Janey Mary - Behind the scenes

The making of a little epic

Principle photography on Janey Mary started on Monday 5th March 2007 in George's Hill near the Smithfield Markets in central Dublin. It was the exteriors of the school and a cobbled stoned street. Both locations were situated next to each other. The third location a street away was St. Michan's Church, run by the Capuchins on Church Street served as the closing scenes when Janey's carried in and is laid out in the Church quarters. These locations are some of the few locations left in the city with any trace of 'old Dublin'.

It was an interesting start to the production as there were some scattered showers, but ultimately added to the feel of the picture.

The film was shot in 9 locations around the city. Some on the doorstep of each other. Logistically this was to the production's advantage. It was a challenging shoot considering locations and the breath of extras to fill the shoots, nearly 100 in some scenes.

For the interior of Janey's home the production used the 'museum flat' in the Iveagh Trust buildings off Patrick's Street. The flat hadn't changed in over 100 years. It was owned by an 82 year old lady who lived there until her death 5 years ago. Since then the Iveagh Trust use it for tours to show how Dubliners lived.

Throughout the production the crew moved back to Francis Street to shoot all around the exterior of the Church of St. Nicholas of Myra. It is a massive building rising high above the buildings surrounding it. This location served to show some epic feel to the locations used and help lend more to the times of 1940s. The location also serves as the film's tragic finale, where Janey is crushed in the large crowd waiting for the bread. Up to 100 extras where used for this scene alone which took great organizing and a stunt coordinator. The bread featured in the film where made by a local Liberties bakery which made the bread look authentic as it was in those times, batches and turnovers.

The star of the picture is undoubtly little Janey played by rising star Kelsey Enright who's managed by Maureen Ward of the Talentd Kidz Agency for gifted Children. Little Kelsey stunned both cast and crew with her performance for someone so young, (4). She had a fun shoot interacting with the crew and cast. She formed a close bond with John Brady who played the 'frail old man'. She called him 'grandad' on the set. Unfortunately John passed away after a short illness on the 20th September this year.

For all involved in the shoot, eveyone shared the same feeling that this was a special story and ultimately a special shoot.