Laughter, tears and fears – Screen Australia supports a range of original stories
Screen Australia today announced production support of close to $965,000 for four projects, estimated to generate more than $6.8 million of production activity.
Fiona Cameron, Screen Australia’s Chief Operating Officer, said, “This round we have backed a diverse collection of projects that promises audiences an amusing, informative and imaginative experience with innovative narratives and vivid characters.”
Funding was allocated to Madman Productions for their charming and witty feature A Month of Sundays from acclaimed writer/director Matthew Saville (Felony, Noise, The Slap, Cloudstreet) and producers Nick Batzias and Kirsty Stark. The film follows real estate agent Frank Mollard (played by Anthony LaPaglia), whose life takes an unexpected turn when he receives a call from his dead mother, sending him on a journey of redemption.
WildBear Entertainment will receive completion funding for Electric Boogaloo: The Wild Untold Story of Cannon Films, a hilarious film about two movie-obsessed immigrant cousins (Yoram Globus and the late Menahem Golan) who gate-crashed Hollywood’s party, ran an indie studio that became the by-word for schlock, and nearly took over the industry in the process. The theatrical documentary was written and directed by acclaimed cult film documentarian and award-winning filmmaker Mark Hartley (Not Quite Hollywood,Machete Maidens Unleashed!) and produced by Veronica Fury and Brett Ratner. It is set to feature at the Toronto International Film Festival in Midnight Madness next week.
Completion funding has also been allocated to Guerilla Films for their zombie genre feature Wyrmwood. The film follows Barry, a talented mechanic and family man whose life is torn apart on the eve of a zombie apocalypse, as he battles hordes of undead to find his missing sister in the Australian bushland. Brothers Kiah Roache-Turner(writer/director) and Tristan Roache-Turner (writer/producer) teamed up to make the dynamic horror film that has already secured invitations from Fantastic Fest, Sitges International Fantasy and Horror Film Festival and Busan International Film Festival.
Unicorn Films, Taylor Media and Gecko Films will receive funding for their feature Looking for Grace. The film is about a young girl who runs away from home, and in her parents’ pursuit to get her back they enlist the help of a retired detective – for all involved, life as they know it is gone for good. The drama will be written and directed by Sue Brooks(Japanese Story) and produced by Lizzette Atkins, Sue Taylor and Alison Tilson, with an ensemble cast including Richard Roxburgh, Radha Mitchell, Terry Norris and Odessa Young.
In addition, Screen Australia is pleased to announce production investment support to Playmaker Media for the second series of Love Child, resulting from the previous Board meeting. The second series returns audiences to the heart of Kings Cross in the 1970s where Joan Millar, now a qualified obstetrician, and the young mothers continue to fight for their rights, for self-empowerment and each other in a fast-changing world. The television drama series for the Nine Network will bring together writers Jane Allen, Tim Pye, Cathy Strickland, Tamara Asmar and Chris McCourt, producers Tom Hoffie and Tim Pye, and directors Shawn Seet, Geoff Bennett and Lynn-Maree Danzey.
FEATURE FILMS: PRODUCTION FUNDING
A MONTH OF SUNDAYS
Madman Production Company Pty Ltd
Producers Nick Batzias, Kirsty Stark
Executive Producer Paul Wiegard
Writer/Director Matthew Saville
Australian Distributor Madman Entertainment
International Sales Voltage Pictures
Cast Anthony LaPaglia
Synopsis Everyone deserves a second chance. Even a real estate agent. Frank Mollard’s life takes an unexpected turn for the better when he receives a phone call from his dead mother.
LOOKING FOR GRACE
Unicorn Films, Taylor Media, Gecko Films
Producers Lizzette Atkins, Sue Taylor, Alison Tilson
Writer/Director Sue Brooks
Australian Distributor Palace Films
International Sales Fortissimo
Cast Richard Roxburgh, Radha Mitchell, Terry Norris, Odessa Young
Synopsis When Grace runs away from home, she and her family have no idea that life as they know it is gone for good.
THEATRICAL DOCUMENTARY: COMPLETION FUNDING
ELECTRIC BOOGALOO: THE WILD UNTOLD STORY OF CANNON FILMS
WildBear Entertainment Pty Ltd
Producers Veronica Fury, Brett Ratner
Writer/Director Mark Hartley
Australian Distributor Umbrella Entertainment
International Sales RatPac Documentary Films, Celluloid Dreams, Mongrel Media
Cast Dolph Lundgren, Molly Ringwald, Elliot Gould, Bo Derek, Richard Chamberlain, Just Jaeckin, Franco Nero
Synopsis Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films is a hilarious thrill ride through the bowels of Hollywood’s least-loved indie film studio – where quality was a happy accident!
FEATURE FILM: COMPLETION FUNDING
WYRMWOOD
Guerilla Films Pty Ltd
Producer Tristan Roache-Turner
Executive Producer Jamie Hilton
Director Kiah Roache-Turner
Writers Kiah Roache-Turner, Tristan Roache-Turner
Australian Distributor Studio Canal
International Sales Altitude Film Sales
North American Sales XYZ International Sales
Cast Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradey, Leon Burchill, Berynn Schwerdt, Keith Agius, Luke McKenzie
Synopsis Barry’s life is torn apart on the eve of a zombie apocalypse as he battles hordes of undead to find his missing sister in the Australian bushland.
TELEVISION DRAMA: PRODUCTION FUNDING
LOVE CHILD SERIES 2
Playmaker Media Pty Ltd
Producers Tom Hoffie, Tim Pye
Executive Producers David Taylor, David Maher, Sue Seeary
Writers Jane Allen, Tim Pye, Cathy Strickland, Tamara Asmar, Chris McCourt
Directors Shawn Seet, Geoff Bennett, Lynn-Maree Danzey
Broadcaster Nine Network
Distributor All 3 Media
Synopsis It’s 1970 and Joan Millar, now a qualified obstetrician, and the young mothers we have come to love are back in the heart of Kings Cross fighting for their rights, for self-empowerment and for each other in a fast-changing world.
