John Carney (director)

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name = John Carney
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birthdate = 1972
birthplace = Dublin, Ireland
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occupation = writer, director
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John Carney (born 1972 in Dublin) is an Irish film and TV writer/director who specialises in low-budget indie films. He is best known for his award-winning 2006 movie "Once". He is also a co-creator of the Irish TV drama series "Bachelors Walk".

The Frames

Carney was bassist for Irish rock band The Frames between 1991 and 1993 and also directed some of their music videos.

Film career

In addition to shooting music videos, Carney also wrote and directed two award-winning short films (Shining Star and Hotel) before making his first feature. With fellow film-maker Tom Hall, Carney wrote and directed "November Afternoon", his first feature film, in 1996. Despite a limited release, it was acclaimed as the "Film of the Year" by the "Irish Times". [ [http://www.filmfestivals.com/cgi-bin/fest_content/festivals.pl?debug=&channelbar=&fest=dinard&partner=&page=films&year=2001&lang=en&film_id=4263] November Afternoon award ] The low-budget drama, shot in black and white, tells the story of two couples whose relationships begin to crumble over an eventful weekend. Carney himself provided a jazz score for the soundtrack.

After making a one-hour TV companion piece for the film enitled "Just in Time", Carney's next film was the edgy drama "Park", which premiered at the Dublin Film Festival. Written and co-directed by Carney and Tom Hall once again, the drama about a girl who is abused by a paedophile was released in 1999. It did not secure a wide release.

Two years later, in 2001, he co-wrote and directed "On the Edge". The film starred Cillian Murphy and Stephen Rea and was released through Universal Studios. He was awarded the Silver Hitchcock Award for "On the Edge" at the 2001 Dinard Film Festival. The film, which was co-written by Daniel James, was released in the USA with the title "Catch the Sun". [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0221559 On the Edge] ]

Carney returned to TV writing and directing during the same year. He co-wrote and co-directed (with his brother Kieran Carney and Tom Hall) the hugely successful RTÉ TV series "Bachelors Walk". The independently produced TV series proved the most successful in Irish television history. [ [http://www.oncethemovie.com/Oncepress.pdf "Once" press release] ] The series ran for three seasons. He also directs "The Modest Adventures of David O Doherty" for RTÉ, starring Irish comedian O'Doherty [ [http://www.rte.ie/tv/modestadventures/index.html RTÉ Television - The Modest Adventures of David O'Doherty ] ] and performed on the single "Orange", released by O'Doherty during the making of one of the series' episodes.

In 2003, he co-directed and co-wrote "Zonad" with Ciarán Carney and Tom Hall. A story about an escaped convict who fools a whole Irish village into thinking he's a visitor from outer space, the film starred Simon Delaney and Cillian Murphy, "Zonad" was extremely low-budget and was never released.Dawtrey, Adam. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970464.html?categoryId=1246&cs=1 "Once" director remains close to roots: Carney to make "Zonad" before Fox's "House"] , "Variety", 17 August 2007. Accessed 17 August 2007.]

In 2006, Carney directed the feature movie "Once". A music drama, the movie stars The Frames frontman Glen Hansard and Czech musician Markéta Irglová. First released at the Galway Film Fleadh, "Once" had its official world release at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2007 and won the World Cinema Audience Award in the category Dramatic. [ [http://festival.sundance.org/2007/winners/2007_Sundance_Film_Festival_Announces_Jury_and_Audience_Awards.pdf Sundance 2007 winners] ] A low-budget affair shot for only $160,000,Weisman, Jon. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968768.html?categoryid=13&cs=1 "Once" Upon a Time"] , "Variety", July 18, 2007. Accessed 11 August 2007.] , "Once" was hugely successful, grossing $7 million worldwide in its first 3 months of release. Legendary film-maker Steven Spielberg is quoted as saying, "Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year." When told of this during an interview with Sky News, Carney replied, "In the end of the day, he's just a man with a beard." Carney was wearing a beard at the time. As writer and director of "Once", Carney won the Most Promising Newcomer award in the Evening Standard British Film Awards 2007.

On the heels of "Once"'s success, Carney has begun work on a full-fledged version of "Zonad".

Notes

References

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External links

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* [http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_12026.html Director John Carney Interview]