Driven by the motto “Sine Metu,” which means “without fear,” the world’s top-selling Irish whiskey, Jameson Irish, preaches its philosophy by encouraging people all over the world to take risks to fulfill their wishes. Always open to new challenges, the company admires one’s courage and ambition to fight for their dreams and rewards them with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
In a bid to give aspiring filmmakers a chance to enter the movie business, the spirits brand launched the Jameson First Shot platform, a competition that has reached its sixth edition and aims to cultivate talented people. Within the program, the company gives enthusiasts a chance to catch the ‘first shot’ and make a difference in an industry that can be very difficult to break in.
The global competition unfolds with the full support of Dana Brunetti‘s production company Trigger Street Productions and, at the center of its heart, stands the whiskey company’s commitment to supporting aspiring filmmakers that manage to tell an incredible story with their own script.
Every year, the platform empowers up-and-coming filmmakers to express their directing skills and make their ideas noticed while working with A-List actors. This year’s winners had the luck to work with award-winning actor Dominic West, who was more than happy to join the initiative and help the company discover talented people with bold ideas.
The jury had to pick the best three works out of over 2000 submitted scripts. After long debates and several weeks of reading the creative texts, the jury finally chose the lucky winners: Ollie Wolf from London, Alice Cogin from Sydney, and Jason Manella from Ontario.
Once their names were made public, the three fearless filmmakers were flown to LA where, with the help of a full Hollywood crew, Dominic West, and Dana Brunetti, they embarked on a unique journey which ended with their work brought to life to the big screen.
Most of the scripts sent were comedies, partly in response to the actor’s request to prove that he can also do comedy: “That was the only criteria. No one’s ever given me comedy, I don’t know why because I think I’m hilarious,” said the actor in an interview.
The first short movie carries the name “Five Star Fouad,” written and directed by Ollie Wolf. The video might become a classic for adrenaline addicts, bursting into a unique combination of feelings. Throughout its seven minutes, the viewers are carried from a clumsy bank robbery to riding in the back of an Uber and engaging in pointless conversations with the driver.
Jason Manella’s “A Funny Thing Happened to Kelly & Ted,” comes with a slightly higher, and rhyming, dose of humor. Shrouded in mystery and created following a special format and concept in mind, the video features a day of a young couple’s life. Only there’s a twist: every time the two of them try to have a conversation with each other, an annoying voiceover marks its presence amongst them, narrating all that they are saying and – worst of all – thinking.
The third piece of work comes from Alice Goggin’s hands and is titled “The Finish Line”. Unlike the two other pieces that have comedy running through their DNA, Goggin’s story briefly summarizes a tragic situation during which the main focus drops on a relationship between two main protagonists who are both disabled.
Despite being rather a sad story, the video features enough funny moments and enlightens one’s spirit with a happy ending.
The competition has been running annually since it was first launched in 2011. So far, 15 winners had the opportunity to work with Hollywood stars such as Kevin Spacey, Willem Dafoe, Uma Thurman, Adrien Brody, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. “I’ve been proud of every one of the 15 films that we’ve made,” said Brunetti.
Thirsty to track the amazing journeys of the previous winners? Hit the webpage dedicated to the competition and see what made them worthy of Jameson’s red carpet.
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