The man behind the movies

For the past couple of months Kelan has been provided us with the latest news and reviews from the silver screen so we thought it about time we found out a bit more about the man behind the movies.

The 23-year-old arrives at the ‘MAIL’ having studied Media Production and Interactive Media at the Southern Regional College’s campus in Banbridge for four years.

He said: “In that time, I learned to work with a vast array of software and technical equipment. As a result, I have a keen eye behind a camera and a sound knowledge base in film production.

“It was during my time at the college that I began to work within the media industry – writing, editing and directing short films, radio dramas, music videos and promotional videos for clients.”

He continued: “I completed my studies in September of last year and I have since continued to work and stay active with independent projects. From August 2009 to May 2010, I had a nine-month broadcasting stint as an on-air host for Shine FM, a radio station based in Banbridge.

“I went under the alias of ‘The Voice’ - named by a fellow presenter due to my deep voice on air. I began briefly as a guest co-host on the ‘Cecilia and the Shadow show’ before presenting the Monday morning ‘Banbridge Breakfast Show’ and later the Tuesday afternoon ‘Shine Drivetime’, which became my signature programming block. The show was four hours of music and news and was a joy to do. I enjoyed my time as a radio host and would like to get involved in radio again at a later date.”

Kelan has enjoyed film from a young age. He said: “One of my earliest memories in a cinema was going to see ‘Jurassic Park’ as an impressionable four-year-old, in 1993. Growing up, I have vivid memories of going to see all of the big summer blockbusters such as ‘Batman Forever’, ‘Toy Story’ and ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace’ at the much-missed Centrepoint cinema in Lurgan.”

He cites his favourite actor as Robert De Niro and his favourite actress as Meryl Streep. His top director is Stanley Kubrick and his number one film is ‘Pulp Fiction’.

He added: “Some of my other favourite films include ‘Barry Lyndon’, ‘Amadeus’, ‘The Shining’, ‘Schindler’s List’, ‘The Maltese Falcon’, ‘Raging Bull’, ‘A Clockwork Orange’, ‘The Thin Blue Line’, ‘12 Angry Men’, ‘Back To The Future’, ‘One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest’, ‘Withnail and I’, ‘The Killer’, ‘Die Hard’, ‘The Deer Hunter’, ‘Casablanca’, ‘Aliens’, ‘A Better Tomorrow’ and ‘Terminator 2’.”

Kelan added: “I love film and hope to someday work in the film and television industries in a directorial role. I have a wide, eclectic, diverse taste when it comes to film and there are many genre’s I enjoy. Above all else, a film should entertain; having a coherent story and a logical progression.”