IT’S A SERIOUS BUSINESS BEING FUNNY
A seasoned professional clown on the eve of retirement reflects on a lifetime of adoration & rejection, humour & heartbreak. Clown is a short, stylised documentary delving into the hidden customs & quirks of the clowning community to tell the story of a life spent trying to make people laugh.
Clown started its film festival run in early 2021 and has so far screened at over twenty international festivals across Europe & North America. The film was a finalist in competition at Bolton, Liverpool, Edinburgh Docu-fest & Docs Ireland. It won ‘Best Documentary’ at the Bafta-qualifying Norwich Film Festival and The South London Film Festival.
TRAILER
PRESS
READ THE MOVIDIAM ARTICLE”"Shane’s impressive commercial experience comes in very handy, blending different film and animation styles together for a unique aesthetic. The result is an interesting look into the trials and tribulations of a centuries old artistic practise, through the lens of Mattie Faint, who has been performing as Mattie the Clown for 47 years".
READ THE FRAMELIGHT ARTICLE”"Non-fiction filmmakers often rely on animation and dramatisation to fill in the gaps and to tell compelling stories. It is a technique that has been adopted with a varying degree of success. However Shane O'Neill does it with phenomenal mastery. A heartwarming and unique depiction of one of the most misunderstood and stereotyped professions".
READ THE DIRECTORS NOTES ARTICLE”"10 FILM FESTIVAL PICKS - Clown is an insightful look into what was a staple part of children’s birthday parties and entertainment culture from yesteryear. What’s most interesting is how Shane O’Neill’s film feels like a respectful tribute to the profession, highlighting the happiness clowns can still bring in the modern age".
STILLS
Writer / Director / Editor: Shane O’Neill
Director of Photography: Simon Pinfield
Animation: Creative Nuts
