Quite some time ago, I came across a chap called Antony Lane on twitter with the username @indywoodFILMS. Antony had set out to independently raise funds to make a feature film, “Invasion Of The Not Quite Dead”, which is a spin on the zombie movie genre. You might be saying, “Nothing new there” and would be forgiven for thinking that but when you dig deeper you realise that Antony, or should I say, AD Lane, is doing it a bit different than everyone else.

For a start, he’s really pushing the project as hard as he can. He’s not talking about it, he’s doing it. Through the power of Twitter and other social media sites, AD Lane, has managed to raise UK£16,340 (as of today) from 446 sponsors. And by sponsors, I mean regular people. That’s quite an achievement.

The concept is simple. On visiting the website, theindywoodproject.com you are given the option to take our a producer package. Their are producer packages that range from UK£10 to UK£500, each offering a number of unique perks such as signed DVD, posters, t-shirts and a chance to be a zombie on set for a day.

After following AD Lane’s progress for some time, I took out a producer package. I saw how much he wants this to work and how committed he is to it. But don’t just take my word on it, Jonathan Ross has also taken out a producer package and as you can see from the website, the project carries a number of celebrity endorsements.

So why am I only blogging about this now? Well the teaser trailer has just gone live on the web, giving a brief snapshot of what we can expect!

The teaser was shot on S16mm film on location at a small farm in Kent and stars horror veteran Leslie Simpson (Dog Soldiers, The Descent, Doomsday), Efisia Fele and Frank Jakeman. I’m looking forward to seeing how this project progresses!

Like what you see or even just a little bit curious as to what its all about?
For more information on how you can help the production of ‘INVASION OF THE NOT QUITE DEAD’ please visit: http://www.theindywoodproject.com or http://www.invasionofthedead.com

For real time updates you can add them on Twitter: @indywoodFILMS

The official facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Invasion-of-the-Not-Quite-Dead/16091146970

Contact writer/producer/director Antony Lane: adlane@indywood.co.uk

You can click to the site here: www.nodramatheatre.com

So I’m just recovering from our sellout run of Wanted – One Body! that we staged in the excellent Teacher’s Club on Parnell Square in Dublin. It was an awesome run. Four nights, no empty seats and an a great response from the audience!

So how did it feel to direct my first full play. It was hard work. Don’t get me wrong, its not as if none of the other people involved didnt have their work cut out for them, but I doubt they sweated as much as both myself and my co-director, Noel Murphy, did during all four performances. But it was worth it. It was sad to wrap up on the last day, a set that took 3 days to build came down in 3 hours. The friendships that were struck up, the bond between actors and crew and the banter during rehearsals and backstage, it will all be missed.

I just wanted to put my thanks to people in writing and mention everyone! Please bare with me! This thanks list is in no particular order.

Co Director
Noel Murphy

Cast
Patrick O’Callaghan
Shane Robinson
Caelinn Largey
Tracey Diamond
Sarah Moloney
Laura McGovern
Tom Murphy
Alan Rogers
Dave McGowan

Crew
Brian “Silvio” Quinn
Rose Geoghegan
Sheila Dooley
Darragh Beirne
Cat O’Sullivan
Maria “Ladyhammer” Dillon
Louise Hall
Barry O’Donovan
Lisa McSharry
Louise Hall
Paul Bonner
Dearbhla Lawler
Damien Holmes
Jonathan Hughes
Kate Feeney
Vonnie Duran
Rachel Byrne
Ruairi De Burca
Angela Carlin
Grainne O’Sullivan

Everyone else:
Teacher’s Club – Tadhg, Dave and Stephen
Dav and Darragh from boards.ie
The Live Drive Team on Dublin City FM
James Power of Stagemad Theatre
Margaret Curran
Jason Gill of Athlone Little Theatre
Gavin Byrne
Members of No Drama Theatre who have supported us all along!

A big thanks also to those who came along to see us!

We all know how awesome Ben Dunne is here in Ireland. Everything the man touches turns to gold. A very successful business man having been head of Dunne Stores before handing the reigns over, he also owns a chain of gyms and I’m sure he has plenty of other very successful ventures. Watching him on The Apprentice would have been far more entertaining and worthwhile than Bill Cullen in my opinion. Anyway, more recently, it would be impossible not to have heard Mr. Dunne’s dulcet tones promoting his latest venture, bendunne.com, over the airwaves. In short its a site similar to buyandsell.ie for all our buying and selling needs. The cost of advertising on bendunne.com is very cheap.

