Between Friends

BF tells the story of a group of friends who come to find out that one of them has been diagnosed with HIV. The film follows the group as each of them try to come to terms with this and one in particular, who has a past with him.

BF was shot over a six-month period, from April to October in 1994. It was shot in and around County Dublin, Ireland. In particular, Donaghmede, Coolock, the Donahies, Howth and Swords. James wanted to tackle a controversial subject so he chose AIDS. He had visited an AIDS clinic back in 1990 with a friend when they were researching for a short film and they met with a gentleman there, John, who was dying of AIDS.

James remembers, "He sat and talked with us for hours, telling us anything and everything that came to his mind. He told us what it was like first thing in the morning when he woke up and last thing going to bed at night. There was so much insight to this person and unfortunately, the short film we were hoping to make, never came to pass but over the years, I always remembered the things he told us and with BETWEEN FRIENDS, I decided to deal with that subject matter.

Aswell as writing the script with his good friend Patricia McPartlin (who had starred in his last film UNSEEN RIVAL) and producing and directing the film, James decided he would also play the lead role of Paul, the character who is diagnosed with HIV. "I just felt that I really wanted to play this character. A lot of the feelings and emotions I had while playing the part, came from remembering what John had told me." After shooting the film, James had to prepare for a big journey. "I decided I was going to make the move to America so my family and I moved to the States on October 28th, 1994." However, before leaving for America, James visited the AIDS clinic he went to back in 1990, in the chance that John was still alive but sadly, he had died in 1991.