Made by Grandads: Meet the Filmmakers Behind Clare-Based Short Film Pull Hard
When Douglas Reddan first had the idea to make a film about his adolescence, it was peak pandemic and he was walking the streets of Quin, Co.Clare; the village he grew up in. One impassioned phone call later to fellow creative and Dubliner Leah Moore, and the premise of Pull Hard was born.
Leah and Doug make up award-winning directing duo "Grandads", named for their shared attitude to life. “We're experienced and we have good perspective at this stage. But it’s also silly… a project for two friends who like to work together and have fun,” says Reddan.
“We like a sweater vest and that kind of thing,” Moore chimes in. “And we eat our dinner at like, five.”
The pair's relationship began with “just giving each other a bit of a hand”, before they recognised a mutual spark and style. “We're best friends,” says Reddan; “soulmates”, Moore agrees. “We wanted somewhere to put the work that felt like it belonged to both of us. We both still work solo; Doug’s an amazing music video director, and I'm more TV focussed...but we find these projects or formats that just [speak to] Grandads.”
Their latest project, Pull Hard, draws on Reddan's experience growing up in the West of Ireland. Protagonist Ross – both a talented hurler and dancer – is outwardly confident and thick-skinned but privately sensitive and uncertain. He navigates the “charged landscape of adolescence” in his small village, surrounded by young men concerned with warped ideas of masculinity.
The film is punctuated by thought-provoking, abstract dance scenes (choreographed by Shanelle 'Tali' Fergus – Reddan's “dance idol”) that offer glimpses into the character's interior lives.
“We wanted the dance to serve Ross’ world – it had to make sense. It was like creating another language for his character,” says Moore.
At times, making Pull Hard felt “raw” for Reddan. Elements of the film are heavily inspired by his upbringing in Clare, and it was shot on location in his village; at his school; on his dad's farm.
“I had a really hard time through school in a way that wasn’t so visible. I really cared about being popular, about my studies, sport, dance. As a protective mechanism, I positioned myself in a way that I couldn’t get hurt – but [nonetheless] I did.”
Moore says Reddan's experience as a young, queer Irish person mirrored her own. “Part of the reason this made sense as a Grandads project is because I had felt the same. There's this idea that, if you’ve loads of friends and you're good at school and you're good at your hobbies and everybody likes you – if you can do all that, then the rest won't matter.”
When watching Pull Hard, it feels as though the short film couldn't take place anywhere but the rugged landscape of Clare. Moore feels that the county is a “character in itself”.
“We saw how beautiful and heartbreaking the narrative was against this landscape that feels like it can swallow you up,” says Reddan. “There was a time when the budget was tight and we were like, we could do this in Dublin, but that’s not the point. It wouldn’t be true to the story.”
While developing Pull Hard, the team received significant funding from the Arts Council through Glór, the arts centre in Ennis. Reddan describes the support as being a game changer for Grandads, and granting them the creative freedom needed to bring their vision to life.
“Glór are the most phenomenal people and space. What they’ve given to me and Leah is something people dream of. A few weeks after we wrapped, we were like…why was that so easy? The team was amazing, Glór were amazing, the cast were amazing. And I’m such a believer that it’s because the source of where it was coming from was pure, you know?
“Thank god for Glór,” agrees Moore, and Reddan doesn't miss a beat; “TGFG!”
You can watch Pull Hard this Saturday, 11th July at the Town Hall Theatre, as part of the Galway Film Fleadh. Buy tickets here.
Delivered straight to your inbox every month.
