Local actor Joe Mullins is this week looking forward to the premier of his new movie ‘The Line’, which is to be screened at the Dublin International Film Festival at the end of the month.
Recognisable for his recent role as ‘Maguire’ in the 2023 film of Ann Lovett and her child, the Ballyorgan man takes the lead as the character of Joe Walsh in his new role, playing opposite Ukrainian actor Veronika Lukyanenko in the feature film.
Meeting with The Avondhu in Mitchelstown last week, Joe says that the movie has become even more topical today than when it was shot almost 12 months ago in Oughterard in Galway, covering the topic of immigration and misdirected anger in the story of Joe, a mechanic disgruntled with life.
Training the local ladies Gaelic football team, Joe meets Nina (Veronika Lukyanenko), a recently arrived immigrant. The pair form an unlikely friendship with Joe confronting his animosity and prejudices.
“It’s a small film, with a big heart,” says the 55-year-old, who has played with several amateur drama groups locally down through the years.
“The thing that drew me to the script was the individual story, it brings it back to the person and away from all the figures and statistics. It can counteract misconceptions”.
LOCAL THEATRE – ‘THE BEST LEARNING SCHOOL’
Joe, whose day job is a farmer, began his career with The Palace Players in Kilworth some years ago and had his first part in feature film ‘Pligrim Hill’ in 2013 and since then, has starred in several movies, including ‘The Clockmaker’s Dream’ which was narrated by ‘Mad Men’ actor and son of Richard Harris, Jared. Playing Brian McBride in the 1916 TV mini-series, ‘Resistance’, Joe says, was a project he was particularly proud to be involved in, acknowledging the personal link of Irish people today with the history of Ireland’s independence.
Despite his relative success, Joe still can’t bear seeing himself on the big screen.
“I haven’t seen any of ‘The Line’ yet. It’ll be a bit hairy at the Dublin Film Festival! I don’t like seeing myself on screen. You see things you don’t like, and when you’re going to several festivals seeing the film you’d be counting down. You know it’s coming in 10 minutes, in five minutes…!”
Saying he wasn’t very sporty, local theatre offered him ‘something to do’, and it appears he has a natural talent. In fact, for his first film release ‘Pilgrim Hill’, Joe played a lonely farmer, but his performance was taken to be a documentary as following one screening of the fictional tale, a man approached him, a psychiatrist, and gave him his card, ‘if he ever wanted to talk’.
Travelling with The Palace Players theatre group was ‘really challenging’, says Joe, ‘but it was the best learning school’.
“Travelling around the country and learning from professional actors. I’ve not been on stage for a long time now, but the kids are older and I wouldn’t mind doing it again.”
He has recently done a reading for a play, ‘Agnes on the Moon’, which was written by Tzarini Mayler, an artist with links to Ballylanders and his most recent film venture has been a Limerick comedy production, ‘Holy Joe’ and represents a departure from the more ‘grim’ roles he typically gets cast in.
FAMILY SUPPORT
Filmed over three weeks in March and April 2023, Joe’s role in ‘The Line’ came about as a result of a workshop he did some time ago, where the director Danny McCafferty remembered him and called him directly. However, while enjoying success, Joe’s advice to any aspiring actor is to have another career in the back pocket.
“It makes it a lot easier. Always have something to fall back on, then you’re not waiting on the next cheque. I suppose I’m different to most, having arrived onto the acting scene later in life. That’s what’s lovely about ‘The Line’: it fell into my lap, and I’m thankful for that”.
“I’m very thankful for the support I get at home from my family. You can’t take things personally. If someone asked me what is acting about I’d say, rejection. You have to have belief in yourself”.
‘The Line’ premiers at The Lighthouse Cinema on 26th February, as part of the Dublin International Film Festival.
