As Nick Kelly of Fat Lady Sings is currently enjoying the success of his film debut The Drummer and the Keeper, he took the time to speak to Hot Press about the similarities between his two careers. "My expect taking The Drummer and the Keeper to the Galway Film Fleadh were, 'I hope a few people like it,' but we won Best Irish First Feature, which was akin to the early days of the Fat Lady Sings when, to our amazement, we started selling records. It was wonderful to win a prize, but the reaction of the audience was so great I'd have taken that."
Kelly talks about the current state of the Irish film industry, the similarities between filmmaking and warfare- "90% of it is sitting around waiting for the other 10% to kick off"- and the casting process for the film, which focuses on the unlikely friendship between a drummer struggling with bipolar disorder and an autistic teenager. "We auditioned a load of people, including several who are on the spectrum, for the role of Gabriel, and Jacob, who is neurotypical, was the one that occupied the character best."
"We sent all four of the main actors to this Asperger's drama group, which they joined in with for six weeks. The extras for one of the big scenes came from that group, so I like to think that our portrayal of autism is an accurate one."
Read the full interview in our Student Special issue featuring Laura Whitmore and Danny O'Donoghue, available in stores now (August 17)– or you can order it now direct from hotpress.com.
The Drummer and the Keeper is in cinemas September 8. Watch the trailer below.