So… you remember the music video I did a while back for “Mr . Snooze”, the quirky/blusey/rocky/Irish Trad-like number by Cavan artist Daragh Slacke?

No?

OK heres a quick refresher:

Remember now?

OK well as you might remember this music video was shot over the course of about 4/5 days, spaced out over several weeks (College work and production planning permitting) – So with so many days of shooting taking place, and with so many creative heads involved in each day – It was inevitable that there would be a surplus of footage taken. Between extra takes, abandoned scenes, hilarious out-takes and A LOT of random banter on set – I found myself playing through some great footage while editing the music video, that would other wise be going to waste on the metaphorical ‘cutting room floor’. So, once the music video was done and dusted, and with possibly a little too much free time on hand, I found myself putting together a small ‘making of’ documentary (Partly ‘for the craic’), collecting all my favourite bits from the extra footage. To add some flavour of serious commentary over this piece, I then managed to wrangle the videos two stars; Ronan & Daragh, into sitting down in front of the camera for me to ponder and reflect on their days at shooting, and the varied people who volunteered their time and got involved each day for free.

I’ll admit I possibly could of made this final video a BIT shorter (Its just under 20mins long), but a lot of work went into the music video by all those involved – and with only 5% of the overall footage taken making it into “Mr.Snooze” (and a lot of that comedy gold), I wanted to show as much as possible. Hopefully you get an idea from this little doc of all the effort these guys put into helping us make the music video, and all that didn’t make the final cut.

Also, apologies for the terribly low audio in some of the interview footage with Ronan & Daragh. Unfortunately, I didnt have a good external microphone at hand and had to rely on the cameras mounted mic. I’ve bumped up the audio as much as possible without harming any speakers/headphones, so hopefully you can hear their mindless banter OK. Afterall, this was just a wee side project I set myself back then and with it resulting in a reasonably substantial piece, I though it only right to upload it to YouTube for others to watch as a companion to “Mr.Snooze”.

Finally, yes I know its been well over a year since “Mr.Snooze” was uploaded and so “It Was All A Still” may be old news, but sure, hey – Good things come to those who wait.

Hope you enjoy the doc and feel free to comment here below, or below the video itself on my YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/TheImfamousDiv, on your thoughts – be them good or bad!

Slán!

-Eamonn

Shot in Cavan town early on a Sunday morning (so as to safely make the most of the quiet Sunday morning streets), these chase scenes will make up most of the narrative side of the Monkey music video, running alongside the live performance footage. Although there is a bit more of these chase scenes to shoot, as well as a few dramatic and bizarre scenes to be shot, these few video stills taken from the days shoot should give an idea of what to expect, as well as the hardship Fabian and Colm went through in the name of art!

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Watching the sun rise over Cavan…

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Fabian speaks!

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Colm suits up

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – A Monkey On Main Street

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – View from above

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Donkey Kong!

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – King Kong

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Down a dark alley…

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Lookin smooth…

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Colm takes a well deserved break

Monkey music video – Cavan town chase shoot – Colm and Fabian

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Thanks again to Colm for offering to play our Monkey for the days shoot and apologies to to the children around town he inadvertently terrified in doing so. ***Eamonn Cahill Media takes no responsibility for Colm’s actions in the making of this music video…***

More shoots for Monkey on the way so stay tuned for stills and info!

Stills taken from video shot with the assistance of Amy Murray and Conor Moore, thanks guys!

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Up to 11

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Drums

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Fabian himself

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Rawk!

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Ivan on bass

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Padraic banging da drums

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Full set

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Soundcheck

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Camera Operators Amy Murray & Conor Moore

Monkey music video – Performance shoot – Fabians thoughts…

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As it is still in production, I hope these stills keep ya’ll satisfied for info on how the Monkey music video is going. Shooting of chase scenes for the video have just been shot on location in Cavan town so I will post up some stills from that A.S.A.P.

In the meantime, why not check out my last collaboration with Mr. Fabian Gillick on the Oh Baby music video:

Stay tuned!

