::: SECOND CHANCE SCHOOL :::
Hotshot Films are pleased to announce that the first part of Second Chance School will be broadcast on Monday, 1st October, 10:35 pm.
The remaining three parts will be shown over the three following weeks, on Monday 8th October, 10:35 pm, Monday 15th October, 10:35 pm, and Monday 22nd October, 10:35 pm.
The series is set to be a compelling look into the world of Loughshore, a secondary school that are dedicated to succeed where the mainstream system has failed. What’s the balance between managing behaviour and education? How does the ‘honour and respect’ approach of Loughshore work? Why is the ‘Loughshore Code’ accepted by the toughest of Protestant and Catholic tearaways?
Geri Cameron, the inspirational headmistress, and her staff reveal how the education system has failed the ‘square pegs in round holes’ – and how, with an individual curriculum, they make square holes for each child to fit.
Please click here to view the BBC Press Release.
::: JUMP! :::
BRENDAN AND LISA GO TO CANNES
Brendan Byrne and Lisa McGee were able to experience the glitz and glamour of this year's Cannes Film Festival, as they hit the Croisette ready to pitch Lisa's latest project Jump!
Jump! charts the lives of seven desperate people revving up for the celebrations on the night of news years eve. 9 collide in the Belfast-set black comedy, based on the play of the same name by Derry-born writer, Lisa McGee.
With a cast of characters including novice no-brain hitmen, would-be suicide-cases and glitzy gals geared up for a night on the tiles, Jump! has garnered for its writer comparisons to the Coen brothers and looks set to be one of the most innovative features to emerge from Northern Ireland in years.
Brendan and Lisa pitched the screenplay in a number of meetings over the 5 days they were attending the festival, leaving having achieved in that time what they would normally only achieve in months.
We wait to hear how the pair's efforts will be rewarded, with Brendan feeling positive about the outcome, "Where would I like to see ourselves around the time of Cannes 2008? In production of Jump!"
Click on the following link to view the Jump! PDF document JUMP PDF
::: NEW OFFICES :::
Hotshot Films has relocated to Hill Street in Belfast, the heart of the Cathedral Quarter. It was sad to leave Queen Street with its bohemian mix of artists.
However, as the company has expanded so has our need for space. We've moved to a cool new glass and concrete pad designed by Box Architects.
With local amenities such as Nick's Warehouse, The Hill Street Brasserie, The Black Box, The Duke of York and The John Hewitt, the new Hotshot offices are in the heart of one of the city's emerging creative metropolis'.
::: THE SECRET LIFE OF WORDS PREMIERE :::
The Secret Life of Words featuring Tim Robbins, Sarah Polley and Julie Christie had it's UK and Ireland premier held in the Warner Village Cinemas in Belfast, on the 23rd March 2006, as the opening of the Belfast Film Festival.
It was attended by cast and crew, and our very own Brendan Byrne introduced the film with a letter from the film's director Isabelle Coixet.
She expressed her delight at winning her recent Goya Awards (spanish oscars) for Best director/film/production supervisor/screenplay, making it easily the biggest film produced in Spain this year.
The evening ended with drinks in Precious, where both crew and invited guests celebrated the UK and Ireland premier of this award-winning film.
Ballybrando
In 1995 perhaps the 20th century's greatest actor came to Ireland to make a film that became famous for all the wrong reasons.
The movie was Divine Rapture and the place was Ballycotton, which is a small picturesque villiage in East Cork. What happened next would linger long in the memories of all those involved in the remarkable experience that was the making and collapsing of this doomed movie.
::: RECENT TRANSMISSIONS :::