's much deserved international recognition."
http://www.buffaloscreams.com/content/and-winners-are-2012-edition
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PRODIGAL SON CHOSEN TO SCREEN IN ATLANTA, USA
OCT 19-21, 2012
Prodigal has been chosen to play HorrorQuest Film Festival in Atlanta, Georgia in October. We feel privileged to have made the cut -- the festival organizer explained at the deadline that they had received "tons of submissions from all over the world and it is going to be extremely hard to choose which ones screen at the festival".
http://www.thehorrorquest.com/NEWS.html
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PRODIGAL NOMINATED IN NEW YORK!
Oct 11, 2012
Delighted to announce that our horror drama Prodigal Son was nominated for three 'Screamer' awards at the 3rd Buffalo Screams Horror Film Festival in New York in the Short Film Category:
- Best International Horror Short Film
- Best Actor Ryan Andrews)
- Best Screenplay (CJ Scuffins)
More details in the Awards' press release.
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PRODIGAL SON IS AN OFFICIAL SELECTION FOR NEW YORK FESTIVAL!
OCT 19, 2012
Prodigal Son has been selected for New York's 3rd Buffalo Screams Horror Festival. The film screens at the festival before the award-winning feature "The Case of Eddie Brewer" on Fri 19 Oct at 6pm. We love when shorts screen before features!
http://www.buffaloscreams.com/schedule
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'CHIPS' PUBLISHED IN PRESTIGIOUS ANTHOLOGY
Oct 9, 2012
Jill and CJ with novelist Sheila O'Flanagan
(Pic: Brian Cox)
The Irish Times/Powers Whiskey Anthology, CELEBRATING WHAT TRULY MATTERS, is out now featuring CJ's shortlisted story, CHIPS.
The book is priced €9.99 from leading Irish booksellers, Eason's or from site of The Irish Hospice Foundation. CJ's story placed in the top 10, from 4,200 entries, for the competition, which had a 10,000 euro prize.
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COLCHESTER FILM FESTIVAL 2012 OFFICIAL SELECTION!
Oct 6 2012
We're delighted to announce that the cultured Colchester Film Festival have officially selected our award-winning horror drama, Prodigal Son, from 400 entries worldwide! This marks the film's first appearance in England.
The film's acceptance means it's in the running for the following awards: Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Cinematography.
http://colchesterfilmfestival.com/whatson/
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FILM IRELAND ARTICLE ABOUT STORY FACTORY SUCCESS
Sept 15
Steven Galvin, Film Ireland's Online Editor, published an article about Prodigal Son's festival success, The Blow-Ins being selected for the 57th Corona Cork Film Festival and CJ's new story Chips getting published in a short story anthology.
http://filmireland.net/2012/09/14/us-horror-festivals-welcome-prodigal-son/
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PRODIGAL SON'S DUBLIN PREMIERE!
SEPT 13-16, 2012
PRODIGAL SON is coming home! Our zombie noir has been selected to screen at the 3rd Underground Cinema in Dun Laoghaire on Sat Sept 15. This is Prodigal's first festival appearance in Dublin, where the film was shot.
View the horror short film line-up.
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PRODIGAL SON SCREENS IN BUDAPEST
SEPT 4-9, 2012
PRODIGAL SON selected for Budapest International Short Film Festival from 1,844 entries all over the world - a process of elimination that took 2 months!
View the line-up at the festival site.
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PRODIGAL SON WINS BEST FILM AWARD!
AUG 18, 2012
Story Factory soundtrack artist Richard Jolly celebrates with lovely gong in front of random water feature, an SF tradition!
PRODIGAL SON won the best film in the horror/sci-fi category of the Dare Media Underground Film Festival. This was a terrific festival. The films played to packed audiences throughout the Cork city for 9 days. There was a diverse selection of brilliant films from all over the world chosen by passionate movie lovers. We would recommend filmmakers to enter next year!
View the winners list here.
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PRODIGAL SON SCREENS AT DARE MEDIA UNDERGROUND FESTIVAL
AUG 14 2012
PRODIGAL SON selected for the very cool Dare Media Underground Short Film Festival in Cork City.
View Festival Line-up
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THE BLOW-INS PREVIEWS IN DUBLIN
AUG 11 2012
THE BLOW-INS Dublin Preview Screening in Lighthouse Cinema, Smithfield at 11.30am on Sat Aug 11, 2012. All welcome.
View location
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PRODIGAL SON SCREENS AT MUSIC FESTIVAL IN CO. WICKLOW
JULY 27-29 2012
PRODIGAL SON selected to play the cinema tent at music and arts festival by the beautiful Blessington Lakes in Co. Wicklow to a crowd of up to 5,000 people.
Visit the site for the Knockanstockan Art and Music Festival in Co. Wicklow
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THE BLOW-INS PREVIEWS IN CORK
25 JULY 2012
THE BLOW-INS Cork Preview Screening in Courtmacsherry Hotel, Courtmacsherry at 8pm on Wed July 25, 2012. All welcome.
View location
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IN THE MEDIA: CORK SCREEN COMMISSION WEBSITE ARTICLE ABOUT THE BLOW-INS
22 JULY 2012
The Cork Screen Commission have an article about The Blow-Ins preview screening in West Cork.
Read the article here.
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THE BLOW-INS TRAILER RELEASE
JULY 16 2012
THE BLOW-INS main trailer released, a 4-min excerpt from the movie.
View main trailer in YouTube.
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THE BLOW-INS TEASER TRAILER RELEASE
JULY 11 2012
THE BLOW-INS teaser trailer released, featuring surf pop theme "Our Time".
View teaser in YouTube.
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CJ SHORTLISTED FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARD
MAY 2012
CHIPS, a short story by our writer CJ SCUFFINS, is in shortlist of 10 for the Powers Short Story Competition. The award attracted 4,200 entries and has a €10,000 prize.
Read "Chips" online at the Irish Times
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FRAMEWORKS PROJECT PITCH
APRIL 2012
DEMON'S DANCE - CJ and Jill completed story and production work on "Demon's Dance", an animated movie pitch for Frameworks, with animation producer Sue Arnold and poet/screenwriter Fintan O'Higgins.
