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Making film, telling stories
Interview with film maker Neasa Ni Chianain.
Neasa Ni Chianain is a film maker best known for her controversial film 'The Fairytale of Katmandu'. She is also co-director of the Guth Gafa film festival in Gortahork, Co. Donegal.
Can you tell me how you got into filmmaking?
I studied textiles in NCAD, and worked as a designer before joining SIPTU as an art department trainee and started to explore the world of film.
I got to work on great projects like Amongst Women, Angela’s Ashes and Rebel Heart. In 1999 an opportunity came up to work on a documentary about asylum seekers in Ireland. I spent a year working on this project which culminated in a film called No Man’s Land. This opened up a whole new world to me and from there I developed my passion for documentary.
Were you always interested in film?
I’ve always loved films from an artistic point of view, I originally want to be a set designer but once I got a taste for directing that was it.
How difficult was it to get into the film industry?
It’s difficult enough, I knew no one in the business, so there was a lot of cold calling asking people if I could meet them to show them my portfolio.
It took a year before I got my first paid job. I think that was the scariest, making the transition from a full time position to the uncertainty of the freelance world. Once I got my first few jobs, it became a word of mouth process. People like to hire those they’ve worked with before, and if you’re a committed team player who doesn’t mind long hours then they’ll recommend you for your next job.
Your documentary Fairytale of Kathmandu attracted huge attention (sometimes negative)- were your surprised?
I hoped that the film would attract attention, as I believe it is an important issue that needed to be highlighted, but nothing could have prepared me for the amount of media coverage.
It was a very difficult time for myself, my family and the team when we were being accused of creative editing, especially when we were scrupulous about the footage used. The process was rigorous as we had to ensure nothing was suggested that we did not have ample evidence to back up. As a documentary filmmaker you go to great lengths to ensure everything in your documentary is honest and truthful, yet there were many accusations from the media that were unsubstantiated.
Why did you decide to start Guth Gafa?
My partner David and I both love documentary and used to travel to festivals all over Europe to see documentaries, but when we had children this was more difficult. We decided to run our own and have tried to bring all the best elements we enjoyed as a festival audience to Guth Gafa. Everyone loves a good story, and often festival films are the best of the best and unfortunately many will never be broadcasted on commercial TV stations. We have a passion for these kinds of films and we want others to experience the joys of a well crafted story.
Is there any director who you really admire and would love to attend the festival?
Yes, there is a woman called Kim Longinotto whom I admire immensely. I attended a workshop she once gave and have been a fan of her style of filming since. Each year we’ve invited her to the festival but unfortunately she’s always been away filming in some far-flung place and unable to attend. This year we’re showing her film Rough Aunties and her producer is attending, but I hope to get her here soon – she is the woman who lit the fire in my belly and made me want to be a documentary filmmaker.
For any young person who is interested in getting into film- how should they go about it?
Obviously, study is a start but then I think it’s about getting to know film people and them getting to know you; find a production company whose work you like and pester them for work experience and then make yourself indispensable.
I think that watching films and actually getting out there and making stuff is the best way, Equipment is so cheap now that experimenting is a real possibility.
Finally, what has been the most useful advice you have received?
If you want to make a film you have to be passionate about your subject. You’re going to be spending a long time developing the final film, so for your own sanity make sure that the love is there. Then the filmmaking will be hugely rewarding.
Interview by Marie Duffy
