O2C FILMS LIMITED
It came to pass that Michael O'Shea got fed up trying to persuade film
production companies to make a film from his screenplay 'Brother Barney O.P.'
So what did he do?
The most natural thing in the world! He decided to make it himself!
Can he do it? Of course he can! He's an artist, designer and writer - a teacher of art and design for God's sake! with a history of communication using all visual and verbal media - a Member of the Institute of Public Relations no less! Wow!
No more details here. If you want a little further information you can get it at www.o2cfilms.net.
The reason I say little is that film making is a technical as well as an artistic occupation, and much of what I am engaged in at the moment is technical, to do with funding and production - dry as dust. Unless you are in the business you would be bored to tears, so better to say little.
Wish me luck and look for 'Brother Barney O.P.'
on a screen near you within the next two or three, or even four years.
It will take much hard work to put it there - plus the acute entrepreneurial
judgement of potential funders.
Not all films are successful, as Hollywood moguls constantly discover, but
"Indy" (Independent) productions, uninhibited and creative,
continually surprise the big studios.
Their chief value, in the beginning, was and is the screenplay. A great screenplay - such as those for The English Patient or The Silence of the Lambs (the latter based on a marvellous book), or a good screenplay (not just so great in my opinion) such as The Full Monty, leads to a great or a good film. Without this another boring 90-minute time waster is the result. (We know when something is good, but don't we all wish that our guardian angel would whisper in our ear, "Don't bother to go and see that film! It's crap!" I wonder do guardian angels use such language. Sometimes it's the only succinct way to express a reality.)
Brother Barney O.P. is good to great! I
would say great, but it's not my opinion that finally counts. It's yours in the
long run, and at this critical moment the opinions of potential investors.
Investors are the people who must make the judgement. Without them no
film! With them I will have an exciting time, making a film that will entertain
and stimulate, bring a lasting return.
Even if only a billion Catholics went to see it the financial return would be
enormous - and I suppose a couple of billion curious Muslims, Sikhs, Brahmins, Buddhists
and Undecideds could add to the sum.
Financial return is not my driving motive. Telling the story is, and it's not
often that one is in the position to dissect the inner workings of a Catholic
monastic establishment through personal experience, warts and all.
Brother Barney and his community have quite a few warts, but also a lot of fun,
share a marvellous way of life. Tell me I'm wrong when you see it!
Brother Barney's story is the tale of a young
man leaving his safe job in London, and his girl-friend, to join a monastic
community (the Order of Friars Preachers) in the West of England, the
Cotswolds
It's a strange, provocative experience - with incredibly humorous
moments... Believe me. I lived it. I was, er - Brother Barney.
The story comes from real life. It's 90% factual and 100% true! It's
religion as you've almost certainly never seen it before - monastic life from
the inside.
Enough about this for the moment. Wait and see the film - or, if you
happen to have a few £100,000 to invest - in a not entirely risk-free project
- help to make it happen! Go on! You know it makes sense!
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O2C Films Limited is a Private Limited Liability Company Registered in the UK - Reg. No. 305797