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Once a film has garnered enough interest, they wi
ll either arrange to watch it together or commit to watching it individually. They can quickly ascertain whether a film is a good fit for the project. For instance, neither Speed 2 nor Face/Off fit the bill because they were too action-heavy and dialogue-light. Once they settle on a film, the writing process begins. The script is divided into four parts and each writer is tasked with writing their own section. Working remotely, they have to consider how they can make the film work within the parameters of a live performance. They aren’t precious about cutting iconic scenes or amalgamating characters if it makes the script tighter and more coherent. A few days before the show, Drea and McDonnell fly into Dublin and the four work on the scripts together, making ruthless edits and hashing out last-minute gags. “That last fine-tuning is where all our gold comes from,” says Hanly. Since starting Dreamgun Film Reads, the crew have sent up classics like Die Hard, Psycho, Titanic, Terminator 2, Batman Begins, The Silence of the Lambs and Goldeneye, among others. Familiarity with the source material is ideal, but not essential. As much as Dreamgun are paying homage to specific films, they are also lampooning movie clichés that even casual filmgoers are familiar with. “Audiences now are savvier than companies think they are,” says Drea. “They can absorb so many tropes and plotlines. What we do a lot of the time is bring that out and take some of them and flip them on their heads.” “People are so au fait with tropes and genres that you can use the shortest of shorthand and it can be really funny,” says Hanly. “In one line, you can communicate a whole character and a whole theme and everyone gets it. You’re not there trying to explain it or get people on board.” Next March, the group will stage a live performance of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in Vicar Street. It promises to be their biggest and most ambitious show to date. “It’s all three films in about two hours, maybe?” says Hanly. “I would say two and a half,” replies Colfer. Peter Jackson, eat your heart out. ● Dreamgun perform Miracle on 34th Street in Whelans on Tuesday December 4 and Wednesday December 5, €14.20 and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy in Vicar Street on Friday March 15, €20 32 photo Ste Murray photo Ste Murray