Tomorrow evening’s Oscars event presents a massive victory opportunity for the Irish cinematography legacy, irrespective of who actually wins – though speculation runs high that Cillian Murphy will be a deserving recipient of the top award. The image of a native of Cork gripping his best actor award in the company of global creative industry heavyweights is something every Irish citizen can rightfully be proud of.
In addition to this, the achievement of Irish producers Ed Guiney and Andrew Lowe cannot be disregarded. Their film, Poor Things, boasting an impressive 11 nominations, and lead star Emma Stone’s accolades which include a BAFTA, will undoubtedly heighten the joyous atmosphere of the night.
Away from the Oscars, Small Things Like These – a cooperative production based on an Irish literary work, boasting a primarily Irish ensemble led by Cillian Murphy, graced the esteemed Berlinale film festival’s opening last month. Irish producers Medb Riordan and Shirley O’Connor returned home beaming, having won the Bafta for Outstanding Debut with their film Earth Mama, whilst Kneecap, a biographical film of an Irish language hip-hop ensemble, swept the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award in January. Equally noteworthy are the sustained triumphs of indigenous actors such as Andrew Scott, Jesse Buckley, Paul Mescal, Saoirse Ronan, Barry Keoghan, and Alison Oliver. This wealth of talent arguably merits a triumphant open-deck bus parade upon their return from Hollywood.
As someone who has closely followed Irish society trends for many years, I am aware that we are a nation that unreservedly celebrates our success on a worldwide scale. As expected, there will likely be a rush amongst politicians to document their moment with Cillian if he emerges victoriously tomorrow night. Such attention however dwindles when it comes to financially backing the same creative talents in their formative stages.
To nurture the succeeding batch of talented individuals like Cillian Murphy, we need to invest in the film industry like we would in the tech sector. It’s not enough to just celebrate a victory; being prepared to fund potential risks is equally important.
Businesses like Element Pictures require consistent financial support to keep propelling fresh Irish talent onto the global platform. Apart from monetary input, films necessitate an immense amount of diligence, tenacity, and foresight.
Guiney and Lowe are the power duo behind Element Pictures, a production giant recognised globally for their devotion to novel concepts. They have historically supported directors like Yorgos Lanthimos and Lenny Abrahamson before they rose to fame. With the acclaimed success of projects like Normal People, Room, The Favourite, and the recent Poor Things, their daring choices have paid off substantially. Nevertheless, for companies such as Element Pictures to continue nurturing the next wave of Irish talent and make their mark internationally, consistent backing is necessary.
While the limelight shines on the accolades and nominations earned, the efforts that go into the crucial development phase often remain unrecognised. Take, for instance, the film Poor Things. Ideas for the movie started floating around in 2018, and the actual production commenced three years later. This interval—known as the development phase—saw dedicated teamwork of writers, producers, story editors, concept artists, production and costume designers, location scouts, lawyers, financial planners, among others, who fine-tuned the raw idea. The crew at Element, backed by Film Four in the UK, likely invested nearly €500,000 before any confirmation of the project proceeding.
I am of the firm belief that this early stage of a film’s journey mirrors the initial days of a tech start-up. It involves teams putting in relentless hours without assured return on investment. It’s high time we considered our film, television, and games industry with a similar perspective – as businesses with identical investment necessities as other sectors and deserving equivalent commitments towards research and development for industry growth.
Coimisiún na Meán is contemplating a proposal to impose a nominal levy on the national revenue of international streaming platforms operational in our country, with an aim to reinvest in the domestic production realm.
Screen Ireland plays a pivotal role in bolstering the flourishing industry, deserving considerable acclaim for their endeavours, particularly at notable events this weekend. There is a necessity, however, for them to have the liberty and self-assurance to take bold and daring leaps of faith, empowering creative heads to make audacious decisions prior to the onset of production. There should be a safe environment for filmmakers to experience failure en route to eventual triumph. It’s inevitable that some investments may not yield returns, while others will. For instance, the film ‘Poor Things’ has ammassed over $100 million at international box offices.
At present, Coimisiún na Meán has under consideration a strategy to enforce a minor tax on the domestic revenue of international streaming services which operate within the country. In turn, the funds would be reinvested into the local production sector. This practice has already been adopted by various European countries including France, Italy and Denmark, which utilise the drawn funds to maintain and promote local and regional filmmaking. Notably, this imposes no direct financial burden on citizens. It appears to be a rational move in Ireland’s context, to allocate a significant portion of these funds specifically for the high-risk development process.
From my dwelling in Skibbereen, I gaze out onto the river Ilen each dawn. Regardless of the climatic conditions or the time of year, I witness a steadily growing collection of renowned local – now internationally acclaimed – rowers, as they hone their skills for another shot at gold in the upcoming Paris event this summer. Their awe-inspiring dedication targets a potential significant success and their sustained resolve on the river is admirable, meriting acknowledgement on our nation’s lead stories. Perhaps it’s time for Ireland to shift the balance between risk and rewards, not only celebrating achievements but also acknowledging setbacks.
David Puttnam is a film producer.
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