Private Project

Innocent Boy

This film tells the story of Jack a young Irish Traveller boy. Who also has hearing difficulties, his only escape from an overbearing world of emotional deafness is bareback on his beloved painted Mare.

Jack seeks to escape a world of noise devoid of understanding, a father absent emotionally and a community that fears his difference. The perpetual outsider, he inhabits a world that sees him as an "Innocent Boy", a lad residing on the fringes of society, not even fully accepted in his own community.

A community ostracized in Irish society an ethnic group still coming to terms with its own pain and embracing its own identity. What chance does Jack have when everyone is too ashamed to listen?

  • John Connors
    Director
  • John Connors
    Writer
  • Tiernan Williams
    Writer
  • Williams Casey
    Writer
  • Tiernan Williams
    Producer
  • Johhny Collins
    Key Cast
    "Jack"
  • Thomas Connors
    Key Cast
    "Jack Snr"
  • Kayleigh McDonagh
    Key Cast
    "Theresa"
  • Sean Kelly
    Associate Producer
  • Maria O'Neill
    Production Manager
  • Nikki Moss
    Sound Design
  • Patrick McDermott
    Director of Photography
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    13 minutes 29 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 8, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    35,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Ireland
  • Country of Filming:
    Ireland
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    DCI scope
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Best Script - Virgin media Discovers Competition 2019
    Dublin
    Ireland
    Winner
  • Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival
    Dublin
    Ireland
    February 29, 2020
    World/Irish
    Festival Highlight and Special Mention Short Film Competition
Director Biography - John Connors

John Connors is an Irish actor, screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, playwright and human rights activist best known for his role as Patrick Ward in the Irish crime drama series Love/Hate and for Cardboard Gangsters in which he won best actor at the 2018 Irish film and television awards.

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Director Statement

This film won the international script writing competition "Virgin Media Discovers Difference" in 2019. It tells the harrowing story of a young boy with hearing loss, who is also a member of one of the moist discriminated minorities in Ireland, the "Traveller Community". This film is an authentic piece with an all Traveller cast, the first of its kind for this community in Ireland.

The film addresses the appalling number of deaths by suicide in this ethnic group, way above the national average. It explores the level of discrimination and harassment that is often committed against the Traveller children in Ireland. Child suicide being a shamefully high statistic in this community.

As a Director who is a member of this ethnic group, this film has allowed me to give a voice to the voiceless and explore my culture in a holistic manner.