As Oscar fever builds towards the crescendo that is awards night in Los Angeles on Sunday, it helps to have a strong calling card when competing for the attention of Hollywood studios to back Irish film projects and to support Ireland as a location for international productions, writes Michael Dwyer,Film Correspondent,in Los Angeles
Or when competing for guests with all the many pre-Oscar parties that clash in the busiest week of the year for the US film industry. The Irish Film Board played an ace card this week in the form of the micro-budget Dublin musical Once, which has taken just under $10 million (€6.75 million) in the US, far more than expensive movies such as The Assassination of Jesse Jamesby the Coward Robert Ford, which stars Brad Pitt, or the remake of Sleuthfeaturing Michael Caine and Jude Law.
Once is being celebrated as "the little film that could" - and it is widely believed it could - take home an Oscar on Sunday for best original song. It was appropriate that the film's key creative talents should take centre stage at the party the film board organised as the centrepiece of its trade mission to Los Angeles this week.
Producers representing 25 Irish film companies have been in the city all week for intensive meetings with Hollywood film studios, US independent production companies, financiers and agents. They are seeking funding for a wide range of projects, along with identifying international projects for filming on location in Ireland.
The enterprise was funded by Culture Ireland, which co-hosted a reception with the film board on Wednesday night for the Irish delegation and US film industry executives. Over 250 guests attended the party, congregating around the swimming pool of the plush Mondrian hotel on Sunset Boulevard.
"We are here to promote the making of films in Ireland, and the making of Irish films," the film board's chairman James Morris said in his succinct address. "There was a time when Ireland was a place to shoot because of the scenery. The scenery is still marvellous, but so are the tax incentives for shooting in Ireland. And there is so much Irish talent . . ."
Eugene Downes of Culture Ireland said Oncehas been released in over 60 countries, and he quoted Steven Spielberg's comment that the film gave him enough inspiration to last a year.
The guest of honour at the reception was Oncewriter-director John Carney, who began self-effacingly by comparing himself to Rupert Pupkin, the fantasist indelibly portrayed by Robert De Niro in The King of Comedy.
"Anyone who's an actor or a film-maker will relate to him," he said. "When I was writing Once three years ago, I had fantasies about how well it might do. I am very grateful to the Irish Film Board, who really saved the day on that film."
He introduced the leading actors of Once, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who wrote and performed the songs in the film. To loud applause, they came on stage to perform a stirring, heartfelt rendition of Falling Slowly, which is nominated for an Oscar this year.
After delivering a punchy version of Van Morrison's
Into the Mystic, Hansard and Irglova moved on down Sunset Boulevard to perform at an eco-themed Hollywood party hosted by actor and green activist Leonardo DiCaprio.
They were due back on stage at another Irish party last night, at the Irish-US Alliance's annual Oscar Wilde awards, where this year's recipients are actors Colm Meaney and Fiona Shaw and director James L Brooks.
Then they will play to their biggest ever audience during the global Oscars telecast on Sunday.