Biography
Damian Ryan is a writer with a degree in English, Media and Culture Studies. With a Korean mum and Irish dad, Damian had a scattered upbringing in several countries around the world, which gave him an appreciation for different cultures and perspectives. He has written sitcoms, short films and short stories, and last year helped to produce a short film he had written - Pogonophobia, directed by Thomas Ryan, and produced by Victor McGowan.
"I became interested in what people believe in a post-truth world, and what they will do in pursuit of those beliefs."
Project Title: Abilo and The Peacock King
- Genre: Comedy
- Target Audience: 18-35
"Above all, I wanted to write the funniest film I possibly could. A comedy with a real message."
Synopsis
2022. Trust in political and financial institutions is evaporating. Disaffected citizens increasingly take to the streets. A widening, shared belief that populist energy and confidence can overcome injustices is seeking to find its voice. Online, there is a strengthening pulse among people everywhere who are waiting for that voice, for new directions.
Abilo Dos Cubos Barcelo is an unemployed, overweight graffiti artist in San Sebastian, Spain. He hungers to give his life wider meaning. He is convinced the power of his art can play its part in contributing to the triumph of goodness over exploitation, moral values over material values. For as Mahatma says: ‘Only our spiritual accounts matter.’ He is an avid online follower of a charismatic Irish philosopher who, in fiery sermons, rants against autocratic repression, globalism, the European Union, the capitalist webs of the international financial systems, all the wealth-grabbing and planet-poisoning elites who control us and, even, modernity itself. Abilo must meet this man.
In Dublin, Fergus O'Brien grieves for the death of his mother. His grief is inflamed by rage at the repossession of her house by the bank. His combined grief and rage find form in his conviction that the New World Order’s stranglehold is tightening all about us. He feels viscerally everywhere the conspiracy of power and wealth to brainwash the people and shackle them in financial and spiritual servitude. European civilization has fallen down the black hole of today’s world values. The only way to avoid the imminent apocalypse is to turn back the clock to when our Celtic culture illuminated Dark Age Europe, and back, further still, to when Celtic culture flourished across Iron Age Europe and Brennus, King of the Gauls, sacked Rome. Fergus believes a signet ring passed down to him by his mother links him to his ancient ancestor: the 11th century High King Brian Boru. This adds a messianic dimension to the epic quest of Fergus O’Brien Boru.
Abilo journeys to Ireland to join Fergus in Dublin. Together they embark on a disruptive campaign of civic vandalism, filming their stunts and streaming them live online. Fergus believes these videos will inspire and rally all the other oppressed and down-trodden Celtic souls to his banner. A pan-European uprising will ensue in which the people depose their governments. From the ashes a new, pure Celtic society will take shape under Fergus’s visionary leadership.
This does not come to pass, surprisingly. As the stakes rise, it becomes clear that Fergus is prepared to deceive and sacrifice his followers in the pursuit of his own eccentric convictions, prosperity and safety. Fergus is not governed by principles. Abilo must rediscover his own principles if he is to save himself. He set out to forge an inclusive society. In the society Fergus will create, people who do not conform to his official vision will not be included or welcome. They will be excluded - violently.