Richard eyes Hollywood as film is hailed a success (From Warrington Guardian)

Richard eyes Hollywood as film is hailed a success

IT'S next stop Hollywood for an upcoming director who wooed film buffs at his UK premiere last night.

Richard O' Connor of Peasley Close, Padgate, directed Lily and Rose - a new play about two sisters who meet up after 40-years of stony silence.

It was the first time the 22-year-old has directed a professional film, although he did work on scripts during his university degree at Edge Hill.

After graduating last summer in media and communication, Richard decided to pursue a career in film directing, so speedily applied to a BAFTA job advert looking for someone with his skills.

BAFTA North, in association with arts organisation First Take, premiered the three 10-minute films in Liverpool.

It is the fourth year the organisation has run the event, which acts as a springboard for people breaking into the competitive film industry.

Richard said: "Directing the script was brilliant, far better than I hoped it would be and has confirmed my ambition to direct films."

Richard, who attended Cardinal Newman High School, Latchford, and then Carmel College, St Helens, says he has always been interested in the arts and had considered a career in acting. However, the buzz of seeing his own interpretation of a script come to life, persuaded him to stick with directing.

He said: "In Lily and Rose I did talk with the two writers about how they saw the film but ultimately it is the director's vision that takes precedence.

"In the script there is a lot of introspection and I have made the most of silences. With editing it could have been a really snappy, dialogue heavy film but I don't think this would have been the best way to play it."