![]() ![]() Deadline’s sources say any sizeable indie film who’s shoot bleeds into the SAG-AFTRA talks period will struggle to reach deals with bond companies. SAG-AFTRA members could strike on July 1 if a deal can’t be struck with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Joker star Phoenix and Mara ( Carol), both SAG-AFTRA card carriers, were forced to return home and the film is now in limbo. The Island’s producers found this out the hard way, as they were told the film couldn’t be bonded on the eve of shooting in Spain. His scoop about the shut down of Pawel Pawlikowski’s Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara-starrer The Island revealed a new problem for the indie film sector: bond companies are refusing to insure movies due to impending SAG-AFTRA and DGA action. What a pity that our stay at the Clarion Hotel took the gloss off what, up to then, had been a lovely holiday in beautiful Northern Ireland.Joaquin Phoenix, Rooney Mara and Pawel Pawlikowski Gettyīroken bonds: Andreas broke one of the biggest stories of the year Tuesday. The room was comfortable, the service excellent and the hot breakfast items were cooked to order. Michael lof Carrickfergus suggests that Premier Inns provide a superior service and, having stayed at one in England the following night, on our way home, I must agree. Having been awarded a Certificate of Excellence, is the Clarion Hotel now resting on its laurels? It may be a good venue for cheap wedding packages but standards are beginning to slip on the guest accommodation and service front. By the time a person had wandered around the dining room making up the different elements of their breakfast, the enthusiasm to eat had been lost. The food had, obviously, been sat on the hotplate for some time leaving the bacon very hard and the scrambled egg dry. I can only liken it to a 'works canteen' where everything is self-service, including hot drinks, with very little waitress involvement. Breakfast the next morning did not match up to the standard of food served the previous evening. This did not happen because, like other reviewers, we experienced the noise and antics of, seemingly, uncontrolled children who had been attending a wedding reception in the hotel. Following the meal, which was served and eaten very quickly, we returned to the hotel bar for a quiet drink. The meal we received could not be faulted in any way but, despite this, the whole dining experience was ruined by an extfremely rude and arrogant waiter who did the bare minimum to serve our food. This later led to a dispute I had with the male waiter and from then on the service and atmosphere in the restaurant was extremely cold and unprofessional. I eventually obtained menus from a very young and inexperienced waitress who, obviously, had not been briefed on what we, as special offer guests, were entitled to in the way of menu choices. I then went to the restuarant to collect menus but was totally ignored by an Italian(?) waiter who had seen me but, again, was intent on continuing his conversation with a female 'regular'. On ordering drinks from a female barperson, who seemed more intent on continuing her discussion with a 'regular' customer, I was presented with 2 unopened quarter bottles of wine (one faulty) which I was expected to pour myself. ![]() Prior to our pre-arranged dinner we decided to have a drink in the bar so that we could study the menu. The reception staff were, with a little encouragement, friendly and helpful but the same cannot be said about the bar and restaurant staff. The room we were in didn't have a good view and, because we had to have the windows open, suffered from road noise. The rooms are, generally, very comfortable but are outdated and in need of an upgrade, particularly the bathroom and the 20th Century television. This is a nice hotel in a convenient location but it is being let down by a number of issues which don't, in my opinion, currently warrant its 4 star rating or the Trip Advisor Certificate of Excellence. I have to agree with many of the comments made by a previous reviewer (Michael of Carrickfergus). that we chose to stay at this hotel on the last night of our 10 night trip to Northern Ireland during which time we stayed at 3 hotels of a similar (or higher) star rating all of whom offering the same type of mid-week package but who, unlike the Clarion, all provided faultless service.
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