Colin Broderick
Colin Broderick (born c. 1968) is a Northern Irish writer and filmmaker.
Early life and education
[edit]Colin Broderick was born around 1968 and grew up County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He moved to New York City in 1988 when he was 20.[1]
Career
[edit]Books
[edit]Broderick's first memoir, Orangutan, was published by Random House in 2009.[2][3] It describes his first twenty years as an immigrant in New York City, in Broderick's words, "working construction, the drinking, the failed marriages, jail, the usual stuff."[4][5]
His 2013 follow-up memoir detailing his childhood growing up in Northern Ireland, entitled That's That, was also published by Random House.[4]
Films
[edit]Broderick's first feature film, Emerald City, premiered at the Curzon Cinemas theatre in Soho, London on 27 November 2016 as part of The London Irish Film Festival.[6][7] The movie is loosely based on his own experiences of working in the construction trade in New York City while trying to establish a career as a writer. It was produced with support from Brendan Coyle's Anderson Shelter Productions and Josh Brolin's Brolin Productions.[8] Coyle is listed as a co-producer. John Duddy, a former professional boxer from Derry, Northern Ireland who made his acting debut in Broderick's first stage play, was cast in the film as Podge, an ex-fighter working in construction.[9]
Along with producer Kevin McCann, Broderick co-wrote The Rising, a historical thriller about the 1916 Irish rebellion, in development and seeking funding since 2015.[10] Brendan Coyle was attached[clarification needed] to play Irish politician Augustine Birrell. Also attached were Liam Neeson's son Micheál Richardson, set to play Irish revolutionary Michael Collins (as his father did in the 1996 film Michael Collins); Fiona Shaw as Countess Markievicz; and Colin Morgan and David O'Hara in the roles of revolutionary leaders Sean McDermott and James Connolly, respectively.[11] As of May 2021 it was still seeking funding, but the official Facebook page for the film reported that they were determined it would get made.[12] A website for the film was maintained until December 2022, but is as of May 2024[update] dead.[13]
Theatre
[edit]Broderick has had two of his plays performed in New York City. His first, Father Who, ran for three weeks[when?] at the Bronx's Macalla Theatre Company, which has since closed.[14] The cast included John Duddy, in his first acting role. The play was also performed at Theatre 80, a historic theater and former speakeasy located on St. Mark's Place in Manhattan's East Village, for a shorter run in early 2014.[15] On 7 March 2014, Broderick tweeted that Liam Neeson had attended a performance.[16]
Broderick and his partners Don Creedon and Stephen Smallhorne co-founded the Poor Mouth Theatre Company in the Bronx in 2010.[17][18][19]
Poor Mouth[17] presented Broderick's second play, Spudmunchers in 2012. The production was staged in a popular Bronx bar in 2012. Broderick also directed the play, a story of two Irish brothers living together in Woodlawn Heights, a predominantly Irish-American working-class neighborhood in the Bronx.[20]
References
[edit]- ^ "Oceans apart". The Sunday Business Post. 16 December 2012. ProQuest 1238880889.
- ^ Cremins, Robert (16 January 2010). "An 'Orangutan' on his back: BOOK REVIEW". Star Tribune. ProQuest 428080000.
In his memoir, Colin Broderick recounts the massive drinking, the car crashes and the other dangerous behaviors that went with his addiction - all in precise and well-crafted prose. (book review)
- ^ Patel, Kerman (December 2009). "Memoir (book review)". Irish America. 25 (1): 102. ProQuest 211194945.
- ^ a b Muldoon, Molly (26 September 2012). "Colin Broderick". Irish Voice. ProQuest 1095605944.
- ^ O'Doherty, Cahir (28 October 2009). "From Addict to Literary Star". Irish Voice. ProQuest 368236178.
- ^ Kogan, Rick (21 September 2017). "The Irish American Movie Hooley is back with 3 terrific films (review". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 1941714490.
- ^ "EMERALD CITY, GLOBAL PREMIERE". Irish Film Festival London. 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Hollywood Shows Its Support for Emerald City". Kickstarter. 24 June 2015.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Michael (24 March 2017). "Derry's John and Grainne Duddy: rising stars of the New York arts scene". Derry Journal. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Colin Broderick and Kevin McCann making history with "The Rising" movie". IrishCentral. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ McNary, Dave (16 July 2015). "'Downton Abbey' Star Brendan Coyle Joins Irish Drama 'The Rising'". Variety.com. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "105th anniversary of the execution of Seán MacDiarmada and James Connolly. 'The Rising' Producer Kevin McCann posts a special video from..." Facebook. The Rising : 1916 Irish Rebellion Movie. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
The Rising' movie is still at the financing stage. A number of investors in the US have expressed an interest in supporting the first film on the 1916 Easter Rising Rebellion. As yet, funding has not been confirmed but we remain committed to telling this story to a global market during the Ireland's decade of centenaries (2013-2023).
- ^ "Home". The Rising. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022.
- ^ "Woodlawn theater troupe debuts with acclaimed McGuinness hostage drama". The Irish Echo. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
The space was the primary home of the now defunct Macalla Theatre Company, the last Irish-oriented stage group to put down roots in the Bronx.
- ^ "COLIN BRODERICK'S "FATHER WHO" at THEATER 80 in NYC". Artists Without Walls. 7 March 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ Broderick, Colin (7 March 2014). "Liamneeson stopped in to see my play Father Who Wednesday night. What a class act". Twitter. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ a b "Who We Are". Poor Mouth Theatre Company. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Poor Mouth Theatre Company". Don Creedon - Blog. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Poor Mouth carves out a niche". The Irish Echo. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
- ^ "Past Shows". Poor Mouth Theatre Company. Retrieved 15 September 2018.