ON BANK Holiday Monday, August 30, local film production company ASTRL pictures will host the world premiere of its latest short film, ‘Mr. Baker’s Wonderful World’, at the IMC Cinema in Enniskillen, with the private screening for cast, crew and friends marking the film’s big screen debut.

The eclectic puppet musical is the brainchild of Riagáin Grainger, of ASTRL Pictures, who previously described the film as a love letter to legendary puppeteer Jim Henson.

Shot during lockdown with a talented local production team and cast, the production stars Enniskillen’s own John Kane as the titular Mr. Baker alongside a colourful gang of puppets, skillfully operated and voice acted by puppeteers.

Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, the Trillick filmmaker says he is delighted to host the world premiere in the town in which filming took place.

“Premiering Mr. Baker’s Wonderful World feels very romantic in a way as this is where we built it, made it, and put it all together,” said Riagáin, adding: “All the stressed-out days and nights, rehearsals, and collaboration with so many other artists from this county happened right here.

“There is always something different showcasing your work where it was made and to those who helped create it; it’s scary, but it’s massively rewarding because it’s like watching your child grow up. I’m incredibly proud of the finished product. Watching it on a big screen is where it was made to be seen – it’s the ultimate viewing experience.”

On the filmmaking process, Riagáin said it was an exploration into making something that he and the production team considered “too out there” and “too much of a large-scale production to make”.

“But we went and made it anyway. The premise alone should have warned us of the creative mine that we were entering and the multitude of tasks we would have to overcome to make it, to even get the music written!” he said, going on to comment that for him, standing on the set whilst filming the final sequence ‘Neverdie’, was a particular highlight which will always stay with him.

“It’s a goosebumps moment for any creator of their work to realise, everyone around you is helping make this strange vision and idea that has been pressurised inside your head, and your head only, for three years.

“Looking around to see the camera, lights, and tracks being carefully manoeuvred, the puppeteers practicing their lines while looking like Olympic athletes with their bodies twisted on the ground, the dancers practicing their routines, costume checking for continuity issues, sound engineers pumping the music and fog onto the stage – it’s one of those moments where you don’t realise until afterwards how magic it can feel, standing on set,” he said.

So far the film has received a great response, receiving recognition all over the world through the film festival circuit.

It has also won awards at a number of prestigious festivals, winning ‘Best Director: Short’, and ‘Best Short’ at Stockholm City Film Festival; ‘Best Director’ at the Rome Movie Awards; ‘Best Original Soundtrack’ at New York International Film Awards; ‘Best Original Screenplay’ at Hollywood Gold Awards; and ‘Best Original Screenplay’ at New York Movie Awards for 2021.

“The reception has been the icing on the cake – to see audiences connecting with the material makes every moment of stress, fear, and trepidation on the journey of making a film, one especially like this, vanish completely as if it was never there,” said Riagáin.

“I always knew the premise would attract attention. It’s a ‘muppet musical’; it must be due to its nature, but it’s how much it has affected people which has taken me aback.”

When introducing the film, Riagáin likes to prepare people to “switch off their minds and focus, begin a phantasmagorical journey and take as much as they can in”.

“There is a lot of weight to the story which I think if you want to understand, you need to focus and live and breathe in that world,” he said going on to explain that he believes the story has a universal appeal to it.

“Kids or adults, I think everyone can see a part of themselves through it.”

The seal of approval for the film came from Paul Feig, the director of ‘Bridesmaids’, and ‘Ghostbusters’, who gave Riagáin his honest opinion on the finished edit.

“Hearing words like that from someone who is in my dream position, speak about your work with attention and detail, and enthusiastically critique it ... to be told it is ‘utterly charming, bold and confident’ from someone who makes Hollywood movies on a scale that is unmatched makes me feel a great sense of achievement and, I guess, confidence in my abilities, going forward.

“The film has been an incredible learning process and personal test for the work to come next. It’s a project I hold close to my heart and after all this time I’ve spent alone with it, I’m ready for the people around me to see it,” Riagáin told this newspaper.

Coinciding with its premiere at the IMC Cinema in Enniskillen on August 30, ‘Mr. Baker’s Wonderful World’ is to be released on multiple streaming platforms that day, with previous ASTRL Pictures content found on Amazon Prime.