‘Diary Of A Bad Lad’ cover star Joe O’Byrne discusses his new feature film and stunning work as director, producer & writer on ‘Paradise Heights’
Firstly the most important question…City or United?
Can’t say I’m interested to be honest, I used to be a passionate Red but I’m going back to the days of Robson, Hughes, Cantona – now I don’t think there’s any real passion left in the game – as proved by the world cup performance of Eng er lund. The premiership is not an example of the British game, it’s all foreign nationals on ridiculous money – and I’m no xenophobe. Success is based on money, rather than grass roots. It’s all about the money. It’s only my opinion but it’s all about agents, back hander’s and over paid prima-donna’s that are really bad examples/role models with no moral code or sense of decency. That’s not all of them by any means – but it seems to be most of the ones that are the more successful. What a sorry advertisement for the ‘beautiful game’.
What inspires you as an actor/director/writer?
As an actor? It starts with the script; if I’m reading it and keep turning the page then I’m hooked. I love it when I think I know where the script is going and then it surprises me and takes me somewhere I clearly did not expect – that’s great. Then it’s who you are working with, and learning from in that work. I’m also inspired by performances I see – both live or on film. The actors I work with as a director are incredibly inspiring, jaw dropping in some cases – there isn’t one actor in The Bench that should not be getting paid work on the screen and on larger stages around the country. They are so committed and passionate about the work – and get a pittance in terms of pay for it. That’s what’s missing from the ‘beautiful game’ in the question above – these guys aren’t in it for the money – it’s about a passion for expression.
Paradise Heights is based on real communities I have lived, grown up and worked in; Bolton, Salford, Manchester. Real blood and thunder communities where life is lived on the edge.
As a writer? Real life – with an occasional slight mix of the supernatural here and there, not an abundance – just a mere smattering – I think that’s the Irish in me. As a kid I used to sit in the kitchen of my grandma’s remote farmhouse in Ireland and hear my relatives telling great ghost stories from events that ‘allegedly’ happened in these farming communities. A small part of that influences some of my work – a very small part but I acknowledge it’s there and it seems to work as audiences and reviewers have embraced it. Paradise Heights is based on real communities I have lived, grown up and worked in; Bolton, Salford, Manchester. Real blood and thunder communities where life is lived on the edge – and sometimes over it. Life at its ugliest can produce some truly beautiful moments – and we have found more than a few in the tales from Paradise Heights so far.
As a director? Cheesey right – but working with some of Manchester and Salford’s greatest acting talent is so rewarding – no cliché – I mean it; it’s thrilling and moving – powerful stuff. The characters I write have real issues – disturbing issues a lot of the time.
The caliber of an actor can be judged from many things, one being prepared to be ugly – and I don’t just mean aesthetically.
Some – certainly not all – of the characters I have written are loathsome to the extreme, the kind of character that you think no actor is going to want to play. The true actor will fight for a role like that and I have been lucky to work with actors that have taken those parts on and poured themselves heart, body and soul in to the role giving extraordinary powerful performances – it’s a testament to their skill and endurance in rehearsals to not just visit that character’s state of mind, no they have to stay there for a considerable time – that’s passion.
Who is on your wish list to work with?
If all walls were broken down and anything was possible? Kevin Spacey, Helen Mirren, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Kathryn Bigelow, Cillian Murphy (superb in Breakfast on Pluto), Ray Winstone, Maxine Peake, David Lynch, Holly Hunter, Naomi Watts, Christopher Eccleston, Al Pacino, Paddy Consadine, Martin Scorcese, Julliane Moore, Shane Meadows, Brendan Gleeson, Neil Jordan, Steven Berkoff, Daniel Day Lewis, Maggie Smith, Emily Watson (superb in Breaking The Waves), Lars Van Trier, Baz Luhrman, Maggie O’Niell, Adrian Shergold…this is about 5% of the list…you don’t have enough room!
First film ever watched?
101 Dalmations, I was five and I fell in love with Cruella De Ville – a magnificent villainess – says everything about me eh? Sick!
Who is the most interesting person you have met?
Famous? David Cronenberg in Cannes, short and sweet meeting but he’s a hero of mine and he made The Fly – one of my all time favourite tragic/romances, Jeff Goldblum should have got an Oscar. Infamous? Jo Carlon, a feisty lickul firecracker of a Salford girl - 6 years in and she rocks my world to the core…want more cheese with that? She’s the embodiment of the deepest love I have ever known and I would be completely and utterly lost without her.
