New short film set in the Bogside a riotous journey back in time

Black North Productions said it will complete the final rehearsal for what the company described as an “innovate and highly unusual short film”, by the end of March.

The plot of ‘Wish You Were Here’, the short’s working title, revolves around a female author who takes a sabbatical from her day job as a detective novelist in order to take a stroll around the streets of her childhood.

According to the production team: “She reminisces on the beginning of the Troubles and what the people of that time hoped to achieve.

“As she looks back on her childhood experiences of the Troubles, she is joined by a group of rioters from that time and they accompany her throughout the film.

“Interestingly, the film moves from her memory of events to her down on his luck private detective, Michael Quinlivan, and this twist makes the narrative both captivating and unusual.

“Greta Mc Tague plays the central character and the narration is ably delivered by Declan Mc Carthy and Lauren Conaghan.”

Black North said the film was well-received when the crew took to the streets of the Bogside recently to shoot.

“The film takes in several locations in the Bogside and actors received a rapturous round of applause by onlookers at the weekend on delivering a poignant scene involving six rioters sounding the well-known bin lid alarm.

“The film script has been written by local poet and playwright, Joe Mc Carthy and Joe will also be directing the film,” said the firm.

‘Wish You Were Here’ is also soundtracked by a former ‘Screaming Bin Lid’, himself.

“Paddy Nash, leader singer with Paddy Nash and the Happy Enchiladas has very kindly given permission for two of his best- known songs to be used in the production.

“The film opens with his highly popular Billy Bragg Jeans and closes with another rousing tune in Rapture Song.”

Black North said the new short will hopefully take film-lovers on a trip down memory lane while opening new doors.

“This film will rekindle old memories for many, but it aims to do much more than that. There is no doubt that, “‘Wish You Were Here’, is a challenging work for all involved, due to the switching from memory to detective story, but one thing’s for sure, the forty plus cast are confident that you will, ‘Wish You Were Here’, to see the drama unfold.”