Casting underway for Indie feature film being shot in Louth this summer

Sludge is dark thriller that will be produced and directed by local filmmaker Sinéad Murphy of Oriel Films and co-produced by Baz Black of Sure look Productions, who will also star in it. It will be shot by Director of Photography Colm Mullen, a Dundalk native whose work includes The Troubles – A Dublin Story.

Casting for the film which tells the story of a young woman haunted by a dark past and mourning for the loss of her love, has already got underway.

“It’s a dark thriller with that deals with, grief, loss and societal displacement,” explains Sinead. “The story centres around a young women living on the edge and her struggle to find a way forward. Through fierce loyalty, friendship and courage she rises above this and ultimately experiences redemption as she embraces her true inner soul.”

It takes its title from the sludge of Dundalk bay which is a metaphor for everything that drags her down.

“I am delighted to be involved as both a Producer and an Actor in this feature film written and directed by Sinead Murphy. We held a brilliant two day casting call out and saw some wonderful actors in An Tain,” said Baz, whose debut feature film Dublin Crust was largely shot in Dundalk.

“As with Dublin Crust the support from the local community is vital to getting Independent feature films made.”

“It is a powerful script with relevant topics that I feel will relate to lots of people. My production company Sure Look Productions alongside Oriel Productions are really looking forward to the journey of getting the movie made and out there.”

Making the film is a labour of love for team behind it, with the cast and crew who have already signed up to be part of this project giving freely of their time with negligible monetary gain.

‘”We are undertaking this micro-budget feature with grit and determination,” says Sinead. “It is incredibly difficult to secure funding at a local or national level and we have faced multiple knock backs which are so dispiriting."

However, she says that they are "delighted” to have received some funding and support from arts Officer Moya Hodges in Louth County Council and they have also been endorsed by An Táin Arts Centre, DKIT, Creative Spark, Mad Youth Theatre and The Louth International Film festival.

"It mean so much to have the backing of these artistic bodies,” continues Sinead.

She says that the production will be a community driven collaborative effort as they seek to provide opportunity for local people, businesses and entrepreneurs to give something back to home-grown talent, thus encouraging creative development in the local area.

" We look upon County Louth and the surrounding region as an alternative to Wicklow or Galway and aim to propel the interest in filmmaking in the local area.”

"Not only do we want to produce a great locally made film but we want to ensure that Co. Louth and the wider region are taken seriously in terms of a filmmaking. We believe that this will encourage the growth of this industry across the area

“We’re blessed with a wealth of local talent in the area and on top of that, stunning locations and Oriel Films want to showcase this to nationally and internationally

The team aims to make a feature that utilises the wealth of talent and stunning locations in the border area.

The film will be shot in locations in Louth and South Armagh in particular the town of Dundalk as much of the action will happen along the dockside.

As part of their efforts to raise finances to get the film made, they have set up a GoFundMe page and are planning to hold fund-raising concerts and pub quizzes.

"We appeal to the local people from the area to support local filmmaking and art,” says Sinead.