Private Project

The Lion's Share

Based on true events in Dublin Zoo. The keepers face drastic decisions and must overcome personal conflicts, if they are to save the animals during the revolution of 1916,.. and keep alive a "Rising" Hollywood star ?

  • Owen O'Gorman
    Director
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641076/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
  • Owen O'Gorman
    Writer
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0641076/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
  • Caroline Brennan
    Producer
  • Brendan Conroy
    Key Cast
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175796/
  • Aisling O'Neill
    Key Cast
    http://www.theagency.ie/aisling-oneill
  • Liz Lloyd
    Key Cast
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0516060/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
  • Frank Melia
    Key Cast
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0577703/?ref_=nv_sr_1
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, War, comedy, True stories
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    May 3, 2017
  • Production Budget:
    7,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland, United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • 8th Underground International Cinema Film Festival
    Dublin
    Ireland
    August 31, 2017
    World Premiere
    Best Indépendant Short Film runner up
  • TMC London Film Festival
    London
    Award Of Recognition
  • Barcelona Planet Film Festival
    Barcelona Planet Fim Festival
    Spain
    September 2, 2017
    Spanish Premiere
    Official Selection
  • Dublin International Film and Music Festival
    Dublin
    Ireland
    October 7, 2017
    Selected
  • Beveren Short Film Festival, Belgium
    Beveren
    Belgium
    Nominee
  • Gorey Charity Screening
    Gorey, Wexford
    Ireland
    November 16, 2017
    Charity Screening
    €4000 raised for local Gorey Charities
  • Five Lamps Film festival
    Dublin
    Ireland
    March 9, 2018
    Selection
Director Biography - Owen O'Gorman

Owen has been a professional actor for 30 years experience working with some of the worlds best directors Alan Parker, Mike Newell, Lenny Abrahamsson, Jim Sheridan, Tony Barry and David Caffrey. He has attended film workshops and writing courses throughout the years including BBC, Irish Film Board, Fishable theatre Company. Last year he won a bursary for his Play "As the rising roared on..." which "The Lion's Share" is based on.
He has worked as 1st AD on various short films and Music Video's. He has written, directed, and acted in many theatre productions,

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

“Dublin Zoo, MGM connection to the Easter Rising”

A lot has been written about the Easter Rising, however, few will realise the impact it had on Dublin’s Zoo.

“The Lion’s Share”, a story based on true events in early 20th Century Dublin.
It tells the tale of how ‘sacrifice’ was called for as the keepers struggle to care for their animals during these turbulent times.

Christy Flood, -Brendan Conroy ( IFTA winning actor) plays the head Keeper in Dublin, faced with difficult dilemma’s – deciding ‘who gets what’ - to distribute the dwindling food supplies. While pressure from the Zoological Society,- Liz Lloyd, (THE TUDORS, FAIR CITY) and -Frank Melia (THE GENERAL, THE TAILOR IN PANAMA) creates a rift between Christy and his apprentice - Republican sympathiser Tommy, -Stephen Colfer. Christy’s son was sacrificed to the ‘War to End Wars’, however, his sickly lion cub ‘Cairbe’ ( SLATS) would survive to conquer Hollywood as the MGM lion.

It also stars Aisling O’Neill ( IFTA Nominee actress FAIR CITY ) as a bewildered Cinema Cashier.

Filmed in various locations in Wexford, Dublin, Ireland and Scotland.