Interview with the cast of Killing Bono - Savoy cinema, Dublin

Published: 19th March, 2011 - http://www.meg.ie/killing-bono-premier/

It was an absolute pleasure to interview the cast and crew of the new movie, Killing Bono, ahead of the movie’s European premiere in The Savoy cinema, Dublin. First up to be grilled by the info-hungry journos was the film's director, Nick Hamm.

LS: Can I ask you, what attracted you to this movie?

Nick Hamm (NH): Because I thought there was a story here about failure and I think that most people fail when they attempt a career in music or fashion or anything really in the arts world and I thought that there was a real every man’s story there that we could all identify with.

LS: How was it working with Pete Postlethwaite on his last movie?

NH: Pete was not very well when we started putting this movie together so we wrote him a specific role that he could play in a certain way and we created a very funny part for him because I wanted to show that he can play that kind of comedy.

LS: And I have to ask, are you a fan of U2 yourself?!

NH: Oh yeah, I love U2. Why wouldn’t I?!

Next up to the plate were ex-rockers, brothers, and U2 rivals, Neil and Ivan McCormick.

LS: How protective were you over the book going to screen?

Neil McCormick (NMcC): I wasn't protective at all! First of all it’s really difficult to make a film and I didn't actually think they’d get the damn thing made and so they've been paying me for 7yrs to renew the rights and I thought this is my retirement policy so when it started actually getting made the one thing I didn't want to do was stand in front of it. In the 80s we tended all our eggs before they hatched, this time I was letting someone else deliver the eggs. This was their story, their version, I've told my story, this somebody else’s version, so I can just stand-back and try and enjoy it. Which is a little bit difficult.

LS: How do you feel about the actors that portrayed you on screen?

NMcC: They're a couple of really good-looking guys so they've obviously cast very well as you can see!


And finally, last up to face a barrage of reporters were, Robert Sheehan and Ben Barnes.


LS: How did it feel having the brothers on set when you were portraying them?!

Ben Barnes (BB): Em, well I kind of wasn’t allowed to meet Neil McCormick until about two-thirds of the way through because he assured me that he was so irritating that if I tried to kinda copy his mannerisms, the film would be un-watchable so, eh, but when he actually turned up I was quite nervous and he’s actually a really, really lovely man, although he’s banned me from saying that… he’s like; even my wife doesn’t call me lovely! But, yeah we had a fantastic time doing it!

LS: Prince Caspian or Neil McCormick?!

BB: I think Neil McCormick.

Robert Sheehan (RS): Oooh! Who would you rather kiss, tongue kiss, tongue kiss in the ear.

BB: Myself in the mirror!

BB (to Rob): You're not doing the interview! And, you answer the questions not ask them!

RS: What did you prefer, did you prefer wearing new romantic or metal-male armour and a sword?!

BB: The new Roman stuff was more comfortable and I enjoyed the earrings!

RS: It was quite silky round the genitals!

BB: We would take it a bit too far though, he'd be in ridiculous dungarees and I’d be in like baggy MC Hammer trousers and like eye-liner and then we'd go what is this theme? We need earring and a quiff and make up and black lipstick and we just kind of pushed it until it was no longer funny!

RS: We embraced it too much if anything!

LS: How long were you in hair and make-up?

RS: I really depended on the morning, it depended what kind of get up we had that afternoon, but, eh, usually about an hour!

Killing Bono film goes on general release on April 1st.

Never Say Never film review - Cineworld, Dublin

Published: 18th February, 2011 - http://www.meg.ie/justin-beiber-never-say-never/

Beliebers from all over Dublin, and no doubt other parts of the country, gathered in the lobby of Cineworld on Parnell Street to be some of the first few lucky people in Europe to see ''The Biebs'' first trip to the big screen. The film documents the 10 day run up to his sell out show at Madison Square garden in New York. A huge feat for any artist, yet alone a relatively ''new to the scene'' 16 year old. We get to see a side of Bieber that isn't always acknowledged and, in fact, is often just ignored by the media. Bieber is just a regular 16 year old kid. Or at least that’s what he's trying to be whilst maintaining his newly polished ''pop prince'' crown. We see a first-hand glimpse of his relationship with his family, management team and, of course, his ever-adoring fans. Director, Jon Chu, manages to maintain the fact that Bieber was once just like you and I, and in fact still pretty much is, by incorporating old home videos of a young Bieber singing, playing games and generally just being a kid.

Bieber's success was created and is being maintain by his fans, and he always makes sure to let them know that he's more than aware of this and even more grateful for it. If it wasn't for his huge following on both Youtube and Twitter who knows what could have become of this ambitious but unknown talent. A barrage of tweets, Youtube covers and old Youtube videos are shown throughout the film which just further proves the true power that social media has.

If there's one thing I've learned from going to concerts, and generally just being a fan of music, it's the plain and simple fact that fans like to be recognised by the person they look up to. For Ontario born Justin Bieber, it's something he will never fail to acknowledge. His ''Beliebers'' have brought him to where he is today (A Brit-award winning singer-song-writing pop-teen-sensation, who at just 16 years of age, has already played a sold-out headlining show in the prestigious Madison square garden, New York) and Bieber repays his fans with free tickets and meet and greets. If this tells us anything it's that Bieber has every intention of following in his mentor's (Usher) steps and have a life-long career as a musician.

Although this movie is unlikely to attract an audience of Bieber's biggest critics (which is unfortunate as I feel this movie could definitely change opinions on him), it is sure to be the number one seller in the majority of cinemas worldwide.

Justin Bieber is here to stay for as long as he can and he's more than willing to prove every critic he has very wrong, whether we like it or not. As Bieber’s manager, Scooter Braun, puts it: ''We like being the underdogs''.