Screen Australia today announced almost $360,000 in funding to support 15 filmmaking teams to develop their feature film projects and three new internships. Eight new projects have been added to Screen Australia's development slate, while seven teams will receive continued support to further develop their projects.New projects to receive support include I Am Jack, a drama about school bullying that takes the main character, Jack, and everyone around him to the edge. The script will be based on Susanne Gervay's novel, which she will adapt for the screen, with director Nadia Tass, producer Stephan Wellink and executive producer David Whealy.
Confessions of a Super Man is a horror drama, to be developed by writer/director Angela How and producer Marian Macgowan, about a teenage sociopath who records his violent life via a superhero comic strip.
Writers Jack Brislee, James Nicholas, Karel Segers and Paul Sullivan will be supported to develop their script Long Tan, based on a battle in the Vietnam War in which 108 inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers attempted to hold off an enemy force of 2,500 Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers. Kriv Stenders (Red Dog) is attached to direct with producers Charles Hannah and Martin Walsh and executive producers Meyer Shwarzstein and Peter Wetherell.
Writer Jan Sardi will be supported to develop a new action adventure script, Mulan, with producer Emile Sherman. Writers Josh Reed and Rob Gibson will also be supported to develop their action script Common Foe, with Josh Reed set to direct, and Stephen Chamberlin will be supported to develop his musical feature script Soundtrack with executive producer Michael Birnbaum.
Screen Australia is also pleased to announce three new internships through its Talent Escalator Program. Writer/director Alex Murawski will spend three months in Los Angeles working with director Bruce Beresford on his new production of Bonnie and Clyde. Natalie Lindwall will spend six months as a development producer working across film and television with the award-winning London based company Ecosse Films. Producer Raquelle David will spend six months in Toronto working directly with producer Niv Fichman across the development and production slate at Rhombus Media.
Also through the Talent Escalator Program, Screen Australia will support three directors, Cris Jones, Vicki Sugars and Julietta Boscolo, to travel to the Netherlands to develop their feature projects at the Binger Director Lab.
See below for the full list of announced feature projects in development.
SINGLE-PROJECT DEVELOPMENT: FEATURE DEVELOPMENT
BAD ANGEL
Genre Comedy
Producers Antonia Barnard, Nicholas Cole
Director Kriv Stenders
Writer Shaun Grant
Synopsis The transformation of Angelo d'Angelo, a New York hit man who is unwittingly embraced into the bosom of a simple, rural Australian community. For the first time, Angelo learns that love and family are just as effective as any weapon he's ever known.
COMMON FOE
Genre Action
Producer/Writer Rob Gibson
Writer/Director Josh Reed
CONFESSIONS OF A SUPER MAN
Genre Horror Drama
Producer Marian Macgowan
Writer/Director Angela How
Synopsis Brian, an indulged Australian Chinese teenage sociopath, records his violent life via a superhero comic strip of his own creation. When Brian's desire for his father's mistress ends in their death, his mother acts to finally stop her son.
DOWNRIVER (AKA SCRATCH THE SURFACE)
Genre Thriller Drama
Producer Jannine Barnes
Writer/Director Grant Scicluna
Synopsis Seventeen-year-old James is released from juvenile detention and travels back to the scene of his crime to find the body of the young boy he killed when he was 10.
HALFWAY MOTEL
Genre Psychological Drama
Producer Lyn Norfor
Writer/Director Miranda Nation
I AM JACK
Genre Drama
Producer Stephan Wellink
Executive Producer David Whealy
Writer Susanne Gervay
Director Nadia Tass
Synopsis Jack's a great guy, but school bullying is insidious, taking Jack and everyone around him to the edge.
LONG TAN
Genre Drama
Producers Charles Hannah, Martin Walsh
Executive Producers Meyer Shwarzstein, Peter Wetherell
Writers Jack Brislee, James Nicholas, Karel Segers, Paul Sullivan
Director Kriv Stenders
Synopsis Major Harry Smith and his company of 108 young and mostly inexperienced Australian and New Zealand soldiers hold off an overwhelming enemy force of 2,500 battle-hardened Viet Cong and North Vietnamese soldiers in the Battle of Long Tan.
LOS ALAMOS
Genre Thriller
Producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman
Writer Luke Davies
Synopsis Michael Connolly, a disgraced intelligence operative, enters a labyrinth of secrets and espionage when he arrives at the high-security military base of Los Alamos in Spring, 1945. Sent to investigate a seemingly open-and-shut murder case, Connolly is thrown into the heart of the Manhattan Project and must navigate a path through military protocol, political intrigue and personal agendas in order to uncover the truth in the most secretive place in the world.
MICHAEL
Genre Biopic
Producers Richard Lowenstein, Sue Murray
Executive Producer Domenico Procacci
Writer/Director Richard Lowenstein
Synopsis At the height of his internationally renowned career, a sudden blow to the head robs the famously sensual rock star of two of his most cherished senses. A series of personal battles follows, ending tragically with his death at the age of 37, the night before embarking on a world tour.
MULAN
Genre Action Adventure
Producer Emile Sherman
Writer Jan Sardi
ONE CROWDED HOUR
Genre Biopic
Producer Todd Fellman
Writer Andy Cox
Director Lance Kelleher
Synopsis Legendary combat cameraman Neil Davis spent over 20 years from the early 60s risking his life on the frontlines of Indo-China to capture some of the most powerful and influential images