Disney-trained animator Jo Hayden's beautiful art work
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THE BLOW-INS THEME TUNE WRITTEN & RECORDED
MAR 2012
THE BLOW-INS' lead actor Jill Sartini records theme song, Our Time, for John B Murphy and Richard Jolly's soundtrack for upcoming short The Blow-Ins.
Pix of recording session in beautiful Courtmacsherry, Co. Cork
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PRODIGAL SON GETS SMASH REVIEW! FEB 2012
Stunningly insightful and in-depth review of PRODIGAL SON from Boston horror critic.
View Chris Hallock's review over at All Things Horror
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SHOOTING THE DIRECTOR RELEASED:
JAN 2012
Release of 12-min mockumentary Web film, SHOOTING THE DIRECTOR.
View Full Version on YouTube
View the Trailer on YouTube
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THE BLOW-INS MEDIA ARTICLES:
NOV/DEC 2011
10 More Media Articles and a Radio Interview about THE BLOW-INS!
View Newspaper Screengrabs in Flickr
National Newspaper Article on THE BLOW-INS in Irish Examiner (press and online)
Locals Row In Behind Making of Film
Cork News Article on THE BLOW-INS (press and online)
West Cork Fires Film Crew's Inspiration
Cork Independent Article on THE BLOW-IN (press and online)
That's A Wrap!
Cork Screen Commission Website article on THE BLOW-INS
Story Factory Wraps On Blow-Ins, Producer Credits Local Crew
Film Ireland Article on THE BLOW-INS
The Blow-Ins Receives Funding From Cork County Council
IFTN Article on THE BLOW-INS
Cork Screen Commission Supports The Blow-Ins
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PRODIGAL SON SCREENS AT CORONA CORK FILM FESTIVAL
NOV 2011
PRODIGAL SON screens at 56th Corona Cork Film Festival.
View festival line-up
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PRODIGAL SON SCREENS IN SCOTLAND
NOV 2011
PRODIGAL SON screens at Village of the Damned, Scotland.
View Festival Line-up
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PRODIGAL SON SCREENS IN WASHINGTON D.C
OCT 2011
PRODIGAL SON screens at Washington D.C Int'l Horror Fest.
View Festival Line-up
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THE BLOW-INS MEDIA ARTICLES
SEPT 2011
Film Ireland Article on THE BLOW-INS
The Blow-Ins Wraps in West Cork
Film Threat Mention about CJ
CJ Scuffins Q&A
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PRODIGAL SON MEDIA ARTICLES
NOV 2010
HorrorTalk Article on PRODIGAL SON
Prodigal Son To Spook Washington Residents
Film Ireland Article on PRODIGAL SON
Prodigal Son Preview Screening
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PRODIGAL SON MEDIA ARTICLES
APRIL 2010
IFTN Article on PRODIGAL SON
Short Film Round Up: Prodigal Son
Film Ireland Article on PRODIGAL SON
Production News: Prodigal Son
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About Us
- Welcome. This page contains a brief history of Story Factory plus full biographies for our team members. You can share this page with the short link: http://bit.ly/102RIGV. Enjoy...
ABOUT STORY FACTORY
Story Factory is a multi-award winning production company based in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded by writer-director CJ Scuffins and actress-producer Jill Sartini in 2010 to make genre shorts for the international film festival circuit.
Story Factory quickly established a reputation for ambitious, powerful and innovative films with high production values. They include the award-winning horror short, Prodigal Son, and the widely (and wildly!) acclaimed new comedy short, The Blow-Ins.
We are always interested in partnering with like-minded producers and production crew. Read our bios below this message to see what we're about. You can contact us at this address: storyfactoryireland[at]gmail[dot]com. You should also connect with us on social networks:
FB: http://www.facebook.com/StoryFactoryIreland
Twitter: http://twitter.com/storyfactoryirl
Jill, CJ & Richard
ABOUT THE TEAM
CJ Scuffins - Writer & Director
CJ Scuffins is a writer and director from Dublin, Ireland. His 2011 short film, Prodigal Son, received 10 awards & nominations and has screened at 15 film festivals internationally. CJ's latest short film, The Blow-Ins, screens in Cannes in May 2013.
CJ wrote and directed the web shorts Shooting the Director (2012) and You Were My Favourite Ghost (2010). The latter was shortlisted for the StoryLand competition from Ireland's national TV network, RTE.
In April 2013, CJ's new play 'Unmusical Chairs' was long-listed for The 10th Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing at the Windsor Fringe Theatre in London. The play placed for the prestigious award from 307 scripts submitted from 18 countries worldwide.
His latest short story, Chips, was published in the Irish Times 2012 fiction anthology, Celebrating What Truly Matters. Three years' worth of his popular humour column for Britain's best-selling newspaper Daily Mirror, London is collected at online archive High Beam.
He has also won an ICAD Student Award for advertising copywriting. Passionate about new technology and the environment, he is proud to lend his copywriting skills to IBM Smarter Planet.
Click here for full IMDB filmography.
Jill Sartini - Actress, Producer, Costume Designer
Jill is a Gaiety Theatre-trained actress who has starred in theatre productions of Lysistrata, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors and Juno and the Paycock throughout the 2000s
Before co-founding Story Factory with CJ, Jill event-managed for some of the world's largest brands, including 02 and Eriksson, and international sports events such as the Volvo Ocean Race.
She was executive producer, lead actor, and additional material writer on Prodigal Son in 2011. In 2012, Jill was the Production Manager on short web film, Shooting The Director, in 2012. Jill was also co-producer, costumer, script editor and lead actor in The Blow-Ins in 2012.The multi-talented Jill also wrote music and sang on the wonderful Blow-Ins' soundtrack.
Click here for full IMDB filmography.
Richard Jolly - Soundtrack Artist
The Dublin singer-songwriter worked with Louise Heaney on the electronic soundtrack for Prodigal Son and John B Murphy for the surfer rockabilly music on The Blow-Ins.
Click here for full IMDB filmography.
