International Production Update in Ireland
The major new 10 part historical television drama series ‘Camelot' which retells the Arthurian legend is currently in production in Ireland along with the new feature film ‘This Must Be The Place' starring Sean Penn.
Written by Chris Chibnall (Life on Mars, Torchwood) and originally developed by Michael Hirst (The Tudors) ‘Camelot' availed of Ireland's attractive tax incentive Section 481. The project is filming on location in Dublin and Wicklow for 22 weeks and comes hot on the heels of the successful Showtime television series ‘The Tudors' which filmed entirely on location in Ireland.
Two episodes of ‘Camelot' will be directed by Irish director Ciaran Donnelly (The Tudors, George Gently) and the series stars Joseph Fiennes, Eva Green, Jamie Campbell Bower, Tamsin Egerton, Claire Forlani and Peter Mooney. ‘Camelot' has been able to utilise many of the award winning Irish crew who worked on The Tudors including Emmy award winners production designer Tom Conroy and costume designer Joan Bergin along with Emmy nominated Chief Hairdresser Dee Corcoran.
‘This Must Be The Place' began filming in Dublin and has now moved to U.S locations including Michigan, New Mexico and New York. It has a budget of over €20 million, with funding provided by the Irish Film Board, Eurimage, Medusa, Indigo Film, Intesa Sanpaolo Bank and ARP Selection France.
The film stars Oscar-winners Sean Penn (Milk, Mystic River), Frances McDormand (Fargo), and musician David Byrne, alongside Irish talent Simon Delaney (Zonad, Happy Ever Afters), Olwen Fouere and newcomer Eve Hewson, daughter of U2 singer Bono.
"Ireland has become the most popular European destination for large international television dramas, with shows currently being made here for Starz, Syfy, Sky1, HBO, ITV, UKTV, BBC Worldwide & ProSeiben. In addition to the creative pool of talented Irish producer, directors, cast and crew, foreign producers are coming to Ireland because our tax incentive is available to TV, it's worth up to 28% and it pays out on the first day of principal photography. A weaker Euro against US Dollar and Sterling is also helping improve our international competitive edge", said Naoise Barry, IFB Film Commissioner
Ireland enjoys a strong track record in doubling for ancient and period Britain playing host to films such as Braveheart (1995), King Arthur (2004), Excalibur (1981) and more recently Becoming Jane (2007) and Cracks (2009). Many of these films utilised popular and historical film locations including unspoilt landscapes, castles, urban period streets and dwellings and stately homes.
‘Camelot' is an Irish-Canadian co-production which is due to air on US premium channel Starz Entertainment in 2011. Academy Award® winning producer Graham King (The Tourist, The Departed) along with Tim Headington and GK-TV President Craig Cegielski will act as Executive Producers. Other Executive Producers include Morgan O'Sullivan of World 2000 (PS I Love You, The Tudors) and James Flynn (Ondine, The Tudors) of Octagon Films, Douglas Rae (Nowhere Boy, Becoming Jane) of UK's Ecosse Films, John Webber of Take 5 Productions out of Canada, as well as with Chris Chibnall, Michael Hirst, Fred Fuchs and Anne Thomopoulos.
‘This Must Be The Place' is an Irish-Italian co-production between Irish production company Element Pictures (All Good Children, The Wind That Shakes The Barley) and Indigo Film (Il Divo) and Lucky Red in Italy.