Kate Mulvany. (Photo: Amelia Dowd)
Kate Mulvany and John Howard have joined the cast of The Merger, a comedy/drama which will star Damian Callinan.
Callinan has written the script based on his one-man show about a country football coach who hatches an unorthodox plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently-settled asylum seekers.
Mulvany will play the mother of Neil, an inquisitive, mischievous nine-year-old who is mourning the death of his father.
Howard will portray the cantankerous former boss of the long-closed local steelworks who resents the presence of the asylum seekers.
Callinan is Troy Carrington, a former professional football player who returns to his country town after an abrupt end to his sporting career and is persuaded to coach the hapless local footy team, the Roosters.
Shooting is due to start in Wagga Wagga in October, produced by Anne Robinson and directed by Mark Grentell, the...
Kate Mulvany and John Howard have joined the cast of The Merger, a comedy/drama which will star Damian Callinan.
Callinan has written the script based on his one-man show about a country football coach who hatches an unorthodox plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently-settled asylum seekers.
Mulvany will play the mother of Neil, an inquisitive, mischievous nine-year-old who is mourning the death of his father.
Howard will portray the cantankerous former boss of the long-closed local steelworks who resents the presence of the asylum seekers.
Callinan is Troy Carrington, a former professional football player who returns to his country town after an abrupt end to his sporting career and is persuaded to coach the hapless local footy team, the Roosters.
Shooting is due to start in Wagga Wagga in October, produced by Anne Robinson and directed by Mark Grentell, the...
- 6/15/2017
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Damian Callinan..
With production funding from Screen Australia and Create Nsw, comedian Damian Callinan will adapt his live act into a feature, The Merger.
The film reunites writer and actor Callinan with the team behind 2014 comedy Backyard Ashes, producer Anne Robinson and director Mark Grentell.
The Merger will follow a country football coach who has a plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently settled asylum seekers. It's an adaptation of Callinan.s 2009 live show, which toured nationally for six years and earned him nominations for the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the West Australian Editors. Choice Award at Perth Fringe.
.The live version of.The Merger,.which has toured every nook of the nation, used empathy to simplify the confusion over the refugee issue and was well received by audiences of all ilks,. said Callinan.and Grentell in a joint statement. .We are...
With production funding from Screen Australia and Create Nsw, comedian Damian Callinan will adapt his live act into a feature, The Merger.
The film reunites writer and actor Callinan with the team behind 2014 comedy Backyard Ashes, producer Anne Robinson and director Mark Grentell.
The Merger will follow a country football coach who has a plan to rebuild the local football team by recruiting recently settled asylum seekers. It's an adaptation of Callinan.s 2009 live show, which toured nationally for six years and earned him nominations for the Barry Award at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and the West Australian Editors. Choice Award at Perth Fringe.
.The live version of.The Merger,.which has toured every nook of the nation, used empathy to simplify the confusion over the refugee issue and was well received by audiences of all ilks,. said Callinan.and Grentell in a joint statement. .We are...
- 5/29/2017
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
Five established filmmakers have come together to create new Australian production company Bonafide Pictures..
Writer-director-actors Serhat Caradee (Cedar Boys) and Daniel Krige (West) have joined forces with producers Anne Robinson (West, Backyard Ashes), Tim Maddocks (Terminus) and Liz Burton (Cedar Boys) to develop content for local and international markets under the Bonafide banner.
The company is currently in development on both long and short-form projects for the big screen as well as TV, including advertising and corporate videos..
.Having known each other for a while, we all share the same drive and passion for wanting to tell entertaining and engaging stories that say something about our world, so it made sense to join forces and pool our resources., the team said in a statement..
Currently they have nine feature films in development, plus three TV series, two documentaries and two web series..
The team is also aiming to nurture up-and-coming filmmakers through industry attachments,...
Writer-director-actors Serhat Caradee (Cedar Boys) and Daniel Krige (West) have joined forces with producers Anne Robinson (West, Backyard Ashes), Tim Maddocks (Terminus) and Liz Burton (Cedar Boys) to develop content for local and international markets under the Bonafide banner.
The company is currently in development on both long and short-form projects for the big screen as well as TV, including advertising and corporate videos..
.Having known each other for a while, we all share the same drive and passion for wanting to tell entertaining and engaging stories that say something about our world, so it made sense to join forces and pool our resources., the team said in a statement..
Currently they have nine feature films in development, plus three TV series, two documentaries and two web series..