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The Blow-Ins
- Welcome to the online festival kit for our acclaimed comedy short, The Blow-Ins. It's a one-stop spot to peruse the film's trailer, media reviews, festival screenings, stills and much more. You can also view or download the film's press kit in PDF. Feel free to share the short page link: http://bit.ly/MzcG72. Enjoy...
"A SHORT, NON-DEPRESSING IRISH FILM FOR ROCKABILLY MOMS WITH FAST CARS AND DAD ISSUES!"
- THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
"CHARMING... WONDERFUL... SWINGING SURF ROCK SOUNDTRACK"
- THE SOUTHERN STAR
"FISHY SEA STORIES, FAMILY HONOR, HIGH ADVENTURE, A ROCKABILLY MUSIC SCORE... TOTALLY IRISH!"
- CHICAGO IRISH FILM FESTIVAL
"A WONDERFULLY ABSURD ADVENTURE COMEDY"
- IRISH AMERICAN NEWS
"The Blow-Ins" Rockabilly Tattoo Design by Jo Hayden. Graphic Design by Clara Sartini. Hi-Res posters for print in flickr.
ABOUT THE BLOW-INS
Super Models - Lorraine (Jill Sartini) in her original 60s Ford Mustang.
The Blow-Ins is an acclaimed 15 minute adventure comedy from multi-award winning director CJ Scuffins of Dublin production company, Story Factory Ireland. The film was shot on the RED camera over 10 locations and at sea in four and a half days in beautiful South West Cork, in association with Cork County Council and the Cork Screen Commission.
The story concerns free-spirited 'rockabilly' mum Lorraine, who travels to her Dad's birthplace in the West of Ireland to see where he once 'battled' a giant whale, but discovers that must restore the family honour with a strange sea rescue adventure of her own.
The Blow-Ins has drawn praise for its crowd-pleasing storyline and anarchic humour, yet also has a serious core. The film speaks to the migrant and emigrant experience with its themes of travelling to a new home and breaking away from old modes of thinking.
Story Factory's latest film stars co-producer Jill Sartini (Lorraine Egan), along with Ellen Phelan (Hailey Egan), Dermot Ward (Vincent) and Victor Feldman (Arthur Egan). The DP was Ian D Murphy (Pilgrim Hill). The film features a surf rock soundtrack courtesy of John B Murphy and Richard Jolly.
For more information, see the detailed sections below or download our online press kit PDF (2.6 April 2013 6MB).
TRAILERS
Teaser Trailer ft. "Our Time"
The teaser to THE BLOW-INS features the rollicking surf pop song, "Our Time", written by John B Murphy (music) and Jill Sartini (vocals & lyrics). Free digital download now on Bandcamp.com.
Main Trailer
In this 4 minute excerpt, sea rescue volunteer Lorraine receives her first rescue call. She is spurred on by quirky young daughter Hailey in her quest to wipe away the memory of her father's fishy sea rescue stories and restore honour to the family name.
FILM DESCRIPTION
Audience reaction to the plot twists is not unlike Ellen's in this shot
Log-line:
A sea rescuer encounters a ghost ship on her first mission.
Synopsis:
The story concerns free-spirited 'rockabilly' mum Lorraine, who travels to her Dad's birthplace in the West of Ireland to see where he once 'battled' a giant whale, but discovers that she must restore the family honour with a strange sea rescue adventure of her own.
Plot Description:
The Blow-Ins is an anarchic comedy adventure in which mom Lorraine Egan must put old ghosts to rest and succeed as a sea rescue volunteer in their new village. Lorraine (Jill Sartini) is an inner city dweller whose father used to regale her with stories about being a heroic sea rescuer. After her father's death, Lorraine visits the fishing village of his birth with her wise young daughter Hailey (Ellen Phelan) to cast his ashes to sea, only to discover that he'd never been anywhere near the water during a mayday call. Instead, as a local folk song bluntly states, "The Coward of the Lifeboat would hide behind the wall." For the sake of family honour, and to gain acceptance from the locals, Lorraine joins the sea rescue service, only to be met with some very strange incidents on her maiden mission, involving a ghost ship, a giant whale and (shock horror) American tourists!
Theme:
The Blow-Ins has drawn praise for its entertaining storyline and absurdist humour, yet also has a serious core. The film speaks to the migrant and emigrant experience with its themes of travelling to a new home and breaking away from old modes of thinking.FILM STILLS
You are free to right-click and download these images for your publication. You can do likewise with the hi-res versions and other Blow-Ins stills on Flickr.
The Three Blow-Ins
At Kilbrittain Village Park, West Cork
Lorraine & Hailey's Fish Fight
Jill Sartini & Ellen Phelan in Ballyroe Co-Op.
The "Ghost Boat"
Off the coast of West Cork
Mustang Hailey
Ellen Phelan, with thanks to Jerry Hyde.
Lorraine Tries to Rescue The Whale Watchers
Jill Sartini (bg) with Siobhan Whelan & Mark Schrier
Lorraine & Hailey in Ruins
Ellen Phelan & Jill Sartini in Courtmacsherry Village
Vincent in The Local
Dermot Ward in The Lifeboat Inn, Courtmacsherry.
Ice Cool - The Ghost of Arthur Egan
As played by Victor Feldman
Lorraine with Local Hipster Fisherman
Jill Sartini and Johnny Caldwell in Courtmacsherry
PREMIERE SCREENINGS
Packed audience before the Corona Cork Film Festival shorts showcase at which The Blow-Ins topped the bill
The Blow-Ins had its Irish premiere at the 57th Corona Cork Film Festival in November 2012, topping the bill at a packed 'Made In Cork' showcase.
The film was made available for distribution on the international film festival circuit in February 2013. Its first US screening took place to great media fanfare (especially for a short!) at the 14th Chicago Irish Film Festival (CIFF) 2013. Festival Director Jude Blackburn saw the film at the Corona Cork Film Festival and praised the film's cinematography and "entertaining storyline" in Film Ireland magazine.
