A €5m feature film is currently in development in Ireland, with Martin Kemp, Don Baker and Terry Chimes all attached to star.
‘Ringsend’, an Irish/US co-production, will shoot in Dublin in October, with Fintan Cullen of the Entertainment Factory in Dublin and US-based Cinematheque International Entertainment LLC co-producing.
The film is described as a “fast moving, Irish gangster/cage fighting film”, and is set mainly in Dublin, with short scenes in London and Amsterdam.
The story sees a hardened drug dealer from Amsterdam set up a multi-million pound drug deal with Irish and UK criminals, using a cage-fighting tournament as cover. The final of the cage-fighting tournament will be held in Ringsend in Dublin.
Cinematheque, which has produced the 2012 feature film ‘It’s My Birthday’, and is a co-producer on the Northern Irish feature ‘The Rough Diamond’, has raised 90 per cent of the €5m budget. Irish-based Cullen is currently seeking the outstanding 10 per cent from Irish and UK sources.
Principal photography is scheduled to begin in Dublin in October, with Brett Halliday of HO Productions directing from his own script. Cullen will co-produce with Halliday and Gillian O’Donoghue, with Northern Irish-based Robert Lamrock executive producing.
Rosanna Davison at the 10th IFTA Awards |
It is not yet known what roles Kemp, known from his Spandau Ballet days and acting roles in BBC soap ‘Eastenders’ and the 1990 crime drama ‘The Krays’; Baker (In The Name of the Father); and Chimes, former drummer with The Clash; are in talks to play, however, they are expected to star alongside a number of other Irish actors, including former Miss World Rosanna Davison, who will make her feature film debut.
Northern Irish actor BJ Hogg, whose credits include the Oscar-nominated short ‘Dance Lexie Dance’ and upcoming BBC series ‘The Fall’, and Liverpool-born Terry O’Neill (Gangs of New York), are also attached to the project.
‘Dark Touch’ DoP John Conroy is currently in talks with ‘Ringsend’ producers to work on the film, while Gillian O’Donoghue will serve as production designer. Irish producers told IFTN they are currently in touch with other high profile Irish crew, however US producers may also elect crew of their choosing.
Additionally, renowned fight choreographer Marcus Shakesheff, whose credits include ‘War Horse’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ films, and stuntman Brian Sonny Nickels, who has worked on ‘Skyfall’ and ‘Game of Thrones’, will also feature in the film.
SWV Studios in Co Laois will look after post-production, with Noel Duffy editing.
Producer on ‘Ringsend’ are currently looking at accessing funding through product placement and other avenues. The film is expected to benefit from Section 481.
