Following on from his first time directing a film, Newtownbutler native Kevin Connolly has just completed his second shoot around his home town.

Last year, Kevin shot 'Make your soul grow' in New York, where he currently lives. It was based on the American author, Kurt Vonnegut's letter to a high school shortly before he passed away.

For his second stint at directing, Kevin brought a crew and actors to Newtownbutler as his production company, aptly named – Wattlebridge Productions – created 'Desideratum'.

Desideratum is the Latin word meaning something that is needed or wanted. And around this, Kevin has built his story.

"The plot line is how every Irish town has three secret keepers. The Guards know everything, the priest knows everything, and the doctor knows everything," explained Kevin.

"All are the three secret keepers of the town, so what happens if their moral character is suspect? [There are] characters that need something badly, and it is not for the truth to get out.

"I suppose the whole idea came from us as 10-year-olds, and we were told, 'Here, go in that box there and tell that lad dressed in black everything about yourself'. I used to find that ridiculous."

Leitrim actor Seamus O'Rourke and Galwayman Peter Broderick play gardai, alongside Mark Prendergast as Fr. McDaid, and Kevin Walsh as Dr. Campbell in the play that's set in a fictional Republic of Ireland town.

"I was going to do [set] it in the North, but the PSNI aren’t exactly funny, and the Guards have a wee bit more levity for comedy," Kevin joked.

But alongside the main actors, Kevin was able to call on the help of the local community throughout the shoot, whether it was for the use of the local chapel, primary school or community centre, to small things like getting a pair of trousers, or the right shoes – or providing food and accommodation for the crew and actors.

This in turn made it easier for Kevin and his crew: "Everyone who was supporting us, like friends and family, the community – you never felt like the a*** was going to fall out of it! Someone was always going to help.

"Dad would call the joiner across the street. He helped him tear down the set in the school.

"The woman who is the secretary in the local primary school opened it up, and let us have the run of the place, and then came back and closed it. That support system felt a lot more comfortable."

And some locals contributed on screen as well: "Noah McDonald, who is eight, did a speaking part for us which was great.

"Darragh Kearns did a wee cameo; the Connollys and Denise Chapman. Imagine all these incidentals, shooting in New York – it could double your budget!

"The whole community pitched in, it was kind of surreal. People were happy to do something that wasn’t GAA-related, and wasn’t Troubles-related," he said.

And Kevin's father even got in on the act:. "There's a scene at the end where a [driver performs] a pile of 'donuts' in an abandoned lot, and we needed a stunt driver and my ol' boy turned 70 two weeks ago, and he was the stunt driver going round, doing donuts for us! He got it in one take."

They say it takes a village to raise a child, but for Kevin, Charmaine Tangonan and Kevin Walsh who made the film, it took a whole village to make a movie.

And Kevin – who was hugely appreciative of the help – believes the community effort will have helped to make 'Desideratum' a success.

"I feel good about it, and we have got some good stuff."