The Blow-Ins has its first outing in France at the 66th Cannes Film Festival 2013. The industry screening will be presented by Story Factory at Cannes Court Metrage (Short Film Corner). Here's the link to The Blow-Ins page in the Cannes Court Metrage brouchure.Also in May 2013, the film had its first official screening in West Cork at the innovative 5th Corona Fastnet Film Festival (Distributed Cinema Programme), Ireland. Celebrated patrons of the festival include David Puttnam, Jeremy Irons, Jim Sheridan and Steve Coogan.Coming Soon: Huuuuuge festival news to follow in June!
Wish to see the film's festival screener?Email us: storyfactoryireland[at]gmail[dot]com
MEDIA & REVIEWS 2013
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE -"SHORT, NON-DEPRESSING IRISH FILM...FOR ROCKABILLY MOMS WITH FAST CARS AND DAD ISSUES!"Read online at Chicago Tribune.
FILM IRELAND - PRAISE FOR THE "CINEMATOGRAPHY & ENTERTAINING STORYLINE"
Steven Galvin at Film Ireland broke the story of The Blow-Ins selection for the Chicago Irish Film Festival 2013.
Read online at Film Ireland.
IRISH AMERICAN NEWS - "A WONDERFULLY ABSURD IRISH ADVENTURE COMEDY"
THE CORK NEWS - "STRONG, WITTY FEMALE CHARACTER"
Read online at Cork News.
THE SOUTHERN STAR - ''CHARMING... WONDERFUL... SWINGING SURF ROCK SOUNDTRACK''
Read online at The Southern Star.
CHICAGO FILM FESTIVAL - "HIGH ADVENTURE...TOTALLY IRISH!"
http://www.chicagoirishfilmfestival.com/
WEST CORK TIMES - "CHARMING... PICTURESQUE...ENTERTAINING"
Read online at West Cork News.
FILM IRELAND - "BLOW-INS WRAPS IN WEST CORK"
Click to read in-depth article at Film Ireland.
Afloat.ie: "Acclaimed at Corona Cork Film Festival"
Irish Examiner: Locals row in behind making of film
Film Ireland: ‘The Blow-Ins’ Receives Funding from Cork County Council
IFTN: Cork Screen Commission Supports 'The Blow-ins'
And many, many more!
DIRECTOR INTERVIEW WITH CJ SCUFFINS
“I wrote in many strange discoveries made when location hunting"
The following text is extracted from the interview that director CJ Scuffins did with The Cork News in March 2013 on the eve of the film's US premiere in Chicago.
'...The short’s writer and director, CJ Scuffins said: “We challenged ourselves to make a comedy film for Irish Americans to enjoy, something authentic rather than the typical 'Oirish' syrup they are served up. Where better than Chicago for the film to reach that audience? It's a successful culmination of 18 months of incredibly hard work with all my collaborators.”He added the appeal of the film is the “strong, witty female” lead and the West Cork landscape. “Our West Cork is beautiful but it is not the usual picture postcard version that you see onscreen. I wrote in many of the strange discoveries I made when location hunting. They included the wonderfully quirky village park with the giant whale skeleton in Kilbrittain, plus a genuinely spooky ‘ghost ship’ from the 1960s in Courtmacsherry, not to mention a fabulous ex-RNLI rescue boat from Kinsale that was last used on ITV's Heartbeat,” said Mr Scuffins.
“Short movies and female leads are a hard sell in today's cinema, it's sad to say,” he added, “But today's shorts makers are tomorrow's feature film directors."'
CAST AND CREW
DP Ian D Murphy (Pilgrim Hill) shoots the Kilbrittain Whale - photo: Cian Daly
CJ Scuffins wrote and directed the 15-minute film for Story Factory, Ireland. The producers were Ray McSweeney and Jill Sartini.
The film stars Jill Sartini (Lorraine Egan), Ellen Phelan (Hailey Egan) and Dermot Ward (Vincent). The supporting cast were Victor Feldman (Arthur Egan), Mark Shrier (Spencer), Siobhan Whelan (El) and Erik Hegarty (Dirty Dave).
The Camera and Lighting team were Ian D Murphy (DP), Rupert MacCarthy-Morrogh (Lighting), and Fergus Long (Focus Puller). Conor Fitzpatrick was the editor. Jill Sartini was the Costume Designer, Gill Brennan did Make-up and Hair, and Jo Hayden was the Animator. The Sound department was Rob O'Halloran (Sound Recordist), Vinny Casey (Audio Post). Multi departmental assistance came from Mark Mangan (Titles Editor & Camera, Edit Assit., Post Sound Assist.).
The surf rock soundtrack was written and performed by John B Murphy and Richard Jolly, featuring Jill Sartini and Cornelius Wheldon.
Full cast and crew credits can be viewed at IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2356368/fullcredits#cast
CONCEPT ART
By Irish-Canadian artist John Keane
The Three Blow-Ins
Arthur Egan inspires Little Lorraine
Lorraine Misses The Boat
The Ghost Boat
BEHIND THE SCENES
By Cian Daly
Feel free to use anywhere - all we ask is that you please credit the film and photographer Cian Daly, as well as letting us know that you're using them.
PRODUCTION BLOG
We ran a production blog throughout the filming and post production. View the extensive behind the scenes diary in Tumblr.
SOUNDTRACK
John B Murphy and Richard Jolly's wonderful surf rock soundtrack features the dulcet tones of Jill Sartini and balladeering from Cornelius Whelton.
It is available for digital download on Bandcamp.com: http://storyfactoryrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-blow-ins-official-motion-picture-soundtrack
You can download it for free, or you can stream the entire album at the site, or in the application below.
If you require any further information about the film or music, please contact us at storyfactoryireland[at]gmail[dot]com
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Prodigal Son
- Welcome to the online festival kit for our multi-award winning horror short, Prodigal Son. It's a one-stop spot to peruse the film's trailer, awards, festival selections, media, stills and much more. You can also download a PDF press kit. Feel free to share the short page link: http://bit.ly/YOGoul. Enjoy...
