Loud Voices Documentary
A documentary focused on highlighting critical social issues surrounding affordable housing by examining the homelessness and housing crises in Ireland. It shares the personal stories of activists and communities directly affected by these challenges, aiming to raise awareness and drive meaningful change.
Project Overview: Loud Voices – A Documentary on Ireland’s Housing Crisis
Loud Voices is a socio-political documentary exposing Ireland’s escalating affordable housing crisis through the lens of grassroots activism and artistic resistance. Centered on two pivotal figures, the film juxtaposes intimate personal struggles with mass civil action, including:
The "Raise the Roof" Protest (November 2022): 12,000+ citizens demanding legislative reform.
The "Ireland for All" March (February 2023): 50,000+ attendees, marking Ireland’s largest housing rights demonstration.
Featured Perspectives:
James O’Toole: A Tathony House resident and activist battling the mass eviction of 35 families, his story embodies the human cost of profit-driven housing policies.
Meryl Streek: Dublin’s punk poet, whose viral anthem “Death to the Landlords” amplifies youth outrage over unaffordable rents and systemic governmental failure.
My Role: Creator & Producer
As the documentary’s sole creator, I spearheaded all phases of production, blending journalistic rigor with cinematic storytelling:
Pre-Production
Researched Ireland’s housing policies and activist networks.
Developed shot lists/storyboards balancing intimate interviews with protest scale.
Secured access to demonstrations and vulnerable subjects through trust-building.
Production
Conducted raw, unfiltered interviews with O’Toole, Streek, and eviction-threatened families.
Captured high-stakes protest footage, often embedded within volatile crowds.
Post-Production
Edited 4 hours of footage into a 10-minute narrative, emphasizing emotional arcs.
Designed soundscapes mixing protest chants, punk tracks, and haunting ambient tones.
Executed color grading to mirror Ireland’s stark socio-economic divides (e.g., desaturated tones for bureaucratic scenes vs. vibrant protest visuals).
Outcomes
Loud Voices amplified critical conversations around Ireland’s housing crisis by humanizing the issue through firsthand accounts and protest documentation. By spotlighting perspectives ranging from frontline activists like James O’Toole to artists like Meryl Streek, the film bridges individual struggles with collective action, fostering empathy and dialogue across audiences.
