Drogheda locals show support for new film
Cameras have started rolling around Drogheda on “What did you know, who do you see?” – a short film written and directed by Ukrainian-born local Volodymyr Plantieviev.
The film is part of EurAV’s “Drogheda Through Our Eyes” project – a Creative Ireland and Louth County Council-funded initiative that sees multi-award-winning film maker and content creation trainer Declan Cassidy mentor ten participants to make short clips revealing the town as they see it.
“It’s been a really interesting project in many ways,” said Declan. “Volodymyr’s film is probable the most ambitious undertaking we’ve had and it has provided an opportunity for those who want to get some practical content creation experience, but who didn’t want to take on their own personal project. Our role has to provide support where needed – whether that’s equipment or training – but the people who’ve come forward to contribute an audio-visual piece to Drogheda Through Our Eyes are very much in the creative driving seat.”
“What did you know, what do you see?” is based, largely, on Volodymyr’s own experience, arriving from a war-torn Ukraine traumatised with all emotional barriers on full alert, only to find himself slowly but completely charmed by the Irish philosophy and way of life.
“It’s been a great start to the film,” said Declan. “We shot two scenes – one along the river bank and one on the hill overlooking the town. It was Saturday with lots of people around, but they couldn’t have been more accommodating. There was a bit of natural curiosity about what we were up to, but people were very supportive.”
“While we have other video pieces being made as part of ‘Drogheda Through Our Eyes’, this one is definitely the most challenging, but it’s off to a great start. I strongly believe that Drogheda and the surrounds offer a lot to film makers. We’re so close to the airport, we have an amazing diversity of locations – from historic to modern – and there’s immense talent in the area. It’s great to see such initiatives as Boyne Valley Film Festival turning the eyes of the film industry to our town. More initiatives would help to build on that momentum.