"A FANTASTIC FILM"
- LEONI KIBBEY, BBC DRAMA, ST ALBANS FILM FESTIVAL
"A CROSS BETWEEN [ACCLAIMED IRISH TV GANGSTER DRAMA] 'LOVE/HATE' AND A ZOMBIE MOVIE"
- EVENING HERALD NEWSPAPER, DUBLIN
"A GORGEOUSLY SHOT MORALITY PLAY... ECCENTRIC... CLEVER... BRILLIANT"
- ALL THINGS HORROR, BOSTON
You are free to download this poster or the hi-res version on flickr. We also have fantastic ensemble posters in flickr.
ABOUT
PRODIGAL SON is a multiple award-winning horror short from Story Factory, Ireland. Since the release of our 'zombie noir' in Sept 2011, the film has been officially selected for 15 international festivals in cities incl. Atlanta, Berlin, Boston, Budapest, Colchester, Cork, Dublin, London, Munich, Nevada, New York, Washington D.C. and more. Prodigal is the first Irish film to screen at the prestigious Berlin "British Shorts" Film Festival and to be nominated for the Deadline Award in Munich. The film has won Best Film and Best Actor awards at international film festivals in Ireland, England, and the United States.
AWARDS
Deadline Award for Outstanding Horror, Mystery, Fantasy or Thriller Short Film at the 14th Landshuter KurzFilmFestival, Munich 2013, Nominated.
Best 18s+ Film at St Albans Film Festival, England 2013.
Best Horror/Sci-Fi Film at Dare Media Short Film Int'l Festival, Cork, Ireland 2012.
Best Actor in Short Film (Ryan Andrews) at Buffalo Screams International Horror Short Film Festival, New York, USA 2012.
Best International Horror Short and Best Screenplay (CJ Scuffins) at Buffalo Screams Horror Festival, New York 2012, Nominated.
Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay at Colchester International Short Film Festival, England 2012, Nominated.
PREMISE
A shadowy US medical company, Prodigal Inc., brings a Dublin mobster's son back from the dead, to the horror of his devoted mother, and without reckoning on the son's enigmatic killer returning to finish the job.
TRAILER
STILLS
A wide selection of hi-res striking stills is available in flickr. You are free to download and use any of our stills for your publication. Just send us a quick mail so we can link or reference it in our updates.
IN-DEPTH AND INSIGHTFUL REVIEWMEDIA ARTICLES
Prodigal Son: A Zombie Noir Morality Play
All Things Horror, Chris Hallock, Boston, 2012
[Excerpt] "Scuffins's eccentric zombie noir [is] a gorgeously shot morality play that explores just what may happen when a person "comes back"... it's a brilliant way to explore the concept… an update on films like Mary Lambert's Pet Sematary .... a clever twist on the standard version… more interested in exploring guilt and forgiveness than any sort of flesh-eating… Scuffins is also commenting on the cyclical nature of the drug trade - the spectrum of legal and illicit drugs - taking its toll all over the world." Read the entire review.
Below is Prodigal's media coverage. You can read more in the Press Kit PDF.INDUSTRY BIBLE RECOGNIZES PRODIGAL SON SUCCESSMay 2013Irish industry bible IFTN have written a great item on PRODIGAL SON's latest festival win in England.*
EVENING HERALD - FAIR CITY'S RYAN STARS IN ACCLAIMED ZOMBIE FLICK
Jan 7 2013
"A cross between Love/Hate and a zombie movie." We're delighted that Prodigal was mentioned in the same breath as Ireland's most watched drama by The Evening Herald, Ireland's biggest evening paper! They published a great article by Claire Murphy on TV star Ryan Andrews' role in our "acclaimed" Prodigal Son.Article online here: http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/fair-citys-ryan-stars-in-acclaimed-zombie-flick-3344756.html
HOBBIT'S MARTIN FREEMAN SHARES BILL WITH PRODIGAL SON IN BERLIN
Jan 2013
Prodigal Son is the first Irish film ever selected for the the prestigious "British Shorts" Festival in Berlin. Our horror short screens alongside a Martin Freeman (The Hobbit, Sherlock, The Office UK) short called The Voolman Problem, plus some other highly rated shorts.
More information in the festival programme: http://www.britishshorts.de/_pdf/BRITISH_SHORTS_2013.pdf
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IFTN on Prodigal's recent German & US success.
Jan 3, 2013
Gearóid Gilmore writes an in-depth piece on Prodigal Son, following its Deadline Award nomination in Munich and selections in Berlin and Boulder City.
Read the article on IFTN.
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FILM IRELAND on Prodigal's Deadline Award nomination.
Jan 2, 2013
Steven Galvin at Film Ireland breaks the news of Prodigal's latest award nominations and festival selections in Munich, Berlin, and Boulder City, Nevada.Read the article on Film Ireland.
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Film Ireland on Prodigal Son's US success.
Sept 15 2012
Steven Galvin, Film Ireland's Online Editor, published an article about Prodigal Son's festival success, The Blow-Ins being selected for the 57th Corona Cork Film Festival and CJ's new story Chips being published in an Irish Times short story anthology.
http://filmireland.net/2012/09/14/us-horror-festivals-welcome-prodigal-son/
WASHINGTON D.C. INT'L HORROR FESTIVAL PROMO VIDEO
OCT, 2011
OFFICIAL SELECTIONS
14th Landshuter KurzFilmFestival, Munich, Germany 2013
"British Shorts" Film Festival, Berlin, Germany 2013
9th Dam Film Festival, Boulder City, Nevada, USA 2013
St. Albans FIlm Festival, London, England 2013
8th Budapest International Short Film Festival, Hungary 2012
Buffalo Screams Film Festival, New York, USA 2012
Killer Film Fest, Boston, USA 2012
Colchester Short Film Festival, England 2012
Dare Media Underground Int'l Film Festival, Cork, Ireland 2012
Underground Cinema Film Festival, Dublin, Ireland 2012
HorrorQuest Film Festival, Atlanta, USA 2012
Knockanstocken Arts Festival, Wicklow, Ireland 2012
Village of the Damned Horror Film Festival, Scotland 2011
56th Corona Cork Film Festival, Ireland 2011
6th Washington D.C. International Horror Film Festival, USA 2011
CAST AND CREW
CJ Scuffins wrote and directed the film for Story Factory, with Eilis Mernagh as co-producer. Piers McGrail was the DP, shooting digitally on the RED Camera. Prodigal Son stars Ryan Andrews, Jill Sartini, Padraig Murray, and Sean Conroy. The film was shot on 10 locations over four days in Dublin north, south, east and west. The film features a stunning electronic soundtrack from Louise Heaney (Tufty) and Richard Jolly (The Blow-Ins). What's more, Irish installation artist Karl Burke provided his striking and aptly-named piece 'The Reveal' to the film.
