"It has been a marathon," sighs Oranmore’s Pamela Finn, producer and director of JFK - The Three Miles. The 24-minute film tells the story of JFK’s visit to Galway – over just three miles from the Sportsground to Salthill - through eye witness recollections.
"I had pitched it to RTÉ, Virgin, Netflix... no joy. So I said to myself: 'I don't care, I am going to make it’."
Despite being previously rejected by RTÉ, Finn's documentary project, edited by Séan Treacy, has recently been rewarded with a prime-time Christmas holiday slot on the national broadcaster. Although this is her first ever foray into film making, Finn’s efforts have landed her with top-level nominations and awards from film festivals around the world, including Cannes, Dublin, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Finn owns and runs her own Public Relations firm, PRPam, established in 2006. Making a documentary is a radical departure for the media pro, although she had worked “at the periphery” of film with brief stints as a TV presenter.
But why JFK? Finn’s great grandmother, May Hynes, emigrated from New York to Kilcolgan Castle after the 1929 Wall Street Crash. The American connection was kept alive in the stories of Finn’s grandmother, Ballinderreen post mistress Phil Lyons.
"Growing up, JFK was almost like a God. His story is one of hope. His family came from a third-generation family, and in the space of a hundred years he achieved the highest office in power. It brought a sense of hope; he was one of our own and he was genuine. He wanted to connect with the everyday person, and I wanted to share his impact on Galway. It changed Galway."
As someone who grew up near the city, Finn's ethos when making the documentary was "protecting the integrity of Galway."
"I was very careful with how the documentary was shot so I tried to pick locations which showed the old Galway. I was getting up at 5am to shoot sometimes.
Finn wanted man-on-the-street reminiscences, not the memories of the great and the good.
"I put out a shout-out on social media, and put an ad into the Advertiser and got a huge response. There were almost 200 people. I interviewed them all myself because the budget was so tight. I wanted people that the audience could resonate with, and bring depth to the interviews. They were real Galwegians. You could hear it in their accents. At screenings in the US people loved that aspect of it."
Finn has always had an interest in broadcasting, but realised early on it was a difficult field to break in to.
"I was working in sales in Galway and Dublin in the early part of my career, but I had always wanted to work in media. One day a colleague said to me 'you can take the well-paid job or you can follow your dreams.' I am just a grafter, for want of a better word. I believe that if you work hard on something, and if you have the right support, you can achieve it."
Pamela worked in a voluntary radio station, studied Journalism in college, and spent a full year of unpaid work in cable channel Irish TV.
"I set up my own PR agency, and I started to work with festivals and art groups. But I still had this grá for being in front of a camera, being behind a camera, and understanding what a good story takes."
It was a chance encounter with a well-known Irish journalist that gave Pamela insight into the workings of powerful storytelling.
"I was so brazen. I walked into RTÉ one day and asked if there was anyone in the newsroom. That is when I met Charlie Bird. Charlie was so nice and he gave me one simple piece of advice: ‘Always read a newspaper front to back, because there's always a story in it, even if not obvious’. That really stuck with me."
Besides festival nominations, JFK – The Three Miles is beginning to attract critical acclaim. If it continues to pick up awards, it may attract attention as a potential Oscars documentary candidate. Finn brushes off the suggestion, but her experience is telling.
"At the [City of Angels Woman’s Film Festival] in Los Angeles, I was up against Holly Ramsey (Gordon Ramsey's daughter ) who had a huge budget and a serious crew. I said, 'sure look it, I'll give it a go.' Even being on the red carpet and in a room full of filmmakers was amazing."
"When I won, I said 'you are going to have to give me a minute everybody.' But it didn't matter, they just started screaming and clapping anyway!"
She was also nominated for awards at the Washington DC International Cinema festival, the Santa Barbara International Movie awards, and the Dublin International short film and music festival.
Next up for the Pamela and her maiden documentary is an RTÉ prime time slot over Christmas.
"Well I couldn't believe it, it is a dream come true. I’m 44 now; I'm just sorry I didn't start earlier. I’m a farmer's daughter from a family of seven, so this whole experience has been such a journey for me. It wasn't always easy but it has all worked out in the end."
JFK - The Three Miles will air Wednesday, December 27 at 8.30pm on RTÉ One.
Additional reporting by Maxim Kelly
