Chris ditches his day job to embark on exciting career in the film industry

Chris ditches his day job to embark on exciting career in the film industry

16 August 2017

GLANCING towards the clock most afternoons Chris Heath would ask — is it 3.45 yet?

His day job was working as a healthcare assistant at Knockbracken Healthcare Park and 3.45pm would signal the end of the early shift he worked most days.

In recent years Chris (34) has been combining the day job with his job as an actor and film maker but this week he decided to finally call it quits and concentrate on his first love.

And the clock watching even inspired the name for the Crossgar man’s new venture — 3FortyFive Films.

He said it was what he had intended for the future, but that recent family bereavements were partly why he was doing it now.

“Nine months ago I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s, it was a tough time,” he said. “It was tough to see a strong 

man fade away like that. The last week there I lost my uncle. He was a great character and well loved in the community.

“That’s not the reason I’m doing this but it’s part of the reason.

“Everyone lives for down the road, and does not live for today, working to have something to look forward to. I want to look forward to today.

“Some people might think I’m crazy quitting the job, maybe I am crazy doing this to myself. It’s not that I didn’t like it; the people were lovely and there was more good times than bad times, but I had to leave.

“There’s more to life than being on the hamster wheel so I decided to get off it and pursue my dream. I want to make films. I want to act. I love comedy too.”

The former St Patrick’s Grammar student began his journey with a comedy improvisation class in Crescent Arts Centre and performing stand up at Ricky Tomlinson’s comedy venue in Liverpool. He went on act in the BBC’s Six Degrees, featured in an Ulster Rugby promotion and has produced a number of high profile music videos, including ‘Shop Thy Neighbour’ for Irish punk poet Jinx Lennon.

His new venture will see him making videos for small businesses while he carries on acting. He will also keep the laughs coming online with The Notorious Barrick Boys, whose ‘Game of Moans’ take on Game of Thrones went viral.

“The rival Starks and Lannister clans had a Northern Ireland setting with the Gerry Kelly type figure as Gerry Stark,” he said. “I play William Lannister, the staunch loyalist on the other side of the fence. The actors and directors of Game of Thrones got to see it too and loved it.”

Chris said he now wanted to take all the experience he has gained so far and go even further.

“You used to finish at 3.45pm at Knockbracken and it was a long day. I used to look at my watch and say ‘is it 3.45 yet?’

“Once it was 3.45 I was straight out the door. I was thinking, maybe some day something will happen with my dream, but you have to meet it half way.”

Working in acute admissions at Knockbracken was, however, an insight into the fragility of life, and it’s one he’ll with him.

“That place did make me,” he said. “It also helped with my dad. On my days off I would look after him, which was a privilege. It was the hardest day when he had to receive full-time care. There was no support, nobody really talked about it.”

“But people do not last long in acute admissions. I was there 14 years.”

Reflecting on the choices ahead of him, Chris added: “My parents’ generation were married with families by this stage in my life. My mum was a nursing assistant in the Downshire for 35 years. People just had to do without other things. Now they are exploring other options, such as going to Australia.

“You only have one life so you have to try to do what you want to do. If I don’t do it now I’ll never do it, so hopefully fortune favours the brave.”