Media releases - 0 Ten feature film projects to receive development funding

Screen Australia today announced over $276,000 in funding to support the development of 10 feature film projects. Seven new projects have been added to Screen Australia's development slate, while three teams will receive continued support to further develop their projects.

The new projects to receive development support include The Grip from writer Tony Briggs (The Sapphires), a comedy drama about five young Australian businessmen who discover the secret to winning the pokies and develop Robin Hood like reputations. David Field is attached as director. Purely Business is a new comedy romance in development from writer David Hely with director Rowan Woods and producer Mark Forstmann.

Following on from their last feature Wish You Were Here, writer Felicity Price and director Kieran Darcy-Smith will be supported to develop their new untitled thriller.

The Decayed is a new thriller in development from director Grant Sputore and writer Michael Lloyd Green which will be produced by Sue Taylor with executive producer Edward Saxon. Writer/director Simon Portus will develop his psychological thriller Dog Eat Dog with producer David Curzon and executive producer Ashley Luke.

Producer/writer/directors Amiel Courtin-Wilson and Michael Cody have been supported to develop their new feature script Om Tuk, a metaphysical road movie through the cities and jungles of modern-day Asia.

Kate Mulvany will also be supported to develop her stage play The Seed for the screen with producer Nicole O'Donohue.

Projects to receive continued feature development support are included in the project details listed below.

SINGLE-PROJECT DEVELOPMENT: FEATURE DEVELOPMENT

B MODEL

Genre Drama

Producer Louise Smith

Writers Rachel Griffiths, Samantha Strauss

Director Rachel Griffiths

BUTTERFLY STING (AKA METAMORPHOSIS)

Genre Psychological Thriller

Producer David Elfick

Writers Kristine Wyld

Synopsis Scientist Susan Wang disguises herself to gain prison access to her sister's killer and dispense her own form of justice.

THE DECAYED

Genre Thriller

Producer Sue Taylor

Executive Producer Edward Saxon

Writer Michael Lloyd Green

Director Grant Sputore

Synopsis In the early 20th century, a plague that targets middle-aged adults ravages the Australian countryside, cutting human life expectancy in half. Some of those infected cling to governmental promises of a cure - a vaccine divvied out by lottery; others resort to less savoury methods of survival - transfusing the clean' blood of children. Enter Doyle, a plague-stricken war vet whose winning lottery ticket is stolen, placing him in the middle of a dilemma.

DOG EAT DOG

Genre Psychological Thriller

Producer David Curzon

Executive Producer Ashley Luke

Writer/Director Simon Portus

Synopsis Sam Person's ideals of family life in the country are torn apart by a series of wild dog attacks. When the local authorities prove ineffective, moral boundaries begin to blur and Sam takes the law into his own hands. As the situation spirals out of control paranoia takes hold and Sam finds himself forced to question everything he has previously taken for granted.

THE GRIP

Genre Comedy Drama

Writer Tony Briggs

Director David Field

Synopsis In 1965, five young Australian businessmen from New South Wales discover the secret to winning with the pokies. Reaping huge rewards they generously spread their wealth to other poor punters receiving Robin Hood reputations and the wrath of the gaming world.

OM TUK

Genre Romance

Producer/Writer/Directors Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Michael Cody

Synopsis A brutal and beautiful portrait of trauma and transcendent love - a metaphysical road movie through the cities and jungles of modern-day Asia.

PURELY BUSINESS

Genre Comedy Romance

Producer Mark Forstmann

Writer David Hely

Director Rowan Woods

Synopsis A workaholic female executive, vying for a promotion, hires a male escort for much needed stress relief and passes him off at work as her boyfriend to demonstrate she has a life.

THE SEED

Genre Biopic

Producer Nicole O'Donohue

Writer Kate Mulvany

Synopsis Based on a real-life story, a young Australian woman accompanies her Vietnam veteran father on an overseas trip to meet her grandfather, only to discover a garden of long-buried familial secrets. Based on the stage play by Kate Mulvany.

UNTITLED THRILLER

Genre Psychological Thriller

Writer Felicity Price

Director Kieran Darcy-Smith

Synopsis Social misfit Vincent holds a flame for sweetly charming 17-year-old Amber. But when his fragile hopes are crushed he acts impulsively, kidnapping her and locking her in his basement. The schoolgirl embarks on a dangerous game of seduction in a desperate attempt to flee, but what she doesn't reckon on is Vincent's strange sister and the dark past they share.

SINGLE-PROJECT DEVELOPMENT: FEATURE MATCHED FUNDING

FRIENDS UPSTAIRS

Genre Drama

Producers Julie Baines, Ray Quint

Writer Steve Wright

Director Ray Quint

Synopsis When three old friends - all in their fifties - set out on a voyage of self-discovery they are reminded of who they were and what might have been and find themselves reigniting long-held passions.

Media Enquiries

Teri Calder T: 02 8113 5833; M: 0408 440 995

teri.calder@screenaustralia.gov.au

LINK:	http://www.screenaustralia.gov.au/news_and_events/2013/mr_130304_devel...
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