Smalltown

JP Liz V1

ahlookit wrote: »

For me, the most original and interesting looking thing they have made is Smalltown. It doesn't even get a mention in that blurb. It's got Pat Shortt in a straight role, written and directed by Gerard Barrett. Should be worth a look.

More info & trailer here:

http://www.tv3.ie/xpose/article/tv-news/214751/WATCH-Exclusive-TV3-trailer--Smalltown-starring-Pat-Shortt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzfPk0HKxps

The 3 part series starts tomorrow night at 10 on TV3

pixelburp

Honestly, it doesn't look like my cup of tea, in fact I'd go so far as to say it's exactly the kind of miserable domestic drama that I associate with Irish TV drama (and a lot of Irish film too if I'm honest). Obviously with the likes of Love|Hate & Rebellion knocking around it's a bit of a generalisation on my part, but it feels like there's a huge lack of variety in the kinds of stories our media produces - beyond the template of 'Irish family has a series of miserable and crushingly mundane crises'.

I dunno, maybe I've missed the good stuff, and it's great to see TV3 ramping up production of its Drama dept, but 'Smalltown' feels cut from the same cloth as 'Philadelphia Here I Come', so it feels depressing that native writing still can't escape the sort of kitchen-sink tragedy that was 'perfected' 50+ years ago.

Appreciate this is off topic from the show at hand, but why does our drama often feel so ... parochial?

ahlookit

pixelburp wrote: »

Honestly, it doesn't look like my cup of tea, in fact I'd go so far as to say it's exactly the kind of miserable domestic drama that I associate with Irish TV drama (and a lot of Irish film too if I'm honest).

Think this may be one for you to avoid so...

"The first time I read the script, he just had a brilliant way of saying things and the topics are very strong as well; he tackles emigration, cancer and loneliness and how people are coping with things, and all around rural Ireland, which is very important. He does it so well."

It must be hard producing a drama series in Ireland - you can't compete with BBC on big budget dramas. I'd imagine any sort of costume/period piece costs a fortune, as would any action/thriller type, so you're left with contemporary drama. And most people can relate to themes like family illness and emigration.

Its good to see TV3 producing something new. We've got plenty of talented writers and actors here, would be great if they got more encouragement from TV3 and RTE. With a success or two and a bit more budget we could see something on a more ambitious scale in coming years.

pixelburp

ahlookit wrote: »

It must be hard producing a drama series in Ireland - you can't compete with BBC on big budget dramas. I'd imagine any sort of costume/period piece costs a fortune, as would any action/thriller type, so you're left with contemporary drama. And most people can relate to themes like family illness and emigration.

Yeah, but should the total of contemporary drama in Ireland so consistently lean towards familial misery? I totally accept the budget argument and would never expect RTÉ or TV3 to produce something even close to the level of BBC's Ripper Street & the like, but sometimes it feels like we're ... I dunno, psychologically averse to our cultural output thinking big or beyond the kitchen sink. That our Pop Culture might get 'notions' so to speak.

Emigration or Cancer isn't uniquely Irish, yet we seem more predisposed to our stories centring around sh*ttyness being our lot in life. There's no reason our TV/Film dramas couldn't be set in our courtrooms, law or financial firms, offices, cop shops etc. etc. - something that creates thrills or tension even on a small scale - yet there's a defaulting back to Angela's Ashes mode.

I dunno, maybe the people on high in RTÉ or the Irish Film Board are to blame here: after all, they're the ones who green-light the scripts, so perhaps they believe Irish Misery is a better brand than an Irish 'Borgen' or Irish 'Wallendar' or whatever.

But like I said already, very happy to see TV3 producing home-grown drama of their own and this will hopefully lead to more healthy competition for better scripted drama on Irish telly (and a healthier TV/FIlm industry). Lord knows RTÉ should have the monopoly wrenched from their grip.

ahlookit

From TV3s perspective, you've got to start somewhere... and this is probably a safe place to start...

Yep, when you look at the TV shows Denmark, with a population similar to our own, has produced in recent years it shows what can be achieved.

Hopefully it'll be a success and the start of bigger and better things. TV3 may prove to be a bit more adventurous in future if this works out. Here's hoping.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

I'm really looking forward to this. Have to say fair play to TV3 for getting Barrett involved. His film career has been relatively successful and he seems to be getting on quite well for himself. Makes a change from RTÉ trotting out the same old names and faces.

Maybe the topic looks familiar to some but the impact of emigration on rural Ireland isn't something I've seen covered on TV other than the odd half arsed news report about a local GAA team that ran out of players. I could be wrong but I think Pure Mule was the only TV show of recent years that was even set in rural Ireland?

Mr E

The TV reviewer on Moncrieff just gave it a scathing review. He said the lead just wasn't likable at all.

Atlantic Dawn

Mr E wrote: »

The TV reviewer on Moncrieff just gave it a scathing review. He said the lead just wasn't likable at all.

Yes heard the interview, sounds poor, I was looking forward to it, I will give it a chance and see what it's like tonight.

JohnFalstaff

pixelburp wrote: »

Yeah, but should the total of contemporary drama in Ireland so consistently lean towards familial misery? I totally accept the budget argument and would never expect RTÉ or TV3 to produce something even close to the level of BBC's Ripper Street & the like, but sometimes it feels like we're ... I dunno, psychologically averse to our cultural output thinking big or beyond the kitchen sink. That our Pop Culture might get 'notions' so to speak.

The best TV drama coming out of Ireland these days is on TG4. You should check out a series they ran last year called 'An Klondike'. It's a western set during the Yukon Gold Rush of the 1890's and it's a far cry from your typical Irish TV drama. There's a second series on the way this autumn by all accounts.

