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 (Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus) 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 and 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 parent's 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: ADULT DRAMA

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 com

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2014/mr_140905_drama...
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