Fringe Festival

Well good holy lord, I have been so busy that a) my brains are falling out my ears and b) I haven't had a spare moment to update since... *checks blog*... July 4th... oh dear.

Okay, film-wise... I now have copies of 'Orpheus', 'Bleeding Love', 'No Justice' and 'Tonight's Special in my hot little hands so as soon as I have a spare minute to edit, my showreel will emerge... as well as that, I can take a few stills from the videos and show you some photos up here.

In the end, I didn't get anything out of my audition for 'Your Highness', but Caroline Cassidy from my agency did, so that's some good news at least. Another casting director who might consider us in future! Paul Burke of Whiplash has been working on the movie though so I've been hearing cool things.



And speaking of Whiplash, I've been very, very busy working towards our latest show in the Absolut Dublin Fringe Festival. This year we're staging SPARTACUS: HIGHWAY TO HELL. It's been a lot of work organising and planning and unfortunately fundraising as cut backs have resulted in us having to come up with a substantial amount of money at the last minute, at that's with none of us getting paid a cent to do this and a cast of THIRTY FIVE! But we've been working hard and we're hopefully getting there! I've been working like a demon on the production end, as well as earning myself a part in it with all the rehearsal that entails, as well as day job and couple of harrowing personal issues this week, so you can imagine how knackered I already am! It pays off though, you get to participate in excellent theatre and that's its own reward. This show I'll be playing Flavia a gladiator and lover to Spartacus!

We had a photo shoot a few weeks back for the purpose of getting some promotional shots up and going for the Fringe Festival Program, as well as our own so here's a couple of the ones of me that I don't feel so cringey looking at!



This is just one of the shots we took on the day. Nothing more fun than playing with a whip! I look like a californian dominatrix... although slightly more rubenesque than your typical sylph-like cali girl.




Hmmmm.... fake weaponry and and a boiling, cloudy sky.... portentuous?



So basically, 13th September at 9pm at the Civic Offices Amphitheatre off Fishamble Street, a one-off show you DO NOT want to miss, Spartacus: Highway to Hell. Come and see us and revel in the madness! Afterall, it's FREE!

Enjoy xxx
Nicole E

Updates, updates, updates...

Okay, busy busy bee...

'Kim', directed by Kathy Raftery was shown in The Galway Film Fleadh last week and I have been reliably informed that it was received very well. I'm really glad for Kathy, and it was such a pity I couldn't make it down to the festival myself. I've been stuck up in Dublin rehearsing and working and doing bits and bobs. The trailer for it is HERE if anyone wants to take a peek!



The pic above is a still from 'Kim'. Note my face-o-woe.

In other news, the screening of 'Tonight's Special' in Odessa on the 23rd of June went quite well. People laughed, which is the best bit and I have a copy of it now so it's there, ready and waiting for me to get my act together and make a showreel.

The good thing is, apparently there is some interest in the project, meetings have been had a whatnot. Again, all of it may come to nought, but I'd like to think that with all the effort that everyone put in, both cast and crew, that something will come of it. Got my copy of it on the day as well. I showed it to my family later, who got a good laugh out of it.



This is a pic that appeared in The Herald on 26th of June. On the left beside me is Aoibheann McCaul and behind the two of us are Robbie Sloan the director and Arthur Deeny, the writer. Nice to get one's face in the paper (even if it's tiny and right at the back!!).

Also, the screening of 'Bleeding Love' as part of the IADT showcase on the 30th June, in fact, the showcase in general, went very well. There's some serious talent in that class and they're very driven. We got to watch all the films in the wonderful surroundings of The Lighthouse cinema, which I had never been to before. Beautiful building, must go there again.

I received my copy of 'Bleeding Love' in the post so that's another film that I have my hands on for incorporating into a showreel. All I need now is a copy of 'Kim' and for 'No Justice' to be finished, although, if I could just get ahold of 'Kim', I think that would be MORE than enough, particularly added to what I already have.

