Two Northern Ireland families exchange lives with their “cousins” in the New World in a BBC Northern Ireland two-part series which holds up a mirror to lifestyle, attitudes and ambitions of Northern Ireland in the 21st Century.
“No Place Like Home” sees two NI families swap their homes; their jobs; their schools; and even their habits with a counterpart family living in a town of the same name in the “New World” of Australia and South Africa.
The first programme features the Smyth family from Armagh, Northern Ireland, who spend a week living and working on a farm in Armagh, South Australia. This Armagh – population 300 – is a small rural area located on the outskirts of the Clare Valley, Adelaide. The following week their host Australian family travel over to Armagh, NI, to get an insight into how we live our daily lives.
In programme two the Sweetloves from Ballysillan, North Belfast, travel 6000 miles over to another small rural town: Belfast, South Africa, located high in the Mpumalanga range. The Sweetloves spend a week living and working in the nearby township. Their host South African family then travel back to ‘mother’ Belfast to see what our local life has to offer.
Series producer and director, Denise O’Connor, said: “This is a timely and entertaining look at how much, if at all, we are aware of the big world outside and how it views us.”
“No Place Like Home” was produced for BBC Northern Ireland by Below the Radar and is broadcast on Wednesday April 14 and Wednesday April 21 at 10.35pm.
Belfast-based producer Below the Radar, a Ten Alps company, has announced a unique partnership agreement with Academy Award-winning US director Alex Gibney. The two year cross-Atlantic partnership will enable Below the Radar to send two producers to spend three months working with Gibney’s New York-based production company Jigsaw.
Below the Radar’s producers will have the opportunity to be involved in all stages of Jigsaw’s documentary production, while Jigsaw will also help to develop Below the Radar projects for the UK market. The aim of the initiative is for both companies to benefit from the understanding of production techniques and sector developments on either side of the Atlantic.
The project has been funded by a £45,000 grant from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Creative Industries Innovative Fund. The local expertise gained will be an additional benefit to the Northern Irish production sector, which is in the process of building a skills base to take full advantage of the increased production commitment from the BBC.
Eimhear O’Neill, who joined Below the Radar as a researcher in May 2009, will be the first participant in the programme. Over the next 12 months, Eimhear will work in Belfast and New York gaining experience and working on projects for both the US and UK markets.
Alex Gibney directed the 2007 Academy and Emmy Award-winning Taxi To The Dark Side, which focused on an Afghan taxi driver who was tortured and killed at an air force base in 2002. He also directed 2005’s Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, which was nominated for an Academy Award. Last year, Alex premiered Gonzo: The Life and Work of Hunter S Thompson, narrated by Johnny Depp, and is currently working on a film about Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.
Trevor Birney, Managing Director, Below the Radar, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for Below the Radar producers to learn from one of the world’s foremost directorial talents. We believe that it will also generate fresh ideas and skills to benefit the Northern Irish production sector.”
Alex Gibney added: "As a United States film-maker, I always watch what's happening in the UK documentary-making sector with real interest. I've spent time with the guys from Below the Radar and their enthusiasm and capability for creating fresh, bold films is clear. I've no doubt that this tie-up will be a good fit; each of us has much to learn from the other and I'm looking forward to a creative partnership in the months ahead. We're all looking forward to working together."
Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council, commented:
“This is a strong example of the kind of development work we are supporting through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund. Northern Ireland’s competitive strength and source of wealth and job creation is shifting to our creative businesses, and there is huge potential for local businesses to tap into growing UK and global markets. With this funding, Below the Radar will be able to expand their skills and knowledge, leaving them in a stronger position to capitalise on these new opportunities.”
December 9th 2009