My Creative Hero: Martin McDonagh

My Creative Hero is a piece about the person who has most influenced or inspired someone creatively. This can be someone from any creative field: Advertising, art, music, game design, sculpture… 

Here, neverland creative's Sam Creedon shares why Martin McDonagh is his creative hero. 

LBB> Who would you say is your creative hero? 

Sam> Hands down – director, playwright and filmmaker, Martin McDonagh.

LBB> How long has Martin been important to you and what are your first memories of meeting him or coming across his work?

Sam> I studied McDonagh at University. First, The Pillowman, then The Hangmen, then before you know it – it snowballed. As a creative writing student, a fair bit of our time was spent getting stuck into plays that quite frankly, failed to grip. 

The years and years of reading tiresome ‘classics’ had left me in state of seemingly irrefutable despair. 

That was until, I met McDonagh. First came the shock, then came the laughs – then what followed could only be described as an overwhelming sense of admiration. 

For me, such an injection of dark humour was unheard of. And one, that clearly stuck with me to this day. 

LBB> How did you go about finding to learn more about him and his work?

It wasn’t long after getting to know the plays of McDonagh before I realised that I appeared to have my head buried under a rock, as I very quickly begin to immerse myself in his work as a filmmaker. 

From there on in, it only got better. From the inimitable In Bruges and The Guard to the equally timeless Seven Psychopaths, and more recently Banshees of Inisherin – McDonagh’s cinema, each one possessing their own microcosm of crazy. 

LBB> Why is Martin such an inspiration to you? 

Sam> McDonagh has an innate ability to effectively balance raw emotion with humour. This is of course, a skill which transcends film and theatre, and one that proves useful in a multitude of mediums – one of course, being advertising. 

It’s certainly something that easier said than done – but the writers of today can learn a heck of a lot from McDonagh. He delivers a powerful message in a brave way and effective way that makes most wince. 

LBB> How does Martin influence you in your approach to your creative work? 

Sam> Pretty much since I started writing– there’s always been an element of McDonagh’s influence in my creative work. An undertone of humour, attention to setting and atmosphere and an embrace of unconventional narratives. 

But again, it’s that small microcosm of crazy which has the biggest influence. Look closely and you’ll see that each of his works contains a bonkers world with its own unhinged rules, limited only by the parameters set by McDonagh himself.

A space where the creativity is unending and the characters, unpredictable. 

Isn’t there something of that in all the stories we tell? Whether we’re writing for TV, for radio, or even for social – the brief might be the brief, but it’s ultimately our job to create an entertaining world consumers want to be a part of, and hopefully, stay for the ride.

LBB> What piece or pieces of his work do you keep coming back to and why?

Sam> I’ve been around the blocks with most of McDonagh’s work, but it would be a sheer lie to imply that I’ve given any more attention than In Bruges. Watched over and over again, it’s the film I just don’t ever seem to get sick off. 

It’s such a special film that’s as captivating as it is uncomfortable. For me, it has it all – dark humour, compelling characters, razor sharp dialogue and strong performances. And let’s not forget how beautiful the whole thing is. 

An absolute must for anyone who hasn’t.