Full cast & crew details: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1866224/
THE ART OF KARL BURKE
Prodigal Son features the aptly-named 'The Reveal', an amazing piece of installation art from Irish artist, Karl Burke, whose has exhibited around the world including in the Huge Lane Dublin, Washington DC and London.
Director CJ is a huge fan of modern art and thought a futuristic art installation work well in the mise en scene for Eileen's horrifying visit to the mysterious corporation, Prodigal Inc. Several works were viewed around the city -- but Karl's was the best fit.
Karl's work explores the tension between art and science. Check out more of his stunning installations here: http://karlburke.blogspot.ie/
BEHIND THE SCENES
by Marius Rados
CONCEPT ART
by David Kennedy
ENSEMBLE POSTERS
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Chips
- Welcome to the "Chips" page. It has everything you need to know CJ's shortlisted Powers Whiskey Prize story. Enjoy...
Story Factory's multi-award winning film director CJ Scuffins is also a recognized short story writer. CJ's latest story, Chips, was shortlisted in the top 10 of the prestigious Powers Whiskey Short Story Competition in 2012."Chips" is a humorous story about two young brothers who stonewall their mother's new boyfriend until he tempts them into an outing with the promise of the one thing they love more than anything else: chips.
The story was chosen from 4,200 entries -- all vying for the €10,000 prize! -- by Irish Times Arts Section writer Orla Mulcahy and editor Shane Hegarty. The story was published in The Irish Times in March 2012.
"Chips" was anthologized in Celebrating What Truly Matters, a collection of the top 50 stories from the Powers Whiskey Short Story competition in October 2012. The book was launched in Finnegan's Dalkey and presided over by author Sheila O'Flanagan. A detailed report of the event by Times writer & TV personality Barbara Scully is online here.
Jill and CJ with novelist Sheila O'Flanagan
(Pic: Brian Cox)
The book is priced at €9.99 and is available from Eason's, Dubrays or online at the Irish Hospice Foundation.
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Shooting The Director
- Welcome to the web page for Shooting the Director.
ABOUT
Shooting The Director is a web series pilot about Dermot Wake, who fancies himself as the Scorsese of daytime TV. He is convinced by his old gangland producing partner to take one more shot at hitting the big time.
The short includes an 'upcoming episode' called 'Give Me Less' in which Dermot directs an actor to do less, until the poor guy can take no more.
PREMISE
A washed-up Hollywood producer with a shady past calls on his old partner, a self-deluded, has-been film director who now calls the shots for a super dull afternoon chat shot. He offers one last chance to make the big time... or else.
TRAILER - 'Give Me Less'Film Director from Hell Dermot Wake (played by Dermot Ward) asks Fair City actor Ryan Andrews (as himself) to to do less, until Ryan can take no more.
PRODUCTION NOTES
The 12 minute web short, SHOOTING THE DIRECTOR, was shot in fly-on-the-wall style on the Panasonic AG-AF 101, a professional HD camcorder, in a mere 10 hours.
It features the work of writer/director CJ Scuffins, lighting cameraman Bill Corkey, actors Dermot Ward and Joe Dermody, not to mention the proficiency and versatility of the Story Factory crew and production staff: Jill Sartini, Johnny Caldwell, Rob O'Halloran, and Clara Kavanagh.
Thanks to our special guest star, Ryan Andrews, of the MacFarlane Chard Ireland Agency. To our mind, Ryan is one of the best actors in the country of any age (and one of the most polite in real life!). You can see more of Ryan's work for Story Factory in the trailer for our short horror film, Prodigal Son.
CREDITS
Producers/Director/Writer
Producers BILL CORKEY & CJ SCUFFINS
Director, Writer & Editor CJ SCUFFINS
Lead Cast
DERMOT WARD as Dermot Wake
JOE DERMODY as Joe Carmody
RYAN ANDREWS as Himself
Supporting Cast
JILL SARTINI as Waitress Stanislava
CLARA KAVANAGH as Actress Cindy
DONAL HAUGHEY as Camera Dude Ed
and
JOHNNY CALDWELL as Work Experience Johnny
Crew
Lighting Cameraman BILL CORKEY
Production Manager, Make-up, Costume JILL SARTINI
A.D. and Data Wrangler JOHNNY CALDWELL
Sound Recordist ROB O’HALLORAN
Clapper Loader & Script Supervisor CLARA KAVANAGH
Music FREAKPILOT
Photographer DAN MCSWEENEY
Rental of Panasonic AG-AF101 (IRE) JOHNNYCALDWELL[at]GMAIL[dot]COM
Thanks to
TIM HOOD, MARK CHEAH, ULLA JUSKE
Special Thanks to
ROBERT CORKEY at IADT, Dun Laoighaire
MARIUS and DAMIEN at The Canal Bar
RICHARD JOLLY in Tallafornia
(c) STORY FACTORY, IRELAND 2012
STILLS
You will find a full set of Film Stills available to download in Flickr.
Director from Hell Dermot Wake gets a wake-up call from Shady Producer Joe Carmody with (Joe Dermody and Dermot Ward)
Waitress Stanislavia (Jill Sartini) and Dermot Wake (Dermot Ward)
Ryan Andrews
BEHIND THE SCENESDay 1 of the shoot by Jill Sartini. On set at IADT Studios.
Day 2 of the shoot by Dan McSweeney. On location at The Canal Bar in Ashtown.
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Wall
- Story Factory is sick of this press intrusion.
