University of Bolton student Joe O'Byrne is set for big screen success after being offered a distribution deal for a film he has written, produced, acted in and financed.
The film, Lookin' for Lucky, which was shot on the estates of Bolton, is being backed by digital distribution company Diva.ag for screenings at selected UK cinemas, as well as online and DVD distribution.
It is one of a number of successes for Joe, a student on the University's teacher training course. His play, The Bench, has been performed at The Lowry in Salford and recently, at Manchester's Library Theatre. Plans for the play to tour the North West are being developed and Joe hopes to bring it to The Octagon Theatre, Bolton. Two more of his plays, I'm Frank Morgan and Rank, are on at The Lowry, Salford, in March and June.
An earlier script, for a four part TV drama, caught the attention of famous Bolton-born writer, Jim Cartwright, who worked to get it commissioned through his production company, Destiny Films. Joe says that at one point actor, Pete Postlethwaite, had been attached to the project as lead after reading the script. The plans stalled at development stage, but Joe remains confident it will get into production.
Joe turned to acting in his late 30s when he decided to change careers after working in retail management for 15 years. He took a drama course at Salford University and it was at this time that he began writing scripts. Influenced by northern writers Jimmy McGovern and Alan Bleasdale, Joe's tales of working class life on the fictional estate of Paradise Heights are loosely based on his experiences of living and working in Bolton and Salford.
He said: 'I turned to writing and acting when I realised there were so many stories to tell, about ordinary people, and this was the best way to do it. I've been incredibly busy with teaching, writing, acting and directing, as well as studying on the teacher training course at Bolton. It looks like the hard work is starting to pay off with these recent successes, but I'm in it for the long haul. It's rare that success comes overnight – it's a lot of hard graft and sacrifice.'
Joe, who also teaches drama at Warrington Collegiate, has no intention of easing up. As well as promoting his film and stage projects he is busy working on new script ideas for theatre and TV.
Lookin' for Lucky will be screened at The Pennine Film Festival, Accrington, on Friday 20 March, 2009 followed by a screening and Q&A at The Green Room, Manchester on the 10 June, 2009. Further North West screenings are to be announced.
I'm Frank Morgan at The Lowry Studio : 14 – 15 March 2009.
Rank at The Lowry Studio : 12 – 13 June 2009