Domhnall Gleeson Talks Perms, The Paper, and the Unique Tone of The Incomer
On the latest episode of the Awards Tour Podcast, the star leads us on a tour of his early successes and offers a preview of The Paper: Season 2.
This year at the Sundance Film Festival, writer-director Louis Paxton unveiled his directorial debut, The Incomer, which boasted an impressive cast of filmmakers and talent, including an exciting performance from his best friend and co-star Grant O’Rourke. In fact, the film was born of friendship, with lead actor Domhnall Gleeson getting the script from a friend and former film school classmate. The feature chronicles the misadventures of a government employee tasked with relocating a long-secluded brother and sister living on a remote island off the Scottish coast. A story filmed with whimsy, it is a testament to the idea that sometimes it is the process of getting lost that allows us to find out exactly who we really are. And from the moment it premiered at Sundance, critics and audiences have raved about Gleeson’s careful, quiet performance.
On this episode of the Awards Tour Podcast, Jacqueline Coley talks with Gleeson about The Incomer. He also leads Coley on a tour of some of his early successes and the period piece that truly leveled up his career in 2013. He also offers a brief preview of what to expect in the second season of The Paper and explains the fairy tale-like experience of reporting to work on a Hollywood studio lot.
Jacqueline Coley for Rotten Tomatoes: How did this crazy invasion of an island of forgotten children come to you? I think it’s such a cool premise.
Domhnall Gleeson: Yeah, it’s a great premise. It came to me in a really unusual way. I went to film school in Dublin to study writing and directing, and one of my classmates was a woman named Shirley O’Connor. We were very close friends and have remained so ever since. She’s a producer now, a great producer, and she sent me the script about two and a half years ago and said, “I’m going to make this with this amazing filmmaker, Louis Paxton. He’s a first-timer, but he’s seriously good. Have a read and see what you think.”
When a friend sends you something, you really want to like it, but you never know if you will. And I loved it. It was such a confident, strong script, and I really liked the part of Daniel. I hadn’t made an independent film like that in a while, one with such a strong, individual flavor.
The Incomer is currently playing in select theaters. Find tickets here.