Preparation has begun for Whiplash's next show in the Fringe Festival (as well as some prep for stuff coming WAY down the line). We did a photo shoot recently to get some promotional material together for the Fringe Festival website and brochure. I'll post up a couple of pics, not taken by the professional photographer, but those taken by a few of us mucking around on the day with various cameras and phones. I'll also post up a couple of stills from 'Bleeding Love' when I get myself organised.

Annnnnnd finally, the most exciting thing recently was travelling up to Belfast to audition for 'Your Highness'. I haven't heard a peep yet either way from my agent but it was great to get out there and finally get sent for something paid and professional by my agent. As a first outing for them it was quite an adventure, especially for all of us who had to come up from Dublin as there was a security alert and the border was closed... cue massive delays. Oh well, it was worth anyway!!

I think that's all for now!
Enjoy
Nicole E xxx

Short films a-go-go...

Okay...

Well, I haven't been up to much in the last month... well, I have... oh nevermind! Most important thing, I turned 27! Had a fun birthday, shared it with Nora Stillman of TEAM Theatre Company, the lovely lady of Paul Burke, O-Captain-my-Captain of Whiplash and learnt the two of them are now engaged. Joy all around!

All of a sudden, all that work I put in a few months back doing back to back short films is now paying off... First up, the teaser trailer for 'No Justice' which is in post production.



I've also seen some rough footage of the stuff I've shot and listened to my VO for my newsreader bit... with the other parts of the film, it's looking brilliant already with an impressive cast including Don Baker, Honor Heffernan, Karl Shiels (and myself!) to name but a few. No ETA on when it'll be completed, but I await the news with baited breath.



Next up is the comedy pilot I shot, orginally titled 'The Cooks' and but now called 'Tonight's Special'. It's been completed and the private premier is being shown in The Odessa Club on the 23rd of June from 6.30pm. Anyone who wants to come along should contact robbie.icebubble@gmail.com.

Here's the teaser trailer for it, featuring yours truly, Aoibheann McCaul and Declan McGauran.



Also, on the 30th of June, IADT are having the screenings for their film school graduates, at which point I'll get to see 'Bleeding Love' up on the big screen, in the Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield at 6pm. I got to see some of it a couple of weeks ago when I got called back to do a little ADR. Looks very slick!

The short film, 'Kim', that I shot with Kathy Raftery (originally titled 'He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not') made it into The Galway Film Fleadh! Dates, times etc to follow eventually...

The music video I was part of that was directed last year by Michael Donnelly for the band 'Jaded Sun' is going to be shown as part of the Bray Music Video Festival next Saturday. I unfortunately will be working that day so I won't be able to come along to show my support.

And finally, I got a small part in a play that's running from 11th to 15th of August in the Teacher's Club in Dublin. It's called 'The Brothers!' and is based on Adelphoe by Roman playwright Terence. It's being done under the directorship Evelyn McGrory for Scarlet Cloak...

I had an audition over the weekend for a show in October in the Civic theatre. I didn't get it but I was offered a part in the next show they're doing around March/April of next year so that's a nice consolation prize. Also, there's some good news for funding for Whiplash on the horizon but mum's the word at the moment!!!

Enjoy!
Nicole xxx

Exciting News...

Firstly, it is with much delight (sssshhh, I can't help myself!) that I announce that I finally have representation.

UFPI Talent Management, a new company, are now officially my agent. I'm very excited about this as I feel this is the next step. They're really enthusiastic, helpful and open. Already, they're lining me up to audition for stuff, which is fantastic. I just want to work, but, even if I don't get this, it's gonna be great to be seen out there, playing in the big leagues... Anyway, I'm delighted, and I've hit the ground running. Just because I have an agent now doesn't mean that I should stop looking for my own work! God, but I really love my job.

Nextly, last Thursday I helped Paul Burke get in another funding proposal to the Arts Council. The two of us nearly DIED. I exagerate not. A big fat drink was required afterwards to get over the horror of it all. Still, won't have to do one of them for a while, and imagine if we got funding? Oh, the shows we could do!!

I had an audition this day last week for a film installation, but since I haven't heard a peep and it's been a week, I'm going to take it that I didn't get it. Oh well! Might have been tasty, and potentially funded too...