Here are some songs from the acts that night:

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Unfortunately, the physical Gonzo Theatre itself which once resided above the Imperial Hotel, Cavan Town, no longer exists. However the Gonzo Theatre group themselves are still going strong and continue to stage shows throughout the country. For more info on The Gonzo Theatre, check out their website at http://thegonzotheatre.blogspot.ie/ or check out my documentary “Going Gonzo” about the early beginnings of the theatre and the motivations of those involved:

So back to the live footage. Here are a few songs performed by The Radioactive Grandma in the Gonzo Theatre on that fateful night in June 2011:

For more info on The Radioactive Grandma check them out on Bandcamp at http://theradioactivegrandma.bandcamp.com/ on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/theradioactivegrandma or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/The.Radioactive.Grandma. Their debut album The Radioactive Grandma, is available to buy now on iTunes.

With a list of these band names, I found myself playing around on Photoshop – putting together a poster for a possible festival for all these bands to play in. I called it the Editible Festival, needs little explanation. Not like its going to be used for anything, but it was a good way to spend some quality time with good old Photoshop – which I aint done in a while.

Editible Festival 2012 poster

Please note – Other names used here are either fictional or no longer exist (Such as Cavan Cola and Virginia Farmers Hall). This is just a bit of craic and some Photoshop practice. ALSO: This is fictional. Im not hosting a rock festival with an assortment of up-and-coming, food-loving bands. Although if I were, I would try to get Cavan Cola back in the shops just so they could sponsor it. Oh, and Pepalt Tea refers to a skit product advertisement I made with mates a few years back – Pepper + salt + tea = Pepalt Tea. Its still on my YouTube channel if your interested in seeing it.

Anyway, now for something completely different…

Instrument models at festival gates.

On Saturday (18th August 2012), we started off the day chatting to festival founder Ed Ward about his role in the Entertainment department of the festival. As it was still early morning and the festival was still a few hours from opening, we got to sit up on the Coors Light/ Parkview stage and watch a soundcheck with the bluegrass and Irish traditional music collaboration High Roads and Railroads. This is a combination of the bluegrass band the Ebony Hillbillies and the Irish traditional band Téada, who performed together at Irish Fest this year as part of the festivals bluegrass feature. It was fascinating to watch each performer go through individual sound checks, and with such a diverse array of musical styles being put together, it was interesting seeing them all finding that comfort zone where they could each play off each other.

Watching High Roads and Railroads sound-checking with Ed Ward.

Watching High Roads and Railroads sound-checking with Ed Ward.

Next up, I went to check out an upcoming Irish music band called Tallymoore – featuring Sean Ward on percussions and additional vocals. It was interesting to see a band with so many vocalists as well as guitarists and a great violinist. The performance was in The Snug, so as the name suggests, this stage made it a cozy performance with a small crowd.

Tallymoore performing at The Snug on Saturday.

Scythian performing at the Tipperary stage Saturday night.

That evening I went to see Scythian perform again at the Tipperary stage, a band fast becoming my favorite of the festival simply for their energetic and crowd-involving live performances (Immigrant Roadshow album is awesome!). It was interesting to see a large part of the crowd to the rear creating a little arena where a tower of beer cups would be built for people to attempt to jump over (Harder that it looks).

Festival goers jumping cup towers at Scythians performance Saturday night.

Forgetting to record some video of Scythian Saturday night, I did manage to get footage Sunday. Most of their great song (Yet hard to find online) “Those were the days’, which I have available to view on my YouTube channel:

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Sunday (19th August 2012), started off with us helping out at the annual festival Sunday morning Food Drive. This is where the Hunger Taskforce of Milwaukee, a volunteer group who collect food from public donations, and distribute it out to local charities. Here we helped the Hunger Taskforce guys at the gates collect bags of donated food and load it onto the taskforce lorry. People who donated food at the gates could then enter the festival grounds for free (A great idea I though, as you would be surprised just how many people would do so if suggested).

At the food drive Sunday morning.

At the food drive Sunday morning.

Next, we attended the annual Irish Fest Mass, a massive Catholic mass which meets each year on the Sunday morning of the festival in the near by Marcus Amptheatre. This year it held a congregation of up to 10,000 attendees. Here we observed the mass and how it was carried out. Never heard the sound of 10,000 people simultaneously standing up or sitting down in one large enclosed space!

View of the mass alter.

10,000 strong crowd at the Irish Fest mass.

Then it was back to the festival grounds proper to catch Tallymoore performing on the much larger Aer Lingus stage.

Tallymoore performing on the Aer Lingus stage on Sunday.

Here I finally managed to record some footage of Tallymoore performing ‘Whiskey in the jar:

Luckily I also got to catch High Roads and Railroads perform on the Coors Light/ Parkview stage again.

