indieactivity: How did you get into directing? How would you describe your style?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): Hello Indie Activity, thanks for having me. The first bit of directing I got to do was a self-funded short called Scrap. So yes, I had to pay to do it the first time. It’s tough to get support when you’re starting out so thankfully this got me in front of people to ask for funding for the next. It makes sense, it’s hard to entrust money to someone to make a film if you’re not sure they can tell a story in that way.
I was an editor for 5/6 years previous to attempting to direct and it’s definitely a great way to crossover I think. Short filmmaking, and indie filmmaking in general, deprives you of the thing you want most, time. Or at least that’s what I want most on set, in the edit, writing…. So being a practiced editor definitely equips you on set to save time here and there by knowing when you have what you need for the edit and to help you understand more clearly what’s most important in the moment.
If I was to describe my style, which I would say is definitely evolving since that first film, I would say naturalistic but always endeavoring to be cinematic
Do you hire a casting director, or do you like to choose the cast yourself? If so, what criteria go into your casting?Jamie O’Rourke (JO): I have yet to work with a casting director as when you are dealing with a very limited budget it is difficult to find money for one. For the films I have made to date, I have always known who I wanted in the primary roles and thankfully this has for the most part worked out. I don’t see why I wouldn’t work with a casting director though. The more experience I gain the more I realize how inexperienced I am and how collaborative a pursuit this all is. I like to be as open to what someone else, who has more experience than me, can offer to make the story we’re creating together better.
The Official Trailer for CALF Directed by Jamie O’Rourke
What went into the casting process for “Calf”?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): Casting for Calf was incredibly easy in hindsight. Both Isabelle (Connolly) and Kate (Nic Chonaonaigh), were offered the roles first and both said yes.They are both incredible actors and gave so much to the film. Isabelle was on a TV show and the schedule changed, clashing with our shoot dates. Her, and her agent Karl, convinced them to change it again which I can imagine was no mean feat. And then she delivered an absolutely amazing performance. On set our brilliant DOP Colm Hogan said to me on the first day “You just believe everything she does”. It’s true.
And then Kate. An equally powerful performance. The amount of prep and research she gave her time to in the build up was incredible. Shorts barely pay so for her to do that was just so generous. Whenever I watch the film, I am always blown away by how authentic and present her performance is.
Without giving anything away, tell us a little bit about the script, how did you come up with the idea?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): I worked on a documentary, as editor, in which women, who were experiencing domestic abuse, had fled to an emergency refuge at one point in time in their lives. They recounted their experience to camera. Incredibly harrowing accounts. It was around the time, 2018, that the Domestic Violence act of 2018 was being introduced in Ireland in order to finally include coercive control as a criminal offence. I became more aware during that time of the actual numbers with regards to domestic abuse and how common it is in its many guises.
The hard truth is that in Ireland, 1 in 4 women have been abused by a former or current partner. The numbers would suggest you find it hard to find someone who does not know at least one person who has suffered some form of domestic abuse, a terrifying reality. Those numbers vary only slightly from country to country. It is a global issue and one that doesn’t seem to be improving. The numbers for children who experience abuse also make for incredibly sad reading.
Who is “Calf” for? Who do you think would enjoy it the most?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): I would not necessarily say it is an enjoyable film to watch. Just by the nature of its central theme. It has also been rated over 15s by IFCO, our film certification body in Ireland. I would hope anyone over that age would engage with it, if only to engage with the theme behind it and to think on it. And think on the numbers, again available below, and what that might mean in their own lives and even more importantly, who in their lives it might mean.
How long did it take to shoot the entire film?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): We shot the film over 4 days on a farm in Limerick, in the midwest of Ireland. We were very lucky it was a single location. It was such a tall order to shoot what we planned to, I think any location changes would have had a huge impact on our ability to shoot the script.
How long was the post-production process?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): We shot in Aug 2022 and we had to have the film ready for Feb 2023 so not long really. Luckily we had no major edit issues. I was incredibly lucky to have Simon Smith (Chernobyl, Help, Last of Us), a long time friend, edit the film. It wouldn’t have been possible to get it over the line without him and of course my sister Orla, our composer. Just with such a short time when you factor everything in. They, along with everyone else involved, were so giving with their time.
What are your goals with “Calf”?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): I didn’t really have any other goals other than getting it made when we first applied for funding. Everything else has been a bonus. It’s had a great festival journey in that screenings have taken place around the world from Palm Springs to Busan and everywhere in between. The reality of short films is that they don’t get watched often outside of the festival circuit as there are few homes for them. That’s changing more recently but still, most often you need a strong festival run to even get your film seen by a small number of people. So just having people watch it is great.
What’s next for you? What are you working on right now?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): I am in development on a first feature and I am finishing off another, and final, short called “The Afters” which was produced by friend and collaborator, Aisling Magill. And very kindly funded by Screen Ireland. We are incredibly lucky in Ireland to have organizations like Screen Ireland, and Virgin Media who funded Calf along with Screen Ireland. There is an impression outside Ireland that we punch above our weight in the arts from a global point of view. While it’s true we have an abundance of storytellers, artists and musicians…it is also true that we have organizations like the ones mentioned above who support and fund artists as they emerge and learn their craft. Every year there are 10-15 short film funds people can apply for. Each year Screen Ireland funds 10 x 60k short films by up and coming filmmakers, Virgin Media funds another 5 and these are just two initiatives. There are more. To say we have this inherent ability to tell cinematic stories tells only half the story.
What would you recommend to a new director at the beginning of his/ her journey? Any special courses, workshops, helpful books they can read?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): A friend, and a fantastic Irish director, Brendan Canty recommended a great book to me years ago by Judith Wilson, called Directing Actors which pointed out to me a lot of, and there were very many, mistakes I was making. Some incredible tips. I took an intimacy co-ordination course, supported again by Screen Ireland, with Ita O’Brien which gives phenomenal insight and equips you with incredible tools and not just with regards to intimacy but communication in general. I think all relationships be it director/cinematographer, director/designer or director/producer are incredibly important but none more so than the relationship between director and actor. How do you connect with your actors, how do you communicate with them, how do you create the space to allow them to do the most important thing and bring the story to life. So spend as much time as you can with actors.
Who is your favourite director? Why?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): Tough question. It could be any of Andrea Arnold, Jonathan Glazer, Paul Thomas Anderson, Steve McQueen, Alice Rohrwacher…I could go on and on. I’ll mention one more even though she only has one feature film, Charlotte Wells. Every one of those for me are so brilliant at balancing tone and building tension. Their stories feel so real and authentic but they deliver them with such expansive cinematic vision.
What advice would you give directors around the world?
Jamie O’Rourke (JO): Talk to as many filmmakers you can, particularly if you can bend the ear of experienced ones. I have been lucky to get advice from many. Frank Berry and Dearbhla Walsh, fantastic Irish directors, have both been incredibly kind with their time. Find your peers and meet up often. Since I have started doing this I have become friends with so many talented directors. Below are just some of those, there are so many more here in Ireland, on the cusp of breaking through or have just done so…Edelle Kenny, Tristan Heanue, Ayla Amano, Mia Mullarkey, Derek Ugochukwu, Tara O’Callaghan, Gar O’Rourke, Brendan Canty, Katie McNeice, Robert Higgins, Tania Notaro, Paul Webster, TJ O’Grady Peyton, Suri Grennell. I could go on and on. Keep an eye out for all of them.
Tell us what you think of the interview with Jamie O’Rourke. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Socials
Website
IMDb
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Vimeo
FILMMAKER INTERVIEWS
