The 1998 Tour de France, including the start in Ireland, forms the backdrop of a new cycling movie, much of which is set in Dublin and Wicklow.
The Racer is a fictitious human interest story; centred on one last Tour ride by an ageing domestique - Belgian pro Dom Chabol.
He’s been a leading domestique and while he’s now
facing into the dying of the light he secretly harbours a desire for one last
fleeting shot at the big time; a day in the Tour’s yellow jersey.
But while The Racer tells the story of a fictitious
rider, it’s set against some of the key facts of the 1998 race; the Irish location,
for one.
Chabol, who is in his mid 30s and staring into life
after cycling, is all set to ride the Tour until he’s unceremoniously dropped
by his team.
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However, when a doping scandal swallows up a team
mate unexpectedly on the eve of the Irish Grand Depart, Chabol is back in the
game.
He finds himself in Ireland, where he meets an Irish
love interest. His story, and this journeyman’s place on the Tour, carries us
through the rest of the film.
The producers need about 150 cyclists as extras to
make up the peloton for the scenes that depict the race’s Irish start; with
bikes and team kit from the era supplied.
It’s paid work and the scenes will be shot in Dublin’s south inner city; depicting the Tour’s peloton as it rolls through the Irish capital for the start of the race 21 years ago.
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Some of the scenes will also be shot, among other
locations, in the hills of Wicklow; Ireland’s cycling Mecca and whose byroads
also hosted the giants of the road back in 98.
There are some conditions for potential extras,
which we’ve listed below along with how to apply.
But as long as you look like a fit cyclist that
could take his place in a mock Tour de France peloton, get your name in quick.
The Racer has a very strong group of actors and crew already working away to bring the idea alive this summer.
It’s an international production; a collective of
Irish (Blinder Films) and Continental European production houses (Calach Films
and Caviar Films) coming together for what sounds like a great project.
The film is supported by Screen Ireland, Film Fund
Luxembourg, Eurimages, Screen Flanders, the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland
Sound & Vision Fund and RTE.
It is directed by Irish talent Kieron J Walsh who
was behind the camera on the recent RTE series Finding Joy as well as Rapt, The
Savage Eye and Jump.
Former international rider and Rás Tailteann winner Paul McQuaid is technical consultant on The Racer.
We’ll have a word with Walsh and McQuaid soon, but in the meantime here’s the important bit:
How to apply to be an extra
- To apply please email [email protected] and include the following:
- A photo of yourself in your cycling gear
- A photo of your bike
- Your name, age (18 years to 40ish) and contact details
- Club name if applicable
- Availability in June and cycling experience
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