Shadowing Practice: Cillian Murphy & Brendan Gleeson - Irish interview for Perrier's Bounty - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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by asking what was it that attracted you to this movie per ofie um well uh it was it was the script
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by asking what was it that attracted you to this movie per ofie um well uh it was it was the script
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really it was the the the the words on the page you know uh I'd made a film that Mark Maro wrote called intermission a few years ago and uh you know I love
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his writing and so he talked to me about this back then and then the script arrived and I was very taken with it you know it was sort of dark and funny and
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weird and and um but I knew that you know he that Ian would be able to get a brilliant cast together so and it came together really really quickly in the
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end and yourself yeah same as that the words of the page you know they just jump out and I liked his work anyway I mean I hadn't worked with you know on on
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any of the macro stuff but it uh you know you just you just know when stuff is well constructed and well put together so yeah it was fun the
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character was kind of a blast so I said I wanted to get in touch with my psycho self again and uh so that yeah I didn't know how the time scale was going to worry
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out that work out that was the only problem and they worked out really well and just because you mentioned intermission there obviously there's been a lot of films recently in in Ireland that have concentrated in duin
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and the urban space that is is duin um kisses for example and intermission and films like that what is it that you think that makes duin work as a kind of urban space on
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film well uh I think you know you know it's the the movement has been um for cities to get bigger and bigger and bigger so like Millions upon
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Millions upon millions of people are living in cities and so therefore you're talking it is the universal language before I think even you know the rural the rural was what might have been
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called the ordinary I think now Suburbia is the norm and it's something that's been happening in film and in plays I remember doing with the passion machine like Paul Mercer and Rod doy and people
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like that he was concentrating on the Suburban reality that was neither the you know cosm City Center or out in the
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mushy luscious green kind of you know Hills of wherever uh so I think I think it's not just um Dublin in fact a lot of
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this movie was shot in London um but I think that sort of area that's that's just in where most people actually lives and then you go down the back
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Lanes where not everybody chooses to go at night H and you have a very interesting kind of a uh gloomy slightly dangerous place and this is your fourth
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or fifth film working together I think at this stage you obviously had 28 Days Later and breakfast and Pluto um does it get easier working together or how does
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it different Jee I mean it just seems to get worse every time it does yeah just it's got to be the last time you know I know at least the time before like brex
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and Pluto I was kind of in a very large suit I actually didn't have to look at him very much I know it's been great and hopefully we'll do it again you know
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very soon um so no it was great and actually just working with the whole clatter of them in this film you know conningham and all the rest of them um
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you just kind of felt it's the kind of stuff I want to do that's basically with Jim how was that great uh he's well I'd worked him before very briefly but we didn't have much to
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get on screen and gang's New York and he's he's just superb he's got um you know fantastic comic timing we're just talking about it earlier but it's also
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he's got a kind of a Humanity he just appears and immediately your heart is broken for him for some reason uh he just has he just communicates um such
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Humanity I think people appetize him immedately you have tips from him for the the Irish accent that he was coming up Killian told him that nobody talks like
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that nobody uses those words really do it's quite heightened um but I know it's a beautiful performance he gives in it you
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know and as brenon says you can't help but just adore him even though my character is intensely irritated by him but yet you can see that there's a there's a love there between the two of
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them and that's another great thing about the film like IT addresses that father son that complex relationship to Father and Sons have uh particularly this one where it's being aranged and
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kind of fractured and then they you know he it reconciles and resolves towards the end of the film in in a in a nice
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sad way and just to talk about someone else that was on screen with you a lot the dogs how was that like you have to be an animal lover obviously to deal with them I think you should really ask
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the dogs it's the dogs I felt sorry for they were great they were great they were very good they got knackered at about 3:00 in the morning that was the only problem with them just on to liay
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down and had enough of show Showbiz but um no they were brilliant they were great great Savages yeah and um you yourself you've had right year you've
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had the ammy win obviously and then the nomination for um secret life Cals was that a surprise to you at all or were you very happy with that uh I was very
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surprised about um I was very surprised when I heard the secret of KS um because not because I was surprised because the nature of the work the quality of the
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work is such that uh of course I didn't but I it was one of those I completely lost sight of it I wasn't even thinking about it the next thing I got this text and I was absolutely over the moon about
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that I have to say um and I think it just shows you like it gets such bad press you know and all the rest of it um the Oscars and there so much you know schmalz and rubbish and politics and
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everything that people talk about but actually you know over there there is a real kind of conscientious search for for good stuff and the fact that they found it and that they brought it in
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mean to get in Academy Award a nomination in animation which is so labor intensive so expensive and needs such kind of ambition to make happen uh
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I just thought it was absolutely brilliant achievement I can't really proud of them and really and really proud of the whole the fact that the academy went and saw it and took it and
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brought it over there and showcased it you know so yeah it's been a great year that way and next up is your directorial debut I believe hope so yeah hope so that coming along now it's I'm trying if
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I can lose Killian out of the film I think we might we might have a chance of making it yeah you've got a big cast for that and who else is yeah it is well I mean col and TL and Gabriel burn and a
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whole crowd of people like Damon Mor's and all that we did a table reading about three years ago um it's that long ago now when we're just trying to you know developing the script and there
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were four generations of Irish actors at the table and it was one of the best days I ever spent quite nerve-wracking up to a point but then fantastically enjoyable so uh if we can get that
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actually working on a SAT I'd be I'd be over the moon and Kaden what's next for you uh I have film called Inception it
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comes out in July um so and uh just kind of reading stuff now and seeing what what lies around the corner really can you give us any spoilers about inception
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no I I couldn't possibly no it's worth it'll be worth the wait I think and it'll be worth not really knowing I think uh because it should be should be
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quite special I hope anyway perfect okay that's everything I have for you guys thanks cheers
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About This Lesson

