Michael Fassbender, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Domhnall Gleeson have started the Irish leg of production on Lenny Abrahamson’s ‘Frank’, IFTN can reveal.
The feature film, which stars Fassbender as the title character Frank and lead singer of an electro-pop band, began filming on location in Ireland yesterday, after a three-week stint in New Mexico.
Fassbender’s character is loosely based on the eccentric comedic character Frank Sidebottom, who was known for wearing a large paper-mache head. The character was created by English comic Chris Sievey in the 80s.
Gleeson is playing an aspiring musician who realises he bit off more than he can chew when he joins Frank’s band, which is also comprised of Frank’s sidekick Clara, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, as well as two other musicians played by real-life drummer Carla Azar and French actor/musician Francois Civil.
Shooting will take place in Dublin and Wicklow, and is expected to wrap on February 15.
Abrahamson is directing from a script by Jon Ronson (The Men Who Stare At Goats) and Peter Straughan (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy), in what will be Abrahamson’s fourth feature film collaboration with Ireland’s Element Pictures.
Ed Guiney is producing for Element, with David Barron and Stevie Lee for Runaway Fridge. Andrew Lowe is executive producer for Element, alongside Tessa Ross and Katherine Butler.
IFTN caught up with producer Ed Guiney last week while he was still on location in New Mexico, where the cast were just prepping for a concert scene. Speaking from the set, Guiney said: “We shot a lot of the end of the film and today we’re shooting in a big venue in Albuquerque where we have a big concert scene, with a load of extras, and Domhnall and Michael are doing their thing and it’s been great.”
The Irish leg of the film has been fully cast and crewed. Stephen Rennicks, who has worked on all of Abrahamson’s previous features, has composed an original score, while Fassbender and Gleeson are expected to sing a number of songs in the film.
The script sees the band play a number of concerts in America, while according to Guiney, Fassbender and Gleeson can both sing “very well”, as well as play a number of musical instruments between them.
‘Frank’ will be edited at Screen Scene in Dublin following its wrap on principal photography next month. Guiney said the production team are hoping for a late 2013, early 2014 release.
‘Frank’ was developed by Film4 and is being financed by Film4, the BFI, The Irish Film Board as well as tax breaks in New Mexico and Ireland. Protagonist Pictures are handling international sales and Artificial Eye will distribute in the UK.
