Monday, June 1, 2020

June 1 - John Carney


Happy 48th Birthday, John Carney! Born today in 1972, this Irish lyricist, screenwriter, film producer and film director specializes in low-budget musical drama films. 
  
Carney was born in Dublin and was educated at De La Salle College Churchtown and at Synge Street CBS. 
  
Between 1991 and 1993, Carney was bassist for Irish rock band The Frames, and also directed some of their music videos. 

Founded by Irish songwriter, actor, vocalist and guitarist Glen Hansard, the band had been influential during the Irish rock music scene. 
  
In the early 2000s, Carney was a co-creator of the Irish comedy-drama television series Bachelors Walk (2001–2003). 
  
In the late 2000s, Carney wrote and directed the film of which he is best known. This is the 2007 Irish musical/romance independent film 'Once'. 

A music drama, the film stars The Frames frontman Hansard and Czech singer-songwriter, musician and actress Markéta Irglová. 
  
The film follows a thirty-something vacuum repairman Guy (Hansard), who moonlights as a street musician and hopes for his big break.  
  
One day, Girl, (Markéta Irglová), a Czech immigrant, who earns a living selling flowers, approaches him with the news that she is also an aspiring singer-songwriter. 

The pair decide to collaborate, and the songs that they compose reflect the story of their blossoming love. 
  
First released at the Galway Film Fleadh, 'Once' had its official world release at the 39th Sundance Film Festival in January 2007. There, it won the World Cinema Audience Award in the category Dramatic. 
  
A low-budget affair shot for only $150,000, 'Once' was hugely successful, grossing $7 million worldwide in its first three months of release. Overall, it went on to gross $23.3 million at the box office. 
  
Legendary American filmmaker Steven Spielberg is quoted as saying, "Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year."  
  
When told of this during an interview with Sky News, Carney replied, "In the end of the day, he's just a man with a beard." However Carney was wearing a beard at the time.  
  
As writer and director of 'Once', Carney won the Most Promising Newcomer award in the 2007 Evening Standard British Film Awards. 
  
The following year, 'Once' won the award for Best International Film at the 23rd Independent Spirit Awards on February 23, 2008. 
  
The next day, 'Once' won an Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song (Glen HansardMarkéta Irglová). This was for the song "Falling Slowly". This occurred at the 80th Academy Awards on February 24, 2008. 
  
In the early 2010s, Carney wrote and directed another film of which he is known. This was the 2013 American musical comedy-drama romance film 'Begin Again'. The film stars Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo. 
  
Carney is also known for writing and directing the 2016 Irish/British coming-of-age musical/romance film 'Sing Street', of which was released to critical acclaim. 
  
Carney served as an executive producer for the 2019 American romantic comedy anthology series Modern Love (2019–present)He also wrote and directed several episodes.  
  
The program explore "love in its multitude of forms – including sexual, romantic, familial, platonic, and self love," which are presented in eight half-hour episodes.  
  
The Amazon series, based on the titular New York Times column, adapts different love stories taking place in New York City, New York. 
  
Carney has been active from 1996–present. 
  
#borntodirect 
#JohnCarney 
@nytimes 
@sundance 
@BroadwayWorld 
@mtishows  

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