Children and Animals

Jonjo Mickybo is the first feature from director Terry Loane. Cecilia McAllister looks at the film's production, talks to the director, and deliberates on the arduous road to that elusive first feature.

If you've spent any time around the Irish Film Institute you are likely to have come across them. They are the lost ones: The directors of a short film or three who are stranded in the wilderness of finding a feature film project. If you sit down you will be regaled with horror stories about rogue producers, insane script editors and financiers slamming the door in their faces. The plain truth is no matter what talent you've shown in your short, making a feature is the making of a director.

How do you go about directing your first feature? As Woody Allen said, 'the best meetings are already taken.' Successful producers have directors lined up around the block to work with them. Most really good scripts are already attached to proven directors. Suddenly that award from The International Bin Liner Festival doesn't look so impressive. But there is some hope; Terry Loane is proof that directing your first feature doesn't have to mean following your friends around with a digital camera.

Jonjo Mickybo has just finished shooting in Belfast. It's based on Owen McCafferty's award winning play Mojo Mickybo, it has Stephen Daldry attached as an executive producer. Mark Huffam and Michael McGeagh produced it in association with Working Title and Universal for a three million pound budget - and it has a first-time director, Terry Loane, at the helm. When I caught up with him on a short break during the edit I wanted to find out his secret.

The full article is printed in Film Ireland 98