- Culture
- 03 Sep 03
Paddy Courtney explains why he's already gearing up for the Oscars.
During last easter I got a phone call from writer/director Dan O’Hara who asked me if I was interested in a part in a short film he had just written. He sent me the script: Frank Kelly was being cast as an old man in a pub where my character would be based, and after reading the film and always wanting to work with the afore mentioned Mr. Kelly I said YES YES YES, as I was mid sex at the time. Finished, had a fag and rang Dan to say I was up for it.
One of the reasons I agreed to do the film was that I have been attending classes at the Gaiety School of Acting under the tutorage of Gavin Cleland and I reckoned I could show him what I had learnt, or hadn’t. The story made me laugh – and anyone I had shown it to – so I wasn’t entering into a dodgy porno or anything as fortunate as that.
The film was shot over a number of weeks during Easter and when I saw the finished product I was so proud to be involved in such a brilliant movie.
By pure luck and a lot of favours pulled in by masterful Dan and producer Grainne, the film was entered into the Galway Film Fleadh.
On the morning the film was shown a huge gang had gathered to watch and hopefully enjoy. The film was shown amongst 18 others that morning, out of a total of 100 that were being shown at the Fleadh. The other films that morning ranged from boring to down right mentalness with the producers and actors obviously in need of parental hugs and kisses.
Without trying to blow mine or anyone connected with the film’s trumpet (oh er missus), it got the best reaction out of the lot that were shown. Needless to say we were on a high and went on the batter in the beautiful city of the tribes.
Next morning I had to drive to Cork for a weekend of gigs with a talented young comic on the up and up, by the name of Jason Byrne. (Watch out for him!)
After a night of gigging and drinking and 5am bowling, myself and mister Byrne woke quite late the next afternoon (separate beds I’ll have you know, we both have boyfriends!!!). We decided to go and see the summer blockbuster that is The Hulk, which was a “bunch of mickies” to coin a phrase.
During the film I received a phone call from Dan to say that the film had won best new Irish short film and best Irish short film, the first time that a short had scooped both awards.
Hear this: the prize is (fanfare please) da de deh daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa… Entry into the LA Film festival where it is eligible for Oscar nomination! Yes I did say Oscar nomination.
How fucking jammy is that?
The name of this masterpiece is Yu Ming Is Ainm Dom. It will be officially launched at the upcoming Cork Film Festival in October along with nine other flicks which received backing from the beautiful people at Film Base and TG4.
Keep an eye and ear out for the Oscars! I will wear my best “Dunners” runners‚ and a
tracksuit!