The Morning News (2007)
Written and directed by Louis McCullagh. Soundtrack generously provided by BBC News.
“In old age your world shrinks and the outside world becomes no more than background noise. ‘The News’ is no longer your news, you are hidden, forgotten.
Your understanding of your partner deepens to the point that things need no longer be spoken. You can finish each other’s sentences and anticipate what the other will think or do.
This morning Betty, Jim’s wife, must rely on him knowing what she wants.
Can a mere ‘man’ do the right thing?
He tries his best, and through his actions he spells out for us a love which should be spoken. This is the morning news.”
Official Competition Selection in film festivals:
Belfast – April 2007
Galway International Film Festival – July 2007
August 2007 – the first time ever that a short film from Northern Ireland was selected by the UK Film Council for its Film Festival Promotions List
Los Angeles International Film Festival – September 2007
Corona International Film Festival, Cork – October 2007
Foyle, Derry – November 2007
Signes de Nuit International Film Festival – Paris
Berlin
Cologne
Stuttgart
ReelHeART International Film Festival – Toronto
Filmstock International Film Festival
Salford Film Festival
Waterford International Film Festival 2008 – Award winner, Best First Film
Stinkwater International Film Festival, Sydney, Australia – Runner-up, presented by the Minister of Arts in Sydney
Call Me Son
Short 10-minute drama. Written and directed by Louis McCullagh. A My Neighbour Films production.
Through personal knowledge and research I became informed about the plight of children in care. In the UK more than 10,000 children are moved three or more times in any 12-month period. It is only the child’s actions which cause this to happen in a small minority of cases. The rest of the time it is because the system is not working properly.
In Northern Ireland there is no support for documentary makers, and so I made a drama.
The film screened in Australia (Byron Bay), the USA, Canada, England and Ireland, and won two awards. It was presented at both children’s film festivals and general festivals, and was screened on national TV in Ireland.
StandUp
Written and directed by Louis McCullagh, produced by My Neighbour Films. 14 minutes.
A boy who wants to be a StandUp comedian. His father finds his recording of his StandUp routine. Dad decides to step into his son’s shoes. Totally the wrong decision.
It’s a film for those who aren’t gay, whose daily drip drip of poisonous words kill others.
Winner, Rhode Island International Film Festival. Nominee, Celtic Media TV/Film Festival, Swansea 2013. Selected for Academy-rated festivals at Palm Springs, New Orleans, Cleveland and Rhode Island.
Also selected for the following international film festivals: ReelHeART (Toronto), Belfast, Fort Myers (Florida), Puerto Rico, Fastnet (Cork), San Jose, Marbella, International Human Rights (Barcelona, New York, Paris) and Lima (Peru); and the Family Voices National Conference, Ireland.
“Truly remarkable, hard to take but in the end something magnificent.” – Darryl MacDonald, CEO, Palm Springs Film Festival. The ending will haunt you.
“STANDUP is a must-see short film that powerfully touches on the unbearable parental grief that follows the loss of a child to suicide.” – Paul Sloop, Programmer, Cleveland International Film Festival
“Exceptional and brave.” – George Marshall, CEO, Rhode Island Film Festival
“Deserves to be seen by everyone.” – Helen Wells, CEO, Fastnet Cork Film Festival
“STANDUP had audience tweeting they were in tears.” – Clint Bowie, Chief Programmer, New Orleans Film Festival
Director’s notes
Philip McTaggart (whose young son took his life) is the founder of PIPS, which he founded to support families after suicides and also to educate the public about the warning signs of suicide.
STANDUP is aimed at getting people talking. Philip introduced me to many families and their stories are the essence of STANDUP. Philip told me at our first meeting that his wife in despair told him “you know there is more than one way to kill yourself”. She was upset at how his son’s death was affecting him.
Often I was going to give up, but I always remembered the people who told me their stories, reliving the horror of suicide in their families. To have asked them to do that and then do nothing was not an option. They screened STANDUP at their national conference – they want people to try to understand and talk about this very difficult subject. I hoped that the film would bring some of the emotions felt by a bereaved family to the audience.
Two weeks after we finished shooting, the news reported the suicide of a father; his son had taken his life the previous month in Belfast.
If this film affects you, you can call Samaritans free, day or night, on 116 123 (UK number).
StandUp – the full film
Philip McTaggart, founder of PIPS, at QFT
Philip McTaggart, founder of PIPS (suicide prevention and counselling charity), speaking at QFT. Philip set up PIPS after the suicide of his son. He devotes his life to helping others who have suffered suicide among their family or friends, and helps train groups from the community and business to watch out for the signs of suicide and to support those at risk.