VIDEO: Star Wars Crew And JJ Abrams Talk About Beauty Of Skellig Michael

Posted in International, Kerry News, Something Cool by Fergus Writes Things

JJ Abrams was blown away by the beauty of the island.

THE STAR WARS crew along with the films director JJ Abrams have been talking about the practicalities and logistics involved in shooting on Skellig Michael while all the time praising the inherent beauty of the location, in a new video uploaded by Discover Ireland.

The short two-minute clip features interviews with the production crew of the hit seventh installment in the saga and in which they talk about finding the location, their reactions to it and the difficulties of shooting on such a tricky location.

JJ Abrams expresses his shock and awe at the location, at first not able to believe that they were allowed to film on the island.

“I can’t believe they let us shoot there, I mean it was so beautiful”, he says.

“I remember when we all flew in, it was special,” says executive producer Tommy Harper.

Check out the full clip below, which features some absolutely wonderful shots of Skellig Michael.

3Jan2016

Star Wars May Not Be Returning To Kerry Anytime Soon

Posted in International, Kerry News by Fergus Writes Things

Skellig Michael plays an important role in the ‘Force Awakens’.

SKELLIG MICHAELS appearance in the latest Star Wars film is set to bring untold benefits to both Kerry and Ireland, but if recent reports are to be believed, our shores might have seen the last of the high profile filming crew for a while.

A report has surfaced today that suggests that the famous monastic settlement site has been recreated on a set in the Pinewood Studios in London, which if true, will spell an end to the local involvement in filming.

While this has not yet been officially confirmed by Disney, the Sunday Times reports that the ‘makingstarwars.net’ website has stated that for those involved in making the film, “filming at Skellig Michael was just too complicated for environmental reasons”.

We won’t know anything for sure until Disney or Lucasfilm choose to issue a statement, we can only wait and see.

What we can be sure of is with ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ grossing over $1 billion so far and with Skellig having a starring (and stunning) role in the story line, it’s certainly not a bad cameo role to have had at all.

Watch this space for further developments.

8Dec2015

Kerry To Receive Special Screening Of New Stars Wars Film

Posted in Kerry News, Something Cool by Fergus Writes Things

Star Wars will screen in Killarney next week.

THE PEOPLE of Kerry are set to receive an early Christmas present this year after it was announced that Killarney Cineplex will receive a special screening of the new ‘The Force Awakens’ film next week.

The Star Wars team are keen to thank the people of Kerry for their support while they shot parts of the new film on Skellig Michael and will be showing the film at lunchtime on Thursday December 17th in the Killarney cinema.

It will the first screening of the film in the area and is sure to draw a large crowd who will be eager to be amongst the first to see the highly anticipated seventh installment in the series.

“On behalf of Lucasfilm and Disney, we are delighted to gift the first screening of this movie in the area, as a thank you for all the help and cooperation received during the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Trish Long, Vice President and General Manager of Walt Disney Studios, Ireland said on RTE Ten’s website earlier today.

Also quoted in the RTE Ten article was The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys who said:

“The enchanting and mystical beauty of South Kerry caught the attention of the filmmakers, but it was the hospitality of the local people which helped to make the film shoot a success.

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens will help to showcase the unique natural and built heritage of Sceilg Mhichíl and it will bring images of this beautiful region of South Kerry to an unrivalled global audience. The success of the shoot also helps to reaffirm Ireland’s capacity to support high-end film production,” she finished.

Check out the trailer for the film below.