You haven’t sold out and moved to London, have you found it harder being a Manchester based actor/director/writer?
Definitely not. The arts scene here is alive and kicking and has been for years. That’s not to say London is not on the horizon, it most certainly is in the long term plans for Paradise Heights, but Manchester and Salford will always be part of that orbit, it’s where my writing starts, all my influences are here it’s part of me and so I’ll always be part of it. Besides, I’m always skint – I could never afford to live in London…
What do you love the most about Manchester?
It’s vibrant, never static. With a thriving arts scene, the North West New Wave of film makers, the ever eclectic fringe theatre scene Manchester’s 24/7 Theatre Festival, the Not Part of Festival, the independent music scene is bubbling and bursting all over the city, the Northern Quarter, the Village, China Town, the canal bars, the clash of old and new world architecture and you couldn’t get more multi-cultural. I love the city and the people but there’s a flip side to that. Bigotry and intolerance is still alive and kicking out there and Manchester has its problems like any city or town. Inner city decay and poverty are still out there and this recession will do little to help that. I think the next five years through this recession will either be the making or the breaking of this cultural society – my money is on the making. Some of the most intensive periods of artistic creativity come out of times of recession and hardship…there’s our Silver Lining.
What has been your proudest professional moment so far?
There have been a couple in the last month – though none of them have sunk in yet because I’ve been so busy. The DVD release of Diary of a Bad Lad in the shops everywhere, and shit – I’m on the cover? I think as an actor, if you’re honest, that’s part of your tick list. The fact it was made for £5000 and is totally independent and was made by a cast and crew who are now one big family – that adds to the feeling of triumph.
Closest to my heart is the return of The Bench to Salford Arts Theatre and the way the show was received.
We’d had so much bad luck on the run into this and we were definitely short on rehearsal time – our backs were to the wall. The cast were absolutely on fire and produced their best ever run of the show so far – eclipsing the magnificent work they had done on every run of the show so far…I’m so proud and in debt to every single one of them. We’re now like a band with this show now, everyone knows their part but we’re much more than a band, we are a close family and that family has one helluva future. There’s no reason why this show shouldn’t be on in London’s West End…that’s my new goal.
Tell us a funny moment that has happened whilst you’ve been filming or on stage?
There are a few but my favourite involves Coronation Street. I’d played a small part as a guy who chats Cilla up in the chippy while he’s waiting for his chips. I’d just finished watching the show when the scene was transmitted and nipped out to the chippy round the corner from me. I was chatting to the girl behind the counter when this guy walked in and stopped dead in his tracks and after doing a double take he said ‘I’m sure I’ve just seen you doing this in Coronation Street…’
What’s next up your sleeve?
I’m writing two more plays from Paradise Heights. Strawberry Jack is all about a doorman who works at Frank Morgan’s club, The Ace of Spades. The other is Torch which is set in The Ace of Spades, I’ve also got plans to turn The Bench and Rank into feature film scripts and there will be a Frank Morgan feature film. Acting wise later this month I will be reprising my role in the fabulous Cathy Crabb’s play The Roots of Love as part of the PRESTON TRINGE FESTIVAL on the 29th and 30th July. I’ll then be taking on the very scary task of playing Patrick McGoohan in Everyman by Brian Gorman, McGoohan’s life story.
‘Diary Of A Bad Lad’ is now available from HMV & Asda.
Firstly the most important question…City or United? 
Can’t say I’m interested to be honest, I used to be a passionate Red but I’m going back to the days of Robson, Hughes, Cantona – now I don’t think there’s any real passion left in the game – as proved by the world cup performance of Eng er lund. The premiership is not an example of the British game, it’s all foreign nationals on ridiculous money – and I’m no xenophobe. Success is based on money, rather than grass roots. It’s all about the money. It’s only my opinion but it’s all about agents, back hander’s and over paid prima-donna’s that are really bad examples/role models with no moral code or sense of decency. That’s not all of them by any means – but it seems to be most of the ones that are the more successful. What a sorry advertisement for the ‘beautiful game’. 
Diary of a Bad Lad
