If you have dreamed of being on a movie set, are Deaf or have Irish Sign language, this could be your lucky break.
Athlone actor and director Leah Egan is the 2024 Westmeath Film Award recipient and wants to hear from you.
Best known for her performance as Alanna Ní Ruairc in TG4’s Ros na Rún and Louise Doyle in RTE’s Fair City, Leah was the winner of two Best Actress Awards for her portrayal of Ria Wade in Life Begins Now (2017). She has worked extensively in TV and movies as a writer-director, published two children’s books and was the recipient of Screen Ireland and Bow Street Ireland’s Actor as Creator Scheme.
Named recently as the recipient of the annual bursary of €10,000, granted to a local filmmaker to be used towards the production of a short 10–15 minute film or documentary in the county, Leah told Topic this will enable her to create her short film.
Movie
“It is such an honour to get to make a film in my home town,”she said. “I’ve lived and worked away for a long time and to get to make something in my hometown is honestly a dream come true. I See A Voice is a short story about a Deaf woman and her lived experience in modern day Ireland. It’s based in Westmeath and we’re shooting in Westmeath.”
The director is now looking to cast her movie.
“We are doing callouts for anyone in the Deaf community who would like to be involved. We are also looking for Irish Sign Language Interpreters who are local to Westmeath and beyond that we’d love to hear from as many locals as possible,” she said.
Busy
This is a particularly busy time for Leah as she currently has a Screen Ireland funded short film and Arts Council funded theatre project in preproduction, but she said this is the way the industry works, and is over the moon to be in this position.
“Things are in the works for a long time, some of these scripts I’ve been tweaking for years so it’s lovely when things comes to fruition. By that time, you’ve put so much into your work, you are well ready to get it out there. A lot of non-visible work has happened and now it’s feeling real, which is welcomed and so appreciated.”
Soapstar
Most people will know the award winner from her time on the two Irish soap operas, something she says was hugely helpful in her career.
“My first ever job was on Fair City on RTE and I cannot tell you how much of a gift that was. It was a baptism of fire and I learned how to perform in a multi-camera environment which set me up for a career as an actor. I’m a big advocate of the Irish language so to go on to work on Ros na Rún as gaeilge was a dream. I joined as an actor in 2013 and recently returned as a director. Being back with familiar faces and to feel comfortable in the environment while transitioning into directing for film was so nice. I have directed for theatre for a long time but film is very different.
“I really valued my time with RTE and TG4. They afforded me opportunities when I needed them, and continue to do so. They do great work for the arts.”
Get in touch
Leah now faces into the real work – making her script a reality, and will do so thanks to The Westmeath Film Award and The Arts Council.
If you are an ISL interpreter, Deaf Actor or would like to be a movie extra, get in contact at info@drawinpenproductions.