There’s an old saying: all roads lead to Rome. But for the characters in a new road trip movie, all roads lead to Cork as two best friends set out to save their future on a journey from Omagh to the Rebel County.
The Spin is directed by Michael Head, who has a history of making gangster films, and he says The Spin’s charm was a big draw for him, and he hopes audiences feel the same.
“My films are normally London gangster-based, so The Spin was very unusual for me,” Head said.
“What drew me to this film is that it’s just a nice story. It’s beautiful characters in beautiful scenery, with no nastiness. There’s no violence. It’s just heartwarming and charming.
“It’s the type of film that doesn’t get made now, because the truth is, it’s quite hard to sell this kind of film. I think the producers took a real risk making it, and hopefully it’ll be a risk that pays off.”
The film follows Dermot (Brenock O’Connor) and Elvis (Owen Colgan), two wacky best friends who run a record shop in Tyrone. The duo struggle to pay their rent and faces eviction by their landlord, Sadie, played by Derry Girls star Tara Lynne O’Neill.
With just a few days left before they get the boot, the friends discover that a farmer in Cork – played by Horslips’ Barry Devlin – is selling a box of priceless records for just €30.
Dermot and Elvis set out for Cork in a slow-moving vintage car and no money in their pockets, encountering all sorts of shenanigans along the way.
Head says that how he met the film’s producers felt like a scene in The Spin.
“I was on set directing a film called Bermondsey Tales when a good friend of mine got in touch, saying he knew producers who were looking for a director. We invited them to come on set to talk.
“When they arrived, they started talking to my assistant, Andrew, the first assistant director, thinking he was the director. When they realised their mistake, they said, “Oh no, Michael is the director, we’ll get him’.
“Then, they opened up the boot of a Range Rover, and there I was, tied up in the back.”
Released from the Range Rover and with work complete on Bermondsey Tales, the South London director set out for Omagh, the starting point for The Spin.
Head, whose grandparents came from Cork, says he had doubts about directing such an Irish tale, but says as a South Londoner, he felt a strong connection to Ireland.
“An Englishman telling an Irish story, it was something that I was not concerned about, but aware of, but as soon as we started meeting people and getting to know Ireland, there was a real connection.
“There’s a storytelling nature that South London and Ireland share; there’s a real kinship there. Look at the Ireland football team in the 1990s, half of them were from South London.”
He says that feeling can be found in North London, too, where his Cork grandparents settled.
“All my grandad’s family, the Fitzpatricks from Cork, are from North London. Apart from the accent, you feel like you’re in the same place. You go to a pub, you sit down with people, you get that storytelling nature, that banter. It really reminded me of filming in Ireland.”
The Spin is inspired by Omagh music star Mark McCausland and is somewhat autobiographical. Head says the script was further developed during rehearsals, but he also allowed for improvisation on set.
“When I read the script, I loved the characters and charm, but there were things that needed to change.
“I like to collaborate with the actors. If you hire the right cast, they’ll not only bring themselves to it, but they’ll also help you spot the problems.
“When the actors came in, and we rehearsed, they naturally knew what worked for them and what didn’t, what lines didn’t sit well.
“By the time we got to set, they knew their characters and felt comfortable, so they could improvise and really make it tick.”
Head says he was particularly lucky with his lead actors.
“If it wasn’t for Owen and Brenock, I don’t think it would have worked. They were both incredible.
“Owen is a comedy genius; people know him from Hardy Bucks. He’s just hilarious, and everything he does is funny.
“Brenock is such an intelligent, intuitive actor that between the two of them, what they came up with was just comedy gold. It was beautiful to get a chance to make a film like that.”
The Spin also marks the feature debut of Maura Higgins, the former Love Islander turned presenter, who gained international attention for her stint on The Traitors USA.
“Maura was great,” said Head. “No ego, no hassle, no fuss, she just got on with it.
“Film sets can be tough. You’re there all day, waiting around, and then suddenly you get the ten-minute call and you have to rush. I thought she might not be used to that, but she got on brilliantly.”
The Spin had a limited release last year, but this time the film is hitting the road to cinemas across the country, and Head hopes Irish audiences will embrace it.
“It is a lovely film about friendship, who wouldn’t want to see that?” he said. “I hope audiences support it, it is a fun journey to Cork with plenty of mischief along the way.”
The Spin opens in cinemas on February 27, cert: 15a