The team is also aiming to nurture up-and-coming filmmakers through industry attachments,...
- 5/8/2016
- by Staff Writer
- IF.com.au
After their successful collaboration on Backyard Ashes, the producers and Umbrella Entertainment are teaming up on another sports-themed comedy with a topical, dramatic twist.
Set in the fictional country town Bodgy Creek, The Merger will follow a struggling Afl club which enlists newly-settled asylum seekers to make up the numbers in a desperate effort to break a 27-game losing streak.
The screenplay by Damian Callinan is adapted from his one-man stage show which toured Australia and was nominated for a Barry award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2010.
Callinan, who will play the team.s captain coach in the film, delighted attendees at last week.s Australian International Movie Convention, with routines from the show.
Mark Grentell will direct and produce with Callinan and Anne Robinson. Grentell tells If, .It.s a comedy but there are some intense and dramatic scenes dealing with racism, asylum seekers and life in a small town.
Set in the fictional country town Bodgy Creek, The Merger will follow a struggling Afl club which enlists newly-settled asylum seekers to make up the numbers in a desperate effort to break a 27-game losing streak.
The screenplay by Damian Callinan is adapted from his one-man stage show which toured Australia and was nominated for a Barry award at the Melbourne Comedy Festival in 2010.
Callinan, who will play the team.s captain coach in the film, delighted attendees at last week.s Australian International Movie Convention, with routines from the show.
Mark Grentell will direct and produce with Callinan and Anne Robinson. Grentell tells If, .It.s a comedy but there are some intense and dramatic scenes dealing with racism, asylum seekers and life in a small town.
- 10/20/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Richard Moore has departed as Umbrella Entertainment.s theatrical distribution manager as the distributor reassess its approach to theatrical acquisitions.
Umbrella.s founder Jeff Harrison tells If, .We will still invest in theatrical films but are looking at things more carefully..
Like other independent distributors, Umbrella has grappled with a marked downturn in the market for indie films in the past two years as many Us, UK and foreign-language films have struggled to secure and to hold on to screens.
A former director of the Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festivals, Moore spent the two past years at Umbrella working on titles including The Babadook, Backyard Ashes, When the Queen Came to Town, Words and Pictures, The Last Impresario and The Crossing.
Harrison frets that young people only go to cinemas now to see tentpoles and that quality films such as Nightcrawler,. Boyhood and Sony's Whiplash. are not resonating with mainstream audiences.
Umbrella.s founder Jeff Harrison tells If, .We will still invest in theatrical films but are looking at things more carefully..
Like other independent distributors, Umbrella has grappled with a marked downturn in the market for indie films in the past two years as many Us, UK and foreign-language films have struggled to secure and to hold on to screens.
A former director of the Brisbane and Melbourne International Film Festivals, Moore spent the two past years at Umbrella working on titles including The Babadook, Backyard Ashes, When the Queen Came to Town, Words and Pictures, The Last Impresario and The Crossing.
Harrison frets that young people only go to cinemas now to see tentpoles and that quality films such as Nightcrawler,. Boyhood and Sony's Whiplash. are not resonating with mainstream audiences.
- 1/4/2015
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
In a sign of the rising volume of film production, 25 features are eligible for the 4th annual Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (Aacta) Awards in January.
That.s up from the 15 titles that were in contention for last January.s awards.
The contenders include Russell Crowe.s The Water Diviner, Julius Avery.s Son of a Gun, Stephen Lance.s My Mistress, Tony Mahony and Angus Sampson.s The Mule, Geoff Davis. William Kelly.s War and Jon Hewitt.s Turkey Shoot. Those titles will be among those unspooling at. the Aacta Awards Screenings program to be held from October 6-23 at Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction, and Melbourne.s Palace Cinema Como and Backlot Studios.
Universal is launching The Water Diviner on Boxing Day.. Son of a Gun is set for October 16 via eOne, Ifm/Filmways is releasing William Kelly's War on October 30 and Transmission opens My Mistress...
That.s up from the 15 titles that were in contention for last January.s awards.
The contenders include Russell Crowe.s The Water Diviner, Julius Avery.s Son of a Gun, Stephen Lance.s My Mistress, Tony Mahony and Angus Sampson.s The Mule, Geoff Davis. William Kelly.s War and Jon Hewitt.s Turkey Shoot. Those titles will be among those unspooling at. the Aacta Awards Screenings program to be held from October 6-23 at Event Cinemas, Bondi Junction, and Melbourne.s Palace Cinema Como and Backlot Studios.
