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Interview with filmmaker Daragh Goan

Friday 23rd, September, 2016

Interview with filmmaker Daragh Goan

Daragh Goan won Best Film by an individual for his film "Wasted" at NOISE Flicks 2015. He sat down with Peter Kelly of Tallaght Young Filmmakers to talk about his experiences making the film.


Q. Do you have any advice for other young filmmakers on making their first big short film?

A. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I think there’s this feeling among young filmmakers that if you don’t do everything yourself then you’re idea or vision will be diluted. Filmmaking is collaborative, so reach out to friends and people with similar interests to help you with the things you might not be sure about.

Q. Where did you come up with the idea for your film?

A. I wanted to make a film with something to do with music. Then I got the idea for playing the piano on something that isn’t actually a piano like a seat or a table. Then when I thought why the character would be playing piano on something that isn’t a piano, drugs came to mind. Drugs and the misuse of drugs is a very common theme in young people’s films so I didn’t want to have the same old “person takes drugs for whatever reason, person dies” story. I wanted it to be different, but I didn’t want there to be a happy ending

Q. How did you find working with the cast and crew?

A. I loved working with the cast and crew. I was doing what I loved for the first time on a scale bigger than I had ever done before so I was pretty terrified. I can get quite stressed and frantic on set so having people I enjoy working with helps to calm me down, do a better job and enjoy it more.

Q. What did you find most challenging about the whole process?

A. Editing. With pre-production there was a feeling of excitement and anticipation, getting everything ready was interesting, and on set there’s this incredible buzz. But once the shoot was finished I was exhausted and deflated, I completely forgot there was more to do, so getting the motivation and patience to stick with it was tough, definitely something I need to get better at

Q. Is there anything that you would do differently if you were to do it all again?

A. I would have liked to have spent more time with the actors. I think directing actors well is something that a lot of young filmmakers often overlook because its difficult to learn and really has to be done through experience.

Q. What do you think the importance of youth film festivals like this one are for young filmmakers today?

A. I think youth film festivals like NOISE and Fresh and the others are probably the most important things for young filmmakers. Seeing your work screened in a cinema or in any sort of public setting is a huge confidence boost, its confirmation that what you are doing is worthwhile. Not only that but bringing together groups of young filmmakers so they can see each other’s films, make connections, and realise what an interesting and incredible young filmmaking scene we have in Ireland

Q. Who are your biggest influences?

A. The first director I sat up and took notice of was Wes Anderson. His style, his storytelling ability, after I watched Moonrise Kingdom in the cinema it was the first time I thought “I liked that film, I’m going to watch more films by whoever made it”. Steve McQueen, Xavier Dolan and the Coen Brothers have also all done some incredible things with film that I’ve absolutely loved.

Q. Would you recommend young filmmakers go to film school?

A. I think it depends hugely on the filmmaker, and what aspect of filmmaking you want to pursue. I’m glad to be in film school because I like the idea of learning about all the constituent parts of filmmaking so I can become a better filmmaker. At the end of the day making a film is telling a story and you can learn how to tell stories any number of ways, by going to film school, by studying English, history or philosophy in university, or just by going out and making films full time.

Q. Did you storyboard for Wasted?

A. I did some very rough sketches in my film notebook next to some lines about each shot. I can’t draw at all so to anyone else they would look like scribbles, but it helps me to remember what picture I came up with in my head
 

TAGS: NOISE Flicks