a ferret called mickey

SAFFRONpictures

Eight year old Paulie is happiest dressing-up in his mother’s high-heels. His father thinks action is required. It is left to Mickey, a ferret with the cutest nose and the sharpest teeth, to sort out the men from the boys.

A Ferret Called Mickey is a tiny epic of fathers and sons, ferrets and rabbits and a young boy’s leave-taking from the balmy days of childhood.

BORD SCANNÁN na hÉIREANN and RADIO TELEFÍS ÉIREANN presents

in association with ROUGH MAGIC FILMS

“A FERRET CALLED MICKEY”

directed by BARRY DIGNAM written by LOUGHLIN DEEGAN produced by SIOBHÁN BOURKE

starring DARRAGH KELLY as Jim COLIN MIDDLETON as Paulie

CATHY BELTON as Breda EMILY BRADELY as Kate FELIX as Mickey

And PAT LAFFAN as Dougie O’Neill

director of photography RUSSEL GLEESON production designer ALAN FARQUHARSON

editor DERMOT DISKIN original score GREGORY MAGEE production manager ALAN FITZPATRICK

The Scheme

SHORT CUTS aims to add to the range and scope of Irish short film-making and to encourage new talent in all areas of film production. The scheme is co-funded by Bord Scannán na hÉireann/The Irish Film Board and Radio Telefís Éireann.

The Production Company

Rough Magic Films has a number of feature films in development with support from the Irish Film Board including "Try Tony" by Pom Bord, "Chairoplanes" by Charlie O'Neill, "Etiquette of Love” by Mikel Murphy and "A Dublin Story" by Audrey O'Reilly.

The Company is currently commissioned by RTE Drama department to produce a TV drama series "Love is the Drug" written by Martin Maguire and Darren Thornton of Calipo Theatre Company.

Previous Productions:

"Hit and Run" 2002
A dance drama. 56 mins beta. A co-production with CoisCeim Dance Theatre and funded by CoisCeim, Film Board and RTE. Directed by John Comiskey, Choreography by David Bolger and written by David Bolger and John Comiskey. Winner of Paula Citron Prize at Moving Pictures, dance on film Festival in Toronto October 2002

"The Case of Majella McGinty" 1999
22 mins 35 mm Short dram film. Shortcuts scheme funded by RTE and Film Board. Directed by Kirsten Sheridan and written by Morna Regan.

The Director

Barry Dignam studied drama at Trinity College Dublin and Film at the National Film School of Ireland. He has made a number of internationally successful shorts including “Chicken”, “Dream Kitchen” and “A Ferret Called Mickey”. His films have been presented in official selection at over a hundred and fifty international film festivals including Cannes and Berlin and have been awarded fifteen awards. Barry’s work has been screened by top broadcasters including Film Four, PBS, Canal+ and been released on DVD and theatrically in both Europe and the US. Currently Barry is in development on two feature films “Breaking Rocks” and “Try Tony” both of which have secured development funding from the Irish Film Board. Barry lectures in directing at the National Film School IADT and serves on the board of Filmbase.

Filmography

2003 “A Ferret Called Mickey” (10mins/ HD CAM to 35mm / Drama / Producer & Director)

2001 “Chicken” (3 mins / 35mm / Drama / Producer & Director)

2000 “In Loving Memory” (12 mins / 35mm / Drama / Producer only)

1999 “Dream Kitchen” (8 mins / 35mm / Comedy / Producer & Director)

1998 “Stages” (12 mins / 16mm / Drama / Director)

1998 “Doll House” (12 mins / 16mm / Drama / Producer)

The Writer

Loughlin Deegan’s first play “THE STOMPING GROUND” was a finalist in the National Association of Youth Drama”s “STAGE IT” playwriting competition. Then titled “Over and Over Again”, the play was workshopped and re-written over a four month period under the direction of Gerry Stembridge and received a rehearsed reading at the Peacock Theatre, Dublin in December 1995, directed by Jim Culleton. The play was then produced by Red Kettle Theatre Company, in March 1997, opening at Garter Lane Arts Centre, Waterford and subsequently touring to the Belltable Arts Centre, Limerick; Backstage Theatre, Longford and to Andrew”s Lane Theatre,Dublin.

His one act play “ONE MAN DOWN”, was commissioned by Macra na Feirme, and published in INTERMISSION IMPOSSIBLE: A Collection of Three One Act Plays.

Loughlin”s commissioned play “THE QUEEN AND PEACOCK” was produced by Red Kettle Theatre Company in August 2002 to critical acclaim.

The Producer

Siobhan Bourke holds an MA in Geography and is a lecturer in UCD's MA in Arts Administration. She is a graduate of EAVE; Europe's leading training programme for producers of film, television and documentary. Siobhan is a co-producer of the dance film Hit and Run; producer of Heartline, The Case of Majella McGinty and A Ferret Called Mickey. Rough Magic Films has with the assistance of the Irish Film Board a number of feature film projects in development: Vallie and Sammie by Charlie O¹Neill, Try Tony by Pom Boyd, A Dublin Story by Audrey O'Reilly, Breaking Rocks by Robert Bourke and Molly and Ben by Michael Murphy. Saffron Pictures is jointly managed by Siobhan Bourke and Kathryn Lennon.

a ferret called mickey

Duration: 10 mins

Genre: Drama

Originated on: HD CAM

Process: Colour

Aspect Ratio: 1:1.85

Original Language: English

Country of Origin: Ireland

Year: 2003

Formats Available: 35mm Print

Optical Dolby SRD

1:1.85

HD CAM

Beta SP & DigiBeta

Dolby Surround Sound

1:1.85 Letterbox & 16:9 Full Frame

VHS

Dolby Surround Sound

1:1.85 Letterbox & 16:9 Full Frame

Production Company: Siobhán Bourke

Saffron Pictures

7 South Great Georges’ Street

Dublin 2

Ireland

Tel: + 353 1 6725 464

Fax: + 353 1 6704 272

Email: rmfilms@iol.ie

Director: Barry Dignam

14 Limekiln Road

Terenure

Dublin 12

Ireland

Mobile: + 353 87 232 8990

Fax: +353 87 5 232 8990

Email: barry@hitandrunfilms.com

Web: www hitandrunfilms.com

World-wide Sales: Network Ireland Television

Derry O'Brien

23 South Fredrick Street

Dublin 2

Ireland

Tel: + 353 1 679 7309

Fax: + 353 1 470 8493

Email: info@network-irl-tv.com

Web: www.network-irl-tv.com