www.declanrecks.com writer/director

1. CREDITS

1. HOME

1. BIOGRAPHY

1. GALLERY

1. CLIPS

1. CONTACT

© Declan Recks 2008

BIOGRAPHY

Declan is a graduate of DunLaoghaire College of Art and Design (Dublin), and UCLA Extension (Los Angeles), where he studied film and television. He was writer/director of the award winning short film Big Swinger. The film won the 1989 Fuji Award(U.K) for best overall production. It was screened at several international film festivals and by numerous television stations, including: R.T.E., B.B.C., Canal Plus and Arte. The film was also released as a support to several features in Ireland and England.

He set up Paradox Pictures with fellow graduate Liam O’Neill in 1990. The company produced several feature films including SEPARATION ANXIETY and

HOW HARRY BECAME A TREE.

In 1992 he began a year of study at UCLA in Los Angeles where he directed the drama Sunny's Deliverance. The film was premiered at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in August of 1993 and was well received.  The film won a Bronze award at the 1994 Worldfest Houston (U.S)

In 1997 Declan completed a half hour comedy Quando which he wrote and directed. The film was produced for the Irish Film Board and R.T.E.  Short Cuts season. The film won the Audience Award for Best Irish Short at the 42nd Cork Film Festival.

He wrote and directed Soap for ARTE and ZDF (Germany/France), a 20 minute Comedy/Drama. The short was screened by ARTE in August of 1998. In late 1998 and early 1999 He directed a number of  episodes of Mystic Knights, a television series for Saban Entertainment and the Fox Kids Network (U.S.). Also in 1999 Declan directed Making Ends Meet for Indi Films; a one hour drama for the IFB and RTE. The film premiered at the Dublin Film Festival in April 1999  and was screened at the Montreal World Film Festival in the same year. Making Ends Meet captured a third of the Irish viewing audience when screened on RTE in July of 1999.

In 2001 Declan left Paradox Pictures to concentrate on his directing career. Since then he has directed some of the top rated shows on Irish television including: Any Time Now, The Clinic and Pure Mule.

Pure Mule was written by acclaimed Irish playwright Eugene O'Brien and produced by David Collins and Ed Guiney of Accomplice Television. It was the highest rated Irish Drama ever on Irelands RTE 2. The show received 5 IFTAS (Irish TV & Film Awards) including Best Director for Declan Recks.

In 2007 he completed the critically acclaimed "The Running Mate" a new four part mini series for TG4. The show was produced by Rebecca O'Flanagan for Rubicon Productions, TG4, The Irish Film Board and the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. The show won Best Drama at the 2007 IFTAS.

Also in 2007 he directed the feature film adaptation of Eugene O’Briens play EDEN. Following its premier as the closing gala film at the 2008 Jameson Dublin International Film Festival,  EDEN was selected to screen in competition at the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival where Eileen Walsh was awarded the Best Actress Award for her portrayal of the character of Breda. The film has since been on limited  release in the US.