High Roads and Railroads performing at the Coors Light/ Parkview stage Sunday.

Fortunately I managed to record some footage of High Roads and Railroads during their Sunday performance, which is available to watch on my YouTube channel:

The rest of the day saw more and more crowds pour in as the festival neared its close.

Sunday crowds at the festival.

Sunday crowds at the festival.

By mid afternoon, the skies opened and the festival was hit with torrential rain. As we were on our tour of the grounds with the festivals Beverages team, we were lucky to grab shelter in the nearest bar, surrounded by soaked festival goers…

Taking shelter in a bar during a downpour.

Once the rain had cleared and our Beverages tour was over, we headed to the Jameson Cottage to take part in some whiskey tasting with Gate 6′s Pat Brown. I could now tell you the difference between a regular Jameson whiskey, a 12 year old Jameson whiskey, an 18 year old Jameson whiskey or a Jim Beam whiskey (All nice except the Jim Beam…). Oh and don’t mention the ‘whiskey robbery’ to Fiona what ever you do…

Whiskey tasting with Pat at the Jameson cottage.

After that, I headed to The Village Pub stage to catch an intimate gig with Irish musicians Larry Nugent and Patsy O’Brien. Legends…

Larry Nugent and Patsy O’Brien performing on The Village Pub stage.

That evening, the festival was coming to a close. So with all other performances and stages now finished, many performers and volunteers got on stage for a last farewell to the crowds and a few last songs sang on stage together in the festivals annual Scattering. Myself and the other interns; Fiona, Aine and Grace, watched with other volunteers from our golf carts down in the crowd.

The Scattering – Musicians and volunteers perform on stage.

The Scattering as seen from backstage.

Fireworks at the scattering.

Fireworks at the scattering.

Least to say, there were a few tears shed as we sang and cheered to the end of an amazing festival and a great time together.

Fiona, Grace, Rob, Aine and myself at the end of the Scattering.

Me, Fiona, Cathy Ward, Aine and Grace at the Scattering.

Once things were wrapped up on the festival grounds, we all headed back to the hotel where the post-festival sessions kicked off for the night. Musicians from several bands mingled with volunteers and dignitaries to chat and play together …It was a late night

Late night session at the hotel that night.

One of the lads from Scythian with Caitlin Ward and Basil McCrea.

Eileen Carpenter and Grace L Russell with the lads at the hotel that night.

Late night session at the hotel that night.

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On Monday (20th August 2012), after helping out down on the grounds taking down installations and packing equipment away to the Irish Fest Centre down in Wauwatosa – it was time to say goodbye…

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Giving me a place to stay, well fed and watered for 2 weeks and providing plenty of joyful banter during my stay, the Orlovskys were a welcoming family to stay with. I hope to keep in touch with them and who knows, maybe i’ll be working with them at another year of Irish Fest yet?

Me with Patty and Mark Orlovsky after Irish Fest 2012.

Thanks to the Orlovsky’s dog Jameson, for making me feel welcome on my first day in Milwaukee by getting sick on my bed. Good dog Jameson!

Jameson

As for the other volunteers at the festival, and my fellow comrades Aine, Fiona and Grace, it was all over too quickly. We said our goodbyes and promised to keep in touch online (Which with marvels such as Facebook and Twitter, aint so hard to do now thankfully). After some hugs and goodbyes we parted ways…

Sláinte

Note to self: Plan next trip to sunny Milwaukee and another year at Irish Fest!

See all you guys soon!

Slán 

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UPDATE: Putting together a compilation video of several video clips I recorded over the course of Sunday at the festival and a bit of the Wisconsin State Fair so hopefully will post that up soon. Stay tuned!

The Ogham stone on the grounds.

Caution – Wet floor.

Festival grounds empty before the opening that evening.

On Thursday (16th Aug 2012), we started off the day helping out Mike and the rest of the Signs crew, putting up banners above stages and flags up high about the festival grounds. All I will say is that the cherry picker we were using went up pretty high (I’ve a slight thing with heights), which did mean a beautiful view of the entire grounds from up high.

Aine up in the cherry picker.

Me up in the cherry picker.

Me up in the cherry picker.

Meeting Mike and the rest of the Signs crew.

That evening we attended a VIP reception for festival board members and dignitaries invited to celebrate the official opening of the festival to the public that evening. Getting all dolled up the nines, we ‘mingled’ and chatted with different people, making connections and enjoying a bit of food and drink before heading down to the grounds to enjoy the first few performances of the festival and getting a feel for an Irish Fest crowd.

