Speech
by Martin Cullen, TD,
Minister
for Arts, Sport and Tourism,
at
the Launch of
"Lights,
Camera, Dynamite: Adventures of a Special Effects Director",
by
Gerry Johnston in the Irish Film Institute,
28
May 2008 at 7.30pm
Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
I am very pleased to be here in the Irish Film Institute in Temple Bar to launch this wonderfully titled book by Gerry Johnston. I understand that it is the only memoir to have been written by a special effects director anywhere in the world and accordingly it is full of interesting stories and humorous anecdotes.
I think it is fair to say that the majority of film goers are fascinated by special effects and how they add so much enjoyment and excitement to action and adventure films. In Gerry's 40 odd years in the film-making business, he would have seen many changes in the film industry, and none more so than in the special effects area. The advent of computers in the film making process with the intricate graphic packages that they contain has changed the range and scope of what is now achievable in the world of special effects. It would have taken a very vivid imagination back in the sixties and seventies to countenance what is available today to the modern special effects director. So it took great ingenuity from Gerry back in those days to conjure up what the director was seeking, from very limited resources.
Gerry also had the pleasure, on a number of occasions, of working with many well known directors, actors and actresses over his career in film making and the book with its introduction by James Morris, Chairman of the Irish Film Board, has many stories of his encounters with them. Julie Andrews, James Mason, George Peppard and Helen Mirren are just a few one could mention. The films that Gerry has worked on include all of the most famous ones made in Ireland in the last 40 years – Ryan's Daughter, Excalibur, In the Name of the Father, My left Foot, Braveheart and Saving Private Ryan. His career history is a personalised chronicle of Irish film.
Some of those films won Oscars and international awards and it is very encouraging for me as the Minister with responsibility for the film industry that success continues for Irish film - with the Camera D'Or award at Cannes over the weekend for Hunger, and of course the Oscar back in February for Once. The award at Cannes was the third year running that Irish film had been honoured at Cannes following on from the Wind that Shakes the Barley and Garage.
The ongoing commitment of the Government to the Irish film industry can be gauged from the increase in funding to the Irish Film Board since 2002 of 89% - from €12.3m to €23.2m, and also the extension of Section 481 film tax relief scheme until the end of 2012, as announced in the recent budget. The film making industry in Ireland has never been stronger in terms of international acclaim, and the challenge is to build on those successes and I am committed to doing that.
Finally, I want to wish Gerry (who is also Director of "Special Effects Ireland" based in Ardmore Studios) every success with his book and to thank him and his publishers, Liberties Press, for inviting me to launch this publication about a man who undoubtedly is Ireland's top special effects director.
Thank you very much.
[ENDS]