Hollywood is back! Leap Year bases at temporary film studios in Dublin Docklands
The major US feature film, Leap Year, staring Amy Adams (Doubt, Enchanted) and Matthew Goode (Watchmen) recently shot in the capital from April to June. The film has an Irish budget of €15m, much of which was spent in Dublin.
The production was based at converted freezer units in Dublin's Docklands. The facility stored frozen products until recently, but became home to 170 film crew, working in 3 large film studios and production offices. The facility was chosen as the base for the production because the former cold-store is "sound-proofed" as a result of the insulation used in its construction. The Docklands site provided easy quick access to the film's Dublin locations, and Dublin Airport is just 15 minutes away through the Dublin Port Tunnel.
The film tells the story of Adams who plays an American woman travelling to Ireland to propose marriage to her boyfriend on February 29. She ends up getting lost in the Irish countryside, where she meets a local inn keeper played by Goode and they both set out to find her beau in Dublin. Locations used in the film included Stephens Green, Dublin Castle, and Dawson Street.
FILM DUBLIN Partners including Dublin City Council, An Garda Síochana, and the Office of Public Works provided support to the Supervising Location Manager, Maria O'Connor, and her team.
Improvements made to the Irish tax incentive for film and television, Section 481, mean that Ireland is now well placed to compete for larger international productions like this. Irish production company World 2000 Entertainment has had a long running relationship with the Leap Year's US producers. The two companies previously worked together on Reign of Fire and The Count of Monte Cristo, both of which filmed in Ireland.
Commenting on the improvements/ adjustments to the tax incentive Minister Cullen has said, "The film and TV production industry is a fast moving and competitive global one. The investment pipeline for this year is promising and I believe that these adjustments to the tax investment regime will be the catalyst in securing those opportunities for Ireland. The film industry is the cornerstone of a smart and creative digital economy and with the improvements to Section 481 the Government acknowledge its importance at this crucial time in our economic story."
James Morris Chairman Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board said also commented "All European countries have tax incentives to support their screen based industries and the improvements to the Irish tax incentive now allows Ireland to compete on an equal basis. This is particularly important in the present economic climate given the clear direct employment generated by the audio visual sector and the opportunity to strategically develop Ireland's screen based industries into a long-term growth sector as part of a new generation of export earners in the future."
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