CHARLIE CASANOVA

Good to see new Irish film Charlie Casanova getting some publicity in America. The director was complaining that in Ireland no-one wants to know. That's the way it works here: if you're 'outside' the system it's more difficult to receive recognition. His film looks good - more impressive than most IFB efforts.

ELECTION 2011!

Well that's that. As expected the smaller parties did well and the Greens got wiped out. So let's hope Fine Gael don't mess up like they did back in the '80s? We don't need another election in 2012. What's this got to do with Irish cinema? Well Fine Gael are a lot stricter and will no doubt cut the Film Board's budget and will demand less waste. So hopefully no more €90,000 shorts? Interesting few years ahead?

WHO READS THIS BLOG?

Naturally people in Ireland are the majority but after them it's predictably people based in Britain and America/Canada. Then it gets interesting: Holland, Germany, France also read the blog in numbers. After that, it gets a bit strange: China, S Korea, and finally Russia. These are the top ten countries who read Shoot the Cabbage in big enough numbers.

CORK GETS A FILM COMMISSION

According to reports this week in the newspapers Cork is setting up its own Film Commission. About time too. The weather in Dublin/Wicklow is terrible for filmmaking. Cork has much better weather and daylight. Here's hoping more films get made down there and best of luck.

TIME TO VOTE!

Not for the best/worst Irish movie but for 165 new politicians in this country. Just do it!

CHEERS BELARUS!

Whoever read this blog this week from Belarus - thanks!

IRELAND'S GREATEST ACTORS: REDMOND GLEESON

Seeing smug Brenda Gleeson at the recent IFTAs brought this forgotten actor to mind. Born in Dublin he appeared in several well-known titles: Airport 75, Pipe dreams, Octagon (with Chuck Norris), Cattle Annie and little britches, Dreamscape, and The dead.

IRELAND'S GREATEST ACTORS: LIAM REDMOND

Another Limerick actor with an impressive filmography: Captain Boycott, Gentle gunman, Cruel sea, Night of the demon, Ice-cold in Alex, Kid Galahad, Playboy of the Western World, Luck of Ginger Coffey, Till Death Us Do Part, Philadelphia, Here I Come, and Barry Lyndon.

IRELAND'S GREATEST ACTORS: GAVAN O'HERLIHY

Dublin actor with an impressive filmography including A wedding, Never say never again, Death wish 3, and Willow. Son of actor Dan.

MORE HYPE FOR THE GUARD!

Good to see the latest Irish movie The Guard getting released in America. However its star Brendan Gleeson is doing the film no favours by declaring that the Yanks will have no problem with the Irish accents*. Didn't he previously state that we should be making more movies like Studs? Anyone who sat through that film would strongly disagree?
* Today's Irish Mail on Sunday

WHY WE DON'T WATCH OUR FILMS?

Good quote from last month's Sunday Business Post: 'Irish films can’t seem to perform in their home market, even with marketing funding from the Irish Film Board, and plaudits and award nominations from the most venerated and respected of international organisations, including the Academy Awards.' Ever wonder why? There are a number of reasons. The main reason is that interest in Irish cinema was killed off back in the '90s. This was because of too much rubbish getting released with too much fanfare. Some of this stuff was laughable. Now no-one really cares about Irish movies in the cinema no mattter how many pointless awards they win. Another reason is that Irish movies are too middle-of-the-road. They are neither arty enough nor commerical. That's why people won't watch. Because there are always other titles on release which either have better production values or are more arthouse in style. What most people won't admit is that outside of the festivals Irish feature films have no audience.