Danger Overhead Powerlines

description

The Story:
Danger Overhead Powerlines is a short documentary about Teresa Treacy, an elderly spinster who defies Ireland's largest international semi-state corporation, the Electricity Supply Board, to protect the thousands of trees she planted by hand. In 2006 the ESB contacted Teresa to tell her they would erect pylons along the middle of her land, which would mean cutting down several acres of woodland. However, as the last landowner on ESB's new multi-million euro power line across Tullamore in Co. Offaly, Teresa Treacy prevents the project from completion.

For nearly 6 years she has asked the ESB to put the cables underground but they have said it is too expensive. Then in late in 2011 she was sent to prison at the age of 65 for not allowing the ESB access to her land to cut down her trees. This short documentary intimately follows Teresa's experience during and after prison, giving an inside perspective that was unexplored by the national media throughout the whole event. The film documents the public's outraged response to Teresa's plight and Teresa's journey from a quiet, shy woman to a relentless fighter.

Why you should pledge:
My name is Mia Mullarkey and I need your help to tell this story. Three good reasons for you to help us make this film are:

1. Teresa Treacy is an inspiring woman who is willing to be imprisoned again if needs be because she believes her land and trees are worth protecting,
2. ESB is about to embark on a multi-billion euro project of erecting power lines across Ireland and so it is a crucial time for a story like this to get out there,
3. The film is in the editing stage and we just need some more money to get it completed.

The film makers:
Mia Mullarkey is a new director. This is her second short documentary, her first short documentary Halls Without Walls was completed last year and received an Honourable Mention for Best Short Documentary at both the Galway Film Fleadh and the DIY Film Festival, as well as being officially selected for numerous film festivals worldwide. The producer Sinead O'Brien is an award winning documentary maker. Since her first documentary Dusk ‘til Dawn (1999), she has written and directed eight documentaries, six of which have been produced by Oscar nominated producer Noel Pearson. The director of photography Lorcan Dunne has over 10 years experience as a Camera Operator and DoP. He has shot and produced broadcast documentaries and worked on feature films, including Hugo, directed by Martin Scorsese. The editor Kevin Cunnane has Twelve years experience as a professional editor. He has worked in broadcast television for stations including RTE, TG4, Setanta Sports, and TV3, and on feature & short films funded by the Irish Film Board, Filmbase, RTE, and TG4.

Funding for this project will go towards editing, marketing, festivals, and purchasing footage from RTE and TV3. All help is really greatly appreciated.