- Story Factory's new short THE BLOW-INS screens at the 5th Fastnet Film Festival in Cork next week. We have yet to receive the programming times but they will be available on the Fastnet site soon. Note that a mistake with our film still in the programme was quickly corrected for the PDF version online. Thanks to Fastnet and best of luck to them for what promises to be a great festival. We visited in 2011 and have the pictures to prove it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57929174@N02/sets/72157626866413976/.... Next up is the industry screenings of The Blow-Ins in Cannes. http://www.fastnetshortfilmfestival.com/
- JILL SARTINI is a lead actor and the Costume Designer on A History of Amazement, the new short by Polish Director Alexsander Szeser, which hits the festival circuit next month....
- CJ SCUFFINS' new play 'Unmusical Chairs' was long-listed for The 10th Kenneth Branagh Award for New Drama Writing at the Windsor Fringe Theatre in London. The play placed for the prestigious award from 307 scripts submitted from 18 countries worldwide.
- INDUSTRY BIBLE RECOGNIZES PRODIGAL SON SUCCESS Irish industry bible IFTN has published a great item on PRODIGAL SON's latest festival win in England. We had a delayed reaction to this article due to a hyper-busy April. More great news to come next month. But first we'll have pix from our industry screening of The Blow-Ins at Cannes... Thanks to Gerard at IFTN. You can read more here: http://bit.ly/YTxU7j.
- YES WE CANNES THE BLOW-INS is swapping one small fishing village for another from May 15-26 after being selected for the 66th Cannes Film Festival's Short Film Corner (Cannes Court Metrage). Story Factory's Jill, CJ, Richard, and PR lady Clare are heading to a beautiful HQ on the beach side Boulevard de la Croisette for a week of the festival. Be assured that we will do our level best to promote the film, while simultaneously soaking up the sun, atmos, and €20 beers. To get our festival updates, you can LIKE this page or FOLLOW us at twitter.com/storyfactoryirl. For more information on Cannes and the film, visit our online press page: http://bit.ly/MzcG72. The news follows an extremely busy Jan-March for Story Factory, in which The Blow-Ins received coverage from 10+ news outlets in US and Ireland following its US debut, and Prodigal Son was nominated for the Deadline Award in Munich and won a best film award in England. Many thanks to the folks of Courtmac, Kilbrittain and surrounding areas for their hospitality and help in making The Blow-Ins in West Cork. Ditto Cork County Council and Cork Screen Commission. Au revoir 'til next month... - Jill, CJ, Richard & Clare
- Love Hurts For Prodigal Son in Munich Fresh from its latest award win in England last week, Prodigal Son goes back to business with a screening in the 'Love Hurts' programme at the 14th Landshuter Kurzfilmfestival in Munich this Paddy's weekend. We're delighted that the film was nominated for the Deadline Award for Best Genre Film. Check out the website, it's brilliant: http://www.landshuter-kurzfilmfestival.de/deadline-award/shock-block-6/prodigal-son.html
- HOORAY WE WON Our pact with the Devil continues to pay rich dividends as PRODIGAL SON won Best 18s Film at the wonderful St Albans Film Festival at the weekend. Thanks to Festival Director Leoni Kibbey for the initial selection and for everybody who made the festival such a great success. As indie filmmakers know, it's hard to get films selected for festivals, never mind to win awards at them, so we are absolutely delighted to have picked up our third in three different countries in the past year. Congrats and thanks to all who worked on and supported the film -cj Photo: Richard Jolly (Soundtrack) & David Kennedy (Concept Art) scrubbed up really well at the Closing Ceremony. http://www.stalbansfilmfestival.com/
- MEDIA MENTION MADNESS News of The Blow-Ins US premiere has now featured in 8 publications, including a small pamphlet called The Chicago Tribune. The latest mentions that we are very grateful to receive come courtesy of the Irish American News, The Southern Star, Afloat.ie and the westcorktimes.com. Thanks to all journos & editors. We hope you do not get fired for this. Links to full articles on our News & Screenings page. T http://bit.ly/YTxU7j
- INTERVIEW WITH CORK NEWS Not to be outdone by the Chicago Tribune, the The Cork News have been good enough to print an article and interview with yours truly today about the US Premiere of The Blow-Ins at Chicago Irish Film Festival. Many thanks to the intrepid Maria for making my wild ramblings and wishful thinking look semi-coherent in print. -"Colin 'CJ' Scuffins" http://thecorknews.ie/articles/chicago-premier-locally-shot-film-9703
- SLOW NEWS DAY IN CHICAGO The Chicago Tribune(!) have printed a few deranged quotes from me about The Blow-Ins' upcoming appearance at the Chicago Irish Film Festival. Very sorry to lower the standards of such an iconic US newspaper. Love the heading, though. http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/ct-mov-0301-chicago-closeup-20130301,0,4824276.column
- Thanks to Steven at Film Ireland for this new article about The Blow-Ins.
- BLOW-INS SWEEP INTO THE WINDY CITY We're delighted to announce that The Blow-Ins has been officially selected for the 2013 Chicago Irish Film Festival in a special programme that includes Sundance animation winner 'Irish Folk Furniture'. Our new adventure comedy short has been given pride of place, screening before the superb line-up of feature length films at the Film Board-affiliated festival from March 1-6. Festival Director Jude Blackburn saw The Blow-Ins at the recent Corona Cork Film Festival and said that she is "really delighted that The Blow-Ins is screening in the Windy City". She praised the film's cinematography and "entertaining storyline." It's lovely to see a prominent photo of Jill and Ellen, fighting about fish, at the top of their coverage. Well done to all who worked on the film. http://www.chicagoirishfilmfestival.com/
- PRODIGAL SON'S ENGLISH SCREAMING DATE St Albans Film Festival have announced in their beautifully designed programme that Prodigal Son will screen at The Maltings Arts Theatre in the "Over 18s Shortlisted Short Films" section from 9-11pm on Sat 9 March. http://www.stalbansfilmfestival.com/docs/Festival_Programme_Final_AWlowres.pdf The film description: "A gangster's son returns from the dead in this award-winning Walking Dead/Tarkovsky-inspired short film." It's true that the film was written after devouring hoards of Walking Dead comics in a frenzied swarm, and I hope after his mention that my film directing hero Andrei Tarkovsky isn't clawing away at his casket in an attempt to make it spin. The atmosphere around the film is macabre enough. -cj
- PRODIGAL SON SCREENS IN NEVADA Our award-winning zombie noir Prodigal Son screens this coming Wed 6th Feb in Nevada at the 2013 Dam Short Film Festival in the Int'l Stories programme. Why not pop in if you're in the neighbourhood? Sure beats hallucinating on peyote in the desert, or gambling your kids' college fund in Vegas. OK, nothing beats those. But it'll be damn close.
