Once

Flame-Haired Angel and I had been wanting to see the independent Irish film Once since we heard about it on the radio. It finally came to the village cinema a few miles up the Thames from us. Why were we so keen? It would have been enough that the story sounded right up our romantic alley, but the film was also made on a shoestring budget of a little more than a hundred thousand Euros: strikingly similar to Flame-Haired Angel's usual work environment. It was shot in 17 days with two lead actors had never been in a film before. The producers saved money by not applying for permits to film on Dublin's sidewalks, then shooting clandestinely with a long lens. And the director gave up his salary to pay a little money to a few of the folks who couldn't afford to do the movie for free. Otherwise, no one would have gotten paid unless the film turned a profit: a rarity for a little European indie flick. Then, Hollywood noticed. "A little movie called Once gave me enough inspiration to last the rest of the year," Steven Spielberg said to USA Today. The crew has probably been paid, now. As of October, Once had grossed US$10.5 million. It's not a blockbuster. It ain't Schindler's List. It's a quiet little film shot for nothing. But, in its way, it's perfect. Highly recommend going to the film's website and downloading the free song from the soundtrack. It's a beauty. Click on the button that says "Download Free Song". ..