by Alan Jacques
AN online crowdfunding campaign is underway to help complete production of a short film by Limerick director Peter McNamara.
Inspired by his time living and working in New York, ‘Narcan’ tells the story of Sean Ryan, an Irish paramedic working the unsympathetic streets of the ‘Big Apple’.
The cast includes Malachy McCourt and Limerick actor Peter Halpin, who played the writer and actor in ‘Angela’s Ashes’, which was based on the life of his older brother, Pulitzer prize winning author Frank McCourt.
The story unfolds as the film’s central character, Sean, toils to manage a fractured personal life. His only son refuses to speak to him and the void between himself and his wife Sinead, grows larger with every passing day. During the course of a 12-hour shift, life-changing decisions with irrevocable consequences must be made.
According to Peter McNamara, ‘Narcan’ is a film about family separation and how it’s become a commonplace in society.
” I wanted to capture a glimpse inside a very stressful job and, as the film plays out, Sean’s psychological state is tested as he stretches the moral boundaries,” he explains.
“For months, we prepared and analyzed the script multiple times, we needed every character to be recognizable and I think you’ll find elements of yourself in each and every one of them.”
After assembling a small crew of 15, cameras rolled inside the locker room of one of New York’s busiest emergency stations and so began the rollercoaster ride shooting of ‘Narcan’.
“All members of the cast and crew were pushed to the limit and sometimes beyond, all in the name of art. Everybody shared my vision and worked tirelessly to bring it to life. I’m so proud of each and everyone who was part of the ‘Narcan’ team.
“It was a life changing experience and now I know that New York is where I want to be based making beautiful films for the foreseeable future,” he told the Limerick Post.
Co-funded with Soberanis Productions, a crowdfunding campaign has been kick-started to complete the film. For more details see https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/narcan-short-movie#/