The trailer for Smalltown makes it look very poor which is a pity as I thought this had potential.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Mr E wrote: »

The TV reviewer on Moncrieff just gave it a scathing review. He said the lead just wasn't likable at all.

Since when does a main character have to be likable for something to be good?

Mr E

Don't shoot the messenger

Make up your own mind tonight.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Mr E wrote: »

Don't shoot the messenger

Make up your own mind tonight.

I will.

I didn't listen to the review so maybe they had more to say but a main character being unlikable isn't reason enough to write something off, in my opinion.

Clarebelly

I'm guessing........ 1 part unemployment, 1 part cancer, 1 part dampness, 1 part mould, 1 part silage, 1 part catholicism, wrapped up in lashings and lashings of depression.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

As predictable as our TV dramas, apparently, is the old write it off before it's even aired attitude.

CatFromHue

TICKLE_ME_ELMO wrote: »

Maybe the topic looks familiar to some but the impact of emigration on rural Ireland isn't something I've seen covered on TV other than the odd half arsed news report about a local GAA team that ran out of players. I could be wrong but I think Pure Mule was the only TV show of recent years that was even set in rural Ireland?

Nah there's The Hardy Bucks.

It also dealt emigration and loneliness too :cool:

kneemos

Why is it on at 10pm?Are they embarrassed?

Lisha

Te first 4mins have me depressed

kneemos

A twenty something year old being forced to go to mass?

Lisha

kneemos wrote: »

A twenty something year old being forced to go to mass?

The little priick would be getting salt in the back of his head

Lisha

Ffs
That fella needs a doctor and help. I'm so mad now. Awful program

Noveight

Enjoying it so far!

kneemos

Would ya ever go away son.

Atlantic Dawn

Not great so far, it's a little like the lad Pat Shortt played in Garage got married and had kids.

Atlantic Dawn

So far only for the X Box and the mobile phone I would say it's based in the 1960's.

El Hombre

This is the most depressing miserable ****e I've seen in a long time

Is it any wonder that young fella is so depressed with the way people are talking to him

It makes the Irish book Peig look like an uplifting master piece

It strikes me as film made by Dubs/urban people about how they think rural people are Jesus Christ

Noveight

El Hombre wrote: »

It strikes me as film made by Dubs/urban people about how they think rural people are Jesus Christ

Accurate. A rural drama by rural people would be far more upbeat.

kneemos

El Hombre wrote: »

This is the most depressing miserable ****e I've seen in a long time

Is it any wonder that young fella is so depressed with the way people are talking to him

It makes the Irish book Peig look like an uplifting master piece

It strikes me as film made by Dubs/urban people about how they think rural people are Jesus Christ

Fairly cliche ridden in fairness.

Atlantic Dawn

Needs a warning at the end of the show with helpline numbers for anyone affected by the issues in the show or the show itself.

Lisha

Cliche filled even with the David Brent esque boss

kneemos

****ing David Brent.

ScummyMan

Car crash TV

El Hombre

If I remember an ad I saw correctly when he goes home for a visit or something he gets abused with the whole "you left us here and come back like nothing has changed"

Hilarious given he was de facto kicked out they wouldn't hear from me again

kneemos

Something was bound to happen when he started smiling.

Atlantic Dawn

His boss is Keith from The Office....



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ewen_MacIntosh
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1133714/

coastwatch

kneemos wrote: »

****ing David Brent.

No, its' Keith (Ewen McIntosh).
Looks like he got Brent's job

Atlantic Dawn

Bit of a brutal story, she hardly went downhill like that so quick.

Lisha

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Bit of a brutal story, she hardly went downhill like that so quick.

11months since he home

El Hombre

It makes Fair City look like an intricate plotted internationally acclaimed hit

Say Your Number

Jesus they really hate the poor lad.

El Hombre

Say Your Number wrote: »

Jesus they really hate the poor lad.

I know!

They de facto kicked him out and are now moaning he wasn't at home for **** sake

ScummyMan

That's it, I'm off for a cry

Noveight

Will we ever see an honest portrayal of rural Ireland?

kneemos

If there was one thing it needed it's a cancer victim.

Water John

Yes its bleak. But then so are Vera, Wycliffe etc.

I think its well written and acted.

jluv

In summary..family insisted son goes away..mam gets sick..family insists son comes home..hates him for going away?

Lisha

jluv wrote: »

In summary..family insisted son goes away..mam gets sick..family insists son comes home..hates him for going away?

Family insisted he go away and build a life for himself. He is happy and promoted and now they hate him for doing as they asked.

coastwatch

Water John wrote: »

Yes its bleak. But then so are Vera, Wycliffe etc.

I think its well written and acted.

A well directed too.

El Hombre

kneemos wrote: »

Something was bound to happen when he started smiling.

jluv wrote: »

In summary..family insisted son goes away..mam gets sick..family insists son comes home..hates him for going away?

To be fair these quotes sum it up entirely :pac:

jluv

Was hoping this would be good even though I can't stand Pat Shortt. Disappointed..

El Hombre

kneemos wrote: »

If there was one thing it needed it's a cancer victim.

If they really want to go for the holy miserable grail they should push it forward another few months and have his father or brother hang themselves in the cows cabin with the other dying in an accident in a slurry pit seeing as they want to make sure country people and life are fully pointed out as being so depressing and nothing going for it.

Lisha

jluv wrote: »

Was hoping this would be good even though I can't stand Pat Shortt. Disappointed..

Yes I'm disappointed too. I just had a peek on Twitter and it's gotten a very positive reaction re it's realism! I'm confused.