View of the Milwaukee skyline and local bridge lit up green for opening.

The four interns dressed to the nines for the VIP reception.

We then finished off the day with a few cool beverages with Mike and Rob from the festival’s Signs crew. Sound guys!

Posing for the camera with Rob from the Signs crew (It was a sports bar, hence the ball…)

Whiskey tasting with Mike from the Signs crew.

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With plans to gain further internships over the next year, at home or abroad, followed by a year I hope to spend studying for my masters degree – I had been rewriting my CV recently and bringing it up to date with my current experience. I found it was quite long and being a written document, it was a little boring to read (Unless your into reading several pages of text about someone else ). So I decided to put together a condensed version of my CV that would fit on a single page and designed it to look a little more appealing visually.

Making it a single page, the idea was to make it easier to upload or attach as a single image online, which would make it less hassle for potential employers when communicating online. I decided to cut all the information needed from the pages of my old CV, down to the most important stuff – Name, contact details, main skills, most recent education and best experience to put forward. With just one page, its best just to put forward your strongest suits, everything else can be elaborated on later if time permits. I then put all this down in a flowing yet tight layout, punctuated with coloured headings, matching the rest of the colours used throughout – making it easily read in one glance.

To add a bit of flair to the whole thing, I then added some ‘go-faster’ stripes across the bottom to add some movement and additional pattern to the page. A faded film roll graphic was then added in the background to point out my main interest in video production, while my 8-bit style portrait logo (Im a bit of a retro-game and 8-bit music nerd ) and overall CV design leans to my experience and added interest in graphic design and art. Colour-wise, I opted for a red, white and black colour scheme as that has been my favorite colour combination lately when designing graphics. The black background may be too much for some people but I like the way it brings out the red and white.

Anyway, I keep changing it but this is the current incarnation of my CV which I am using in job and internship applications. Let me know what you think of it? What changes would you make? Do you hate the whole thing?…

Eamonn Cahill – CV

Feel free to comment!

Speeches in City Hall.

Us posing for the camera in City Hall.

With the Mayor of Galway.

With Irish Fest’s new Executive Director Patrick Boyle.

One more photo.

Back on the festival grounds we spent some time helping out at the very busy but always fun Gate 6, where we chatted with the always welcoming Pat Brown.

Meeting Pat at Gate 6.

After lunch, we had an unusual role to play. While attending a volunteer meeting on the festival grounds a few evenings earlier, the festival founder Ed Ward was making one of many speeches given by himself and others to the festivals 4000 volunteers. Taking us by surprise, he announced that one of the festivals headlining acts, Gaelic Storm (a celtic rock act), were looking for 4 volunteers to don chicken costumes to help promote their new album Chicken Boxer at the opening of the festival mid gates friday afternoon. Turning to us, our hands shot up and we were picked to do it (Replacing our scheduled jobs of selling tickets that afternoon…). So when Friday afternoon came round, we headed to the backstage area to don our ‘Chicken Boxer’ costumes (Which we found to get VERY hot once in the sun and hopping about to entertain crowds). We then marched out with the band and other volunteers, to face the opening of the festival at the mid gates and the pouring in of the MASSIVE crowds. Least to say, it was an uncomfortable yet unmissable experience as we entertained visitors, had our pictures taken (Even if we were wearing masks) watched the crowds from the best spot and helped out the promotion of one of the US’s biggest celtic rock bands new albums. We were awesome chicken boxers.

Talking through the chicken boxer run.

Trying out the chicken boxer masks (Hot and stuffy).

Prepped and ready to march to mid gates.

With the mid gate welcome party (Including Gaelic Storm and volunteers).

Crowds pour into the festival grounds.

Crowds pour into the festival grounds.

Crowds pour into the festival grounds.

That evening we attended another VIP reception, this time with Tourism Ireland, where we had a chance to chat with professionals and dignitaries from different areas (Many from Ireland), sample some good food and watch two great Irish music bands The High Kings and Scythian, from a nice spot up high. A great finish to an epic day!

Tourism Ireland speaker at reception.

Watching The High Kings from the Tourism Ireland reception.

Scythian performing later that night.

Gaelic Storm on the Miller Coors stage that night.

Gaelic Storm as seen from the Miller Coors stage VIP crows nest.

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