Jack’s little sis puts city in the frame for new film
IT WILL DRAW ON HER CHILDHOOD IN DERBY
DERBY landmarks, including the Bell and Castle pub, are set to feature in a new short film being shot by the sister of city-born Hollywood star Jack O’Connell.
As well as the Burton Road pub, Megan O’Connell, 24, will feature places such as her old school and other areas around Alvaston, where she grew up with Jack. By her own admission she is “passionate about Derby”.
She will also draw on her own personal experience of losing her father to pancreatic cancer when she was just 13 to write and film Wide Eyed Boy.
Megan said: “Until now, I haven’t really spoken about losing my dad, I found it really difficult to talk about how I felt and how I worked through the grief – as a child you just don’t understand what’s going on, and why it can’t be stopped.
“Losing a parent when you’re a child is enormously confusing. I think that confusion, that difficulty is what really makes this story real.”
She has already made a kickstarter promo video to support the making of her film, which tells how she used to pray that her father would get better until her hands hurt, and also is intended to help appeal for funding to make it.
Wide Eyed Boy will be Megan’s graduation film at London’s Met Film School, where she is studying for a BA in practical filmmaking. She is due to graduate early next year. The film is about 10-year-old Dean, who is trying to come to terms with the death of his mother and the actions he takes “to get her back”.
Last year, Megan’s first film, A Mother’s Ruin, told another story that was close to her heart and was inspired by her grandparents.
The pandemic lockdown for Megan has been both “creatively frustrating and intensely rewarding”, she was frustrated by the lack of freedom and personal contact with her friends, but she got to spend time with her family, who are close-knit and supportive.
She said: “I started lockdown with a seed of an idea as to what sort of film I wanted to make, and by the end of the first lockdown I had a firm film idea and my mum’s blessing.
“Obviously this film is deeply personal to her too and I was bricking it
when the time came me to show her the kick starter promo video – she has been totally supportive.”
Megan has wanted to work in film from an early age, she said: “When I was 12, Jack took me to the film set in Bristol where they were filming Skins. I got to see a couple of night shoots, I was as so excited – it was insane. ne.
“It was the first time I’d seen anything like that, watching all of these busy people behind the scenes working on a professional film set, shooting and directing, and basically putting the show together – it was something that I’ll never forget.
“I think it was then I decided that’s what I wanted to do. I remember looking looki around and thinkin thinking how do you learn to do these thi things? Where do th these people go to s school to learn all t this?”
After graduati ing Megan says s she is just going to “ju “jump right in” and added: “I hope to get a job as an assistant cam camera operator or even as a runner, ru I love being on set, and even while studying I have taken every opportunity to get on set.”
You can find out more about Megan’s latest film and add your support at www.kickstarter.com/projects/wideeyedboyfilm/wide-eyed-boy/description
By the end of the first lockdown I had a firm film idea and my mum’s blessing.
Megan O’Connell