THE IRISH Pavilion at Cannes became an impromptu film set yesterday afternoon when Irish director Mary McGuckian descended upon it with the cast and crew of a movie she is shooting during the 61st Festival de Cannes.
Playing a harassed producer, Canadian actor Michael Ecklund jabbered on his mobile phone in the outdoor area of the Pavilion while McGuckian’s crew filmed him from a distance.
The movie, The Making of Plus One, is a satire on the film industry as it follows a film crew working on a documentary about the production of a movie based on Plus One, a book dealing with Hollywood celebrity.
This is the ninth film to be directed by McGuckian, one of Ireland’s most prolific filmmakers. Her earlier work includes Words Upon the Window Pane, which featured director Jim Sheridan as Jonathan Swift; Best, featuring her actor husband John Lynch as George Best; and the Thornton Wilder adaptation The Bridge of San Luis Rey. That film featured three Oscar-winning actors – Robert De Niro, Kathy Bates and F Murray Abraham – along with Gabriel Byrne, Harvey Keitel and Geraldine Chaplin.
In a break between shooting scenes yesterday, McGuckian told how her ideas came together for The Making of Plus One. “After so many years coming to Cannes for the film festival, I wanted to make something that contrasted the integrity of filmmaking with the horrendous commerciality on the other side,” she said.
“From that basic idea, we are improvising a film about the hassle of financing a project . . . The film also deals with a production scam, and there’s a romantic element, too.”
Her principal cast in the film also includes Pulitzer Prize- winning US playwright Suzan- Lori Parks and prominent Spanish actor Jordi Molla.
The Irish Pavilion is the meeting point for the 200 Irish delegates attending the Cannes festival and their international contacts.
Sponsored as a joint venture between the Irish Film Board and Northern Ireland Screen, it is located just off the beach on the Croisette, a few minutes walk from the Festival Palais.
Tomorrow evening, the Irish Film Board and Culture Ireland will host a beach party for 400 guests at which Irish singer- songwriter Declan O’Rourke will perform.
Reeling and dealing at Cannes: page 18