Which probably explains why there have been many bizarre and funny ads on bendunne.com. Some clever clogs took note of this and set up beendunne.com which gives you the highlights of the best ones!

Enjoy! www.beendunne.com

You can get your fix of No Drama merchanise by visiting:

As some of you remember, No Drama Theatre staged our first ‘major’ production back in May. It comprised of two One Acts, Tales From The Fairground, and the main event, Night At The Invasion. The latter of course being the piece where I played the character, Col. Hazelby. Our esteemed director of Invasion, Barry O’Donovan, had his work cut out for him. Given he had written the play, it put him under increased pressure as it was his work being staged afterall.

We had a cast member pull out half way through production, many re-writes and an enormous amount of rehearsal time (5 months), which was due to the lack of funds available to us in the early days to put us in a position to put the play on. While the end result was something to be proud of, no one will deny the struggle we had putting the whole thing together. Directing seemed like a role best left for the foolish.

I’m some fool it seems. No Drama is staging Charles Dyer’s excellent farcical murder mystery chiller, Wanted – One Body! in January and muggins here is directing. Why I’m directing instead of acting is a long story (I did set up the group because I wanted to direct) but when I took the reigns I decided that a major battle plan was needed. Afterall the play is 2 hours long. It seems we are doing another “first major” production and stage time is less than 8 weeks away…

Fortunately the passion and committment of the No Drama members has been fantastic. I have a co-director in Noel Murphy. And I have a Stage Manager and Production Manager in Darragh Beirne and Cat O’Sullivan. Most amateur drama groups struggle organising a backstage and production team. Working with Darragh and Cat we have a team of almost 12 people. Friends in the theatre world have commented on how lucky we are to have such a large committed team. It seems its something that only the professional world has the privilege of having. And I must add, that no one is getting any form of payment to be involved in the production.

I’m very impressed by my cast of 9 people. Some of them have never graced a stage before. All of them have shown massive dedication. Everyone learnt their lines for Act 1, as requested, before the first rehearsal. In the next few days, we are starting to do full run throughs of the play. It is being staged in The Teachers Club on Parnell Square from January 20th to 23rd.

My stress levels are 90. Yes, I admit it. Despite how organised things are, it impossible not to be anxious. During some rehearsals, it has taken us 30 minutes to get a snippet of a scene of 1 minute nailed. There is so much going on in the play be it dialogue, visual or General Comedy Business (as we have kindly christianed it!)

But despite my blood pressure, I’m very excited and privileged to be doing this. I don’t see myself wanted to direct again for some time (I prefer to be performing!) but I know I benefit greatly from this experience.

Big thanks though goes to James Power of Stagemad Theatre and Jason Gill of Athlone Little Theatre. While they probably don’t realise it, they have been acting as my mentors on occasion over the past weeks. Without it, I’d be a raging alcoholic by now!

The above poster is a draft and not the final product. Wanted – One Body! was written by Charles Dyer. This amateur production is performed by arrangement with Josef Weinberg Ltd

I’ve gone through a lot of change in life in recent times. Lost friends, gained friends, change in life circumstances. Big life changes seem to remind us of our mortality and the true frailty of life. Its usually at night, in the quiet and darkness that surrounds us, where our fears or hopes are realised.

We make mistakes too as human beings. Its part of life. Sometimes its difficult not to. We can do 10 things right in life but it only takes 1 thing to undo all that. Sometimes of course, we make repeated mistakes and it takes a while for us to fix the things we do wrong. That’s when the problems really start. Sometimes it can be hard to understand why people in our lives make those mistakes and even harder to understand their intentions. But there comes a point where a line is drawn. You have to decide whether you can support that person and stick by that person. Its not an easy thing to do. And you have to take stock of how you feel about it.

If you have something good, hang on to it. If it needs fixing, fix it. Don’t let go of a good thing.

And then what? Life goes on. Someone important in my life once told me, “You were always 5 Neil”. Hopefully someday I won’t be.

But the story doesn’t end there. A new issue arose with the iPhone the day after I got it back. It got stuck in ‘headphone’ mode for some reason. I contacted Apple who were most apologetic. In fact they also agree to provide the replacement courtesy phone while mine was being repaired free of charge. Turns out I was able to resolve the issue without needing to send it off again but either way, it left me a positive experience despite the fact the iPhone had a potential new fault.

Lessons to be learnt O2 Ireland…