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The day that Oscar – and a film crew – came to visit Eyeries

May 14th, 2016 7:20 AM

By Jackie Keogh

Award-winning director Ben Cleary visits Eyeries National School, along with ‘Oscar'.

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Eyeries – one of the most photographed villages in the country – was the location last week for a commercial filmed by the Oscar-winning director, Ben Cleary.

EYERIES – one of the most photographed villages in the country – was the location last week for a commercial filmed by the Oscar-winning director, Ben Cleary.

Everything about the filming of the ‘spec’ commercial – which means it may or may not be picked up by the client HSBC Bank – went remarkably well, including the weather, so there’s every chance it won’t end up on the cutting room floor.

The story line is about an astronaut who returns to earth and lands in Eyeries, where he receives a colourful welcome.

There was a ‘shout out’ for extras, including men, women and children, and 70 people – about the size of the local population – turned up, all keen to say they worked with an Oscar-winning director.

Ben won the Academy Award for his short film Stutterer, that cost just €5,000 to make, and he was so delighted with the welcome, and the support he received in Eyeries over the two days of filming. He also paid a surprise visit to Eyeries National School.

The director brought his Oscar to the 100-pupil school and was, as one local said, was ‘amazingly nice’ to everyone. ‘He was so thankful, but everyone here was just happy to help.’ Ben’s movie Stutterer will be shown at the upcoming Fastnet Film Festival in Schull.

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