Lastly, the writer who wrote 'The Cooks', the comedy pilot that I did back in March has completed the piece and he's going to show it in a couple of weeks. It's been tentatively/provisionally renamed as 'Tonight's Special'... I may have to alter a lot of CVs... but I have that to look forward to.

All, in all, it's been a good couple of weeks, though I still can't believe I survived them!

Enjoy
Nicole E xxx

Photos from Orpheus...

Just a quick drive by to let you know what I'm up to...

I've completed filming on Orpheus and I was very glad to get out of that dress at the end of the last day, let me tell you! I came in that day to discover another actor I know, but had not yet worked with, Rory Mullen was on set to play Hades. Again, it's wonderful to have so many people you know around you for filming.

The last few scenes we filmed were at Monkstown castle, a charming ruin which, according to google maps, is 'the perfect place to go knacker drinker'... interesting piece of information that. I mention this because the look of the lights shining from different angles against the stones was quite beautiful so I look forward to seeing the finished product. Stills that were taken on the day were very striking.



The production crew have very kindly passed on a couple of shots they took of myself and Paul Burke. This shot was taken in a lap dancing club so that's the pole we're leaning on. Naturally, cast and crew all found themselves having a little go for the fun of it. A foolish idea on my part as I bruise very easily; my shins are a mess!

There haven't been anymore short film offers this week, but that's only normal. Six films in six weeks would be insane. I've been mostly working on funding proposals from Whiplash Productions to go into Dublin City Council. This would be in the hopes of getting funding to put on one of our derailed shows. DCC may redeem themselves and the Gods of funding may smile upon us yet! Anyway, the deadline is noon tomorrow so I've spent since Thursday writing this proposal, gathering together all the bits and pieces, meeting with the other Whiplashers and going blind from staring at computer screens. All of this is while I was trying to live my life and spend long hours in work (working hard for da money!). Family, friends and boyfriend have found me locked in a room with a laptop for hours on end, coming out only to forage for food, and go back to work! Producing may be oddly fun, but it's still damn hard work.

Enjoy xxx
Nicole E

Orpheus...

So, I've finished the first day of filming on Orpheus... Written and directed by Frankie Shine.

I found out on Saturday that Paul Burke, O-Captain-My-Captain of Whiplash, is playing the Orpheus to my Eurydice and the two of us had a big laugh about it. Then on Sunday, I got text from Aoibheann McCaul, with whom I did The Cooks, to say that she was also in it and she told me that another actress called Carla, who I'd just fight directed in the Tabs Theatre Company show last week, was in it as well. So that's three of the four actors that I worked with today that I knew... which was lovely and we all had a giggle amongst ourselves...

However, I'm wearing the dress from hell... very strange cut on the thing that at once manages to be very baggy around the waist and ridiculously tight around the bust... A lot of safety pinning was required to make it look semi-decent and even at that I can barely breathe... Apparently it was meant for Aoibheann and she couldn't even get the zip up completely and it made her 'chest' look even worse than mine does... Good thing I have long hair! It's not the best creation in the world, but it's a student film so what are ya gonna do?!?! Hell, I got pretty shoes to go with it so my girl side is satisfied!

I'm still gobsmacked over the whole 5 shorts in one month... It's like going from 0-60 in terms of show reel material in NO time! Can't wait to get all these bits in so I can start editing.

Enjoy xxx
Nicole E

More short filming...

Out of the blue today, I got a call from another film student offering me a part in his short film for IADT. He's a 3rd year this time, not a one of the graduating class.

I realise now I had sent my CV off to them because I was hoping to audition for another part entirely, but I was offered a different one and I'm totally cool with that!

It's a piece called Orpheus and is indeed based upon the Greek myth. I'll be appearing briefly as his wife (presumably Eurydice!) and, as in the myth, he travels to the underworld to retrieve her, only to lose her again at the last moment by looking back at her too soon.

There's no dialogue in the whole thing, the story will be told by movement. Sounds very interesting and I look forward to doing it.

Wow, that's 5 shorts in a month... holy cow!

Enjoy xxx
Nicole E