Watch: Donegal short film Waiting for Magic Hour is now online

A short film - called Waiting for Magic Hour - about a photographer sent to Donegal to take scenic shots has been released on YouTube in 4K.

The scenery in question includes a vast array of Donegal locations that includes Inishowen Lighthouse, Errigal, the ruins of Dunlewey Church, Derry road, and the Bád Eddie shipwreck at Bunbeg Beach.

As all photography enthusiasts know, "magic hour" refers to the name photographers give to the brief period of time during sunset or sunrise when the twilight can make for visually striking images. Brazilian newcomer Aline Panini (The Young Offenders) plays a photographer who is sent to Donegal for a weekend to shoot some of the county's most sweeping scenery.

Letterkenny actor Aidan O'Sullivan (Spears) is assigned to drive her around and very soon their different personalities clash in humorous and unexpected ways. Nevertheless, they gradually form a friendship over the course of their road trip.

Award-winning actor O' Sullivan has become one of the busiest in Ireland in recent years having notched up over one hundred film credits including The Quiet Girl and shows such as The Vanishing Triangle. This film marks the sixth collaboration between himself and Lough.

The project is Lough's eighth short film as director and has kept him busy while he tries to decide what his next feature film should be.

As he explains: "I think all creative types can find themselves blocked at some point in time or are beset by indecision for any number of reasons. If you don't watch out, the months can turn into years and then you get spooked and struggle to summon up the confidence to get behind a camera and direct again. That's why I'm a big believer in doing a short film or a music video when you're at that crossroads.

“The strange thing is, by the time you're finished your small project, you'll probably have figured out what the big project should be."

It marks a sharp departure in style for Lough, who is best known for the dark crime thriller Spears which was shown in cinemas in Ireland in 2022. This film is a much more light-hearted affair.

"That's the other beauty of doing a short film, because of the drastically smaller budget, you're free to try something different to what you've done before," he adds. “Also returning from the Spears team is actor Michael Parle. A new addition to the team is Londonderry musician Michael Mc Elroy who created the electronic score for the film.

“Speaking of music, the filmmakers put out a call for a song to be used in the movie. They received a huge response and finally settled on the group Le Groupe Fantastique with the track On My Mind, which can also be heard in the trailer. I went through dozens and dozens of songs and it's hard to put into words why you settle on a particular track but you just know it in your gut when it clicks with a scene. Early reactions have confirmed we made the right song choice." Lough's previous film, Spears, featured a music soundtrack made up of some of the best new electronic music around and was acclaimed for this in many reviews.

At the time of its cinema release, Film Ireland wrote: “The music in Spears is inspired... all the songs match the dram with seamless perfection." Lough; "There are few things as magical in film-making as when you find the perfect song for a scene. To be able to also introduce an audience to a new artist when they see the film is the icing on the cake."

Lough has also taken on the director of photography role again with this project being an opportunity for him to test drive the Blackmagic 4K cinema camera for the first time. Lough, "The Blackmagic camera is the God send to independent filmmakers I've been waiting for.

Some of the previous cameras I've worked with created images that were pretty good if you knew what you were doing but usually seemed to have that cold, digital look no matter what.

The Blackmagic gives you the flexibility of shooting digitally but can now also achieve the gorgeous, warm look of 35mm film. The icing on the cake for me was using an anamorphic lens to give it that cinematic widescreen look, which is perfect for a film where you really want to show off the scenery.

"We've literally gone from one end of the county to the other in search of the very best scenery. No sound stages, no green screen, and no CGI. Everything you see has been done for real, the hard way. But I think you already get a sense from the trailer that it was worth doing it old school."

On a personal note, the film will be dedicated to his father Pat who passed away last year.

"Dad had a passion for photography and a respect for the craftsmanship that goes into both still photography and cinematography,” Lough says. “This little film will pay tribute to him and all the photographers of the world."

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