Dive into an engaging conversation with renowned Irish actors Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson as they discuss their film Perrier's Bounty, their collaborative working relationship, and other exciting projects like Inception. This authentic interview offers a fantastic opportunity for English speaking practice by exposing you to natural, unscripted dialogue between native speakers.

In this lesson, you'll gain valuable listening comprehension skills, learn how native speakers express opinions and recount experiences, and familiarize yourself with conversational English. Pay attention to how they use informal expressions and discuss topics ranging from film production and acting processes to the urban landscape of Dublin. Practicing with this video is an excellent step towards boosting your overall English fluency.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • Taken with it: To be very impressed or charmed by something. ("I was very taken with it, you know.")
  • A blast: An extremely fun or enjoyable experience, or a very exciting character/person. ("The character was kind of a blast.")
  • Get in touch with my psycho self: A humorous way to say to explore or connect with a darker, more intense aspect of one's personality for a role. ("I said I wanted to get in touch with my psycho self again.")
  • Over the moon: Extremely happy or delighted. ("I was absolutely over the moon about that.")
  • Lost sight of it: To forget about something or lose track of it. ("I completely lost sight of it; I wasn't even thinking about it.")
  • A clatter of them: An informal Irish expression meaning a group or collection of many people or things. ("Working with the whole clatter of them in this film.")
  • Your heart is broken for him: To feel immense sympathy, pity, or sadness for someone. ("Immediately your heart is broken for him for some reason.")
  • Couldn't possibly: Absolutely unable to do something, often used to politely refuse or indicate strong impossibility. ("Can you give us any spoilers about Inception? No, I couldn't possibly.")

Practice Tips for This Video

To maximize your learning from this video and enhance your English speaking practice, consider these specific tips:

  • Shadowing Technique Focus: This video is ideal for practicing the shadowing technique. Both Cillian Murphy and Brendan Gleeson speak at a natural, conversational pace, which is perfect for trying to mimic their rhythm, stress, and intonation. Start by listening carefully, then try to speak along with them, focusing on matching their speed and delivery.
  • Pronunciation Practice (Irish Accent): This is a fantastic opportunity for pronunciation practice, specifically with Irish accents. Pay close attention to the unique sounds, vowel pronunciations, and melodic patterns common in Irish English. Don't worry about perfecting it, but try to identify and imitate the distinct elements.
  • Listen for Nuance: The actors discuss their feelings about working together and specific aspects of filmmaking. Listen for how they use pauses, emphasis, and subtle changes in tone to convey emotion and deeper meaning. This will greatly improve your ability to understand native English speakers and express yourself more naturally.
  • Context for IELTS Speaking: If you're preparing for IELTS speaking, this video offers excellent exposure to discussions about film, culture, and personal experiences. Practice summarizing their points or formulating your own opinions on the topics they cover, such as the appeal of Dublin as a film setting or the challenges of animation.
  • Focus on Connective Language: Notice how they connect their thoughts and transition between ideas using common English fillers and discourse markers (e.g., "you know," "well, uh," "I think"). Incorporating these into your own speech will make you sound more fluent and natural.

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

How to Practice Effectively on ShadowingEnglish

  1. Choose your video: Pick a YouTube video with clear, natural English speech. TED Talks, BBC News, movie scenes, podcasts, or IELTS sample answers all work great. Paste the URL into the search bar. Start with shorter videos (under 5 minutes) and content you find genuinely interesting — motivation matters.
  2. Listen first, understand the context: On your first pass, keep the speed at 1x and just listen. Don't try to repeat yet. Focus on understanding the meaning, picking up new vocabulary, and noticing how the speaker stresses words, links sounds, and uses pauses.
  3. Set up Shadowing mode:
    • Wait Mode: Choose +3s or +5s — after each sentence plays, the video pauses automatically so you have time to repeat it out loud. Choose Manual if you want full control and press Next yourself after each repetition.
    • Sub Sync: YouTube subtitles sometimes appear slightly ahead or behind the audio. Use ±100ms to align them perfectly so you can follow along accurately.
  4. Shadow out loud (the core practice): This is where the real work happens. As soon as a sentence plays — or during the pause — repeat it out loud, clearly and confidently. Don't just mouth the words: mirror the speaker's exact rhythm, stress, pitch, and connected speech. Aim to sound like a shadow of the speaker, not just a word-by-word recitation. Use the Repeat feature to drill the same sentence multiple times until it feels natural.
  5. Scale up the challenge: Once a passage feels comfortable, push your limits. Increase speed to <code>1.25x</code> or even <code>1.5x</code> to train high-speed language reflexes. Or set Wait Mode to <code>Off</code> for continuous shadowing — the most advanced and rewarding mode. Consistent daily practice of 15–30 minutes will produce noticeable results within weeks.

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