- PRODIGAL SON is off to the UK in March after being selected for the St Albans Film Festival, a fantastic international fest run by casting director Leoni Kibbey who recently worked on The Sweeney (Ray Winstone and Plan B). Great fit for Prodigal's incredible ensemble of emerging and established actors - cj http://www.stalbansfilmfestival.com/
- A link for festival watchers... The Berlin International Film Festival have published a great article on this weekend's "British Shorts" festival, including an interview with creator Jürgen Fehrmann, who personally invited Prodigal Son to screen... http://berlinfilmfestival.wordpress.com/2013/01/09/british-shorts/
- "A cross between Love/Hate and a zombie movie." Damn, that's good. The Evening Herald's write-up tonight about Ryan and Prodigal Son is also online here: http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/fair-citys-ryan-stars-in-acclaimed-zombie-flick-3344756.html
- Steven Galvin at Film Ireland breaks the news of Prodigal's latest award nomination and 2013 festival selections in Munich, Berlin, and Boulder City, Nevada. http://filmireland.net/2013/01/02/prodigal-son-nominated-for-2013-deadline-award-in-munich/
- Gearóid Gilmore of IFTN - Irish Film & Television Network writes an in-depth piece on our Prodigal Son's upcoming travels in 2013. http://www.iftn.ie/news/crewnews/?act1=record&only=1&aid=73&rid=4285680&tpl=archnews&force=1
- DER VERLORENE SOHN: ICH BIN EIN BERLINER Happy new year, folks. We're delighted to announce that PRODIGAL SON screens in Berlin on Jan 12 at the British Shorts Film Festival, Berlin, which is expanded this year to include Irish entries. More details at our site (including a link to David Kennedy's amazing storyboard art) http://bit.ly/N3ltVs A couple more great bits of news to follow later in the month.
- PRODIGAL SON SELECTED FOR CHRISTMAS SCREENING AT UNDERGROUND CINEMA Delighted to announce that Prodigal Son was chosen for the Underground Cinema Christmas Screening in Dun Laoighaire's Kingston Hotel this Thursday evening 6th Dec. http://www.underground-cinema.com/december-screening Prodigal screened earlier in the year at the Underground Cinema's superbly run film festival. Many thanks to Dave, Denise and all the team who organize indie cinema events every month. The accompanying image features unsung Prodigal star, Lily the Horse. Lily works at Stephens' Green and threw herself into her first cinema role. The camera loved her and evidently so did another horse, because she gave birth soon after the shoot. Eat your heart out, January Jones. /cj You should connect with us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/storyfactoryirl and like Story Factory on FB http://storyfactoryireland.com/
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Tweets
- Interview with Paolo "The New Fellini!" Sorrentino - Cineuropa http://t.co/cxemciK0cE via @cineuropa
- More #cannes papping for Jill & Clare promoting The Blow-Ins short film. http://t.co/kGd9wPfcWnMay 23, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Papped in #cannes Jill and Clare from Story Factory, promoting The Blow-Ins. http://t.co/Q0st5omYpVMay 23, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- CJ SCUFFINS' new play 'Unmusical Chairs' is long-listed for The 10th Kenneth Branagh Award for New Writing at the Windsor Theatre in London.May 17, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @StAlbansFF Thanks very much for the original selection and best of luck with next year. Would visit again in a flash!
- Irish film industry bible IFTN on PRODIGAL SON's latest festival win in England @StAlbansFF http://t.co/PNaPH6t3mE http://t.co/GoVSWr0uvAMay 14, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- The Lie Most Frequently Told In Hollywood -- http://t.co/PAVRrBNLeC via @goodinaroom
- Mick and Una haven't rested on their festival laurels. @IndieCork starts Oct -Congrats! http://t.co/VUO3nXWAWR @hannigancork @irishexaminerApr 17, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @SamuelJArun52 Thanks for the Cannes RT, John. Be careful out there today!
- YES WE CANNES - THE BLOW-INS to screen at the 66th Cannes Film Festival's Cannes Court Métrage. http://t.co/A530W3GmuZ Merci @FdC_officiel!Apr 10, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @hannigancork We greatly appreciate your support of our films & trust the third act will have a happy ending for yourself and Una.Take care.
- @IFTN Shocked at this news. Una & Mick are hugely supportive of filmmakers, lovely people, and sold tickets! - CJ & Jill @hannigancork
- @TheMire_net Agreed. And there'll be a parades of them all over the country this weekend. :)
- RT @ClaraFloraKavy: Congrats to @storyfactoryirl after PRODIGAL SON wins 'Best Over 18's Film' at ST.ALBANS FILM FESTIVAL. Happy Days.Mar 15, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- @ClaraFloraKavy Ta, Zooey.
- @TheMire_net Thanks, Donal. Happy Paddy Wagon's Day!Mar 15, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Fresh from its award win in England, Love Hurts for our PRODIGAL SON in Munich....http://t.co/4RIKDKa3Pc #film #shortfilm
- Delighted that PRODIGAL SON won Best 18s Film @StAlbansFF in a very strong field. Thanks for a great weekend, folks!Mar 11, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
- Media mention madness: 8 publications incl. small pamphlet @chicagotribune on 'Blow-Ins' US premiere @ChicagoIrishFF http://t.co/eouH5gPKRiMar 07, 13 from web Reply, Retweet, Favorite
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