Universal is launching The Water Diviner on Boxing Day.. Son of a Gun is set for October 16 via eOne, Ifm/Filmways is releasing William Kelly's War on October 30 and Transmission opens My Mistress...
- 9/16/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Barring a break-out hit or at least several strong performers, the B.O. total of Australian films this calendar year is highly unlikely to match 2013.s $38.5 million.
Through last Sunday, 34 local films have racked up $16.03 million nationwide. That includes mostly small amounts earned this year by 19 titles that opened in 2013 or earlier.
While the local B.O. results should not be seen as the sole yardstick of any film.s global performance, the industry would have expected stronger ticket sales for David Michôd.s The Rover and last week.s opener, Zak Hilditch.s These Final Hours, while Rhys Graham.s Galore also underperformed.
Rolf de Heer Charlie.s Country is tracking below Tracker, his first collaboration with David Gulpilil, which grossed $818,000 in 2002. Ten Canoes, the second of the .trilogy,. is the highest-earner of de Heer.s career, making $3.5 million in 2006.
Only The Railway Man (which opened on Boxing Day...
Through last Sunday, 34 local films have racked up $16.03 million nationwide. That includes mostly small amounts earned this year by 19 titles that opened in 2013 or earlier.
While the local B.O. results should not be seen as the sole yardstick of any film.s global performance, the industry would have expected stronger ticket sales for David Michôd.s The Rover and last week.s opener, Zak Hilditch.s These Final Hours, while Rhys Graham.s Galore also underperformed.
Rolf de Heer Charlie.s Country is tracking below Tracker, his first collaboration with David Gulpilil, which grossed $818,000 in 2002. Ten Canoes, the second of the .trilogy,. is the highest-earner of de Heer.s career, making $3.5 million in 2006.
Only The Railway Man (which opened on Boxing Day...
- 8/7/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Producer-director Stanley Joseph is aiming to bridge the cultural gap between India and Australia by making mainstream films shot in both countries.
The Indian-born founder of World Pictures Australia is preparing to launch My Cornerstone, a romantic comedy which explores multiculturalism and spiritual faith, in Australia in late September.
It stars 24 year-old Indian-Australian Zenia Starr as an Indian nurse who moves to Sydney where she's hired to care for the ailing matriarch of a wealthy Indian-Australian family.
New Zealand-born, Sydney-based writer-actor James Morcan, who wrote the screenplay based on Joseph.s story, plays an enigmatic neighbour named Chris who enters her life. The film was shot in Mumbai and Sydney, with 90% of the dialogue in English, the rest in Hindi.
Reel to Deal Pictures, a newly-formed New Zealand-based distributor, will launch the film on 16-18 screens in Australia, Joseph tells If.
Via sales agents the film will be released theatrically...
The Indian-born founder of World Pictures Australia is preparing to launch My Cornerstone, a romantic comedy which explores multiculturalism and spiritual faith, in Australia in late September.
It stars 24 year-old Indian-Australian Zenia Starr as an Indian nurse who moves to Sydney where she's hired to care for the ailing matriarch of a wealthy Indian-Australian family.
New Zealand-born, Sydney-based writer-actor James Morcan, who wrote the screenplay based on Joseph.s story, plays an enigmatic neighbour named Chris who enters her life. The film was shot in Mumbai and Sydney, with 90% of the dialogue in English, the rest in Hindi.
Reel to Deal Pictures, a newly-formed New Zealand-based distributor, will launch the film on 16-18 screens in Australia, Joseph tells If.
Via sales agents the film will be released theatrically...
- 7/17/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Responding to criticism about the cost of submitting films for the Aacta Awards, the AFI has cut the entry fee for shorts - but the fees for features are unchanged.
In another initiative to widen the eligibility of titles that can compete in the features categories, films that did not have a conventional cinema release can be submitted for pre-selection.
The AFI believes this concession could apply to as many as 10 films that have had or are planning a less traditional release strategy, including Sarah Spillane.s Around the Block, Mark Grentell.s Backyard Ashes, Aaron Wilson.s Canopy and David Field and George Basha.s Convict.
Features that have been released on VOD platforms and on DVD and had at least one festival or event screening in at least three Sates can be submitted for pre-selection.
However in a change from previous years, entries will only be accepted from Aacta members.
In another initiative to widen the eligibility of titles that can compete in the features categories, films that did not have a conventional cinema release can be submitted for pre-selection.
The AFI believes this concession could apply to as many as 10 films that have had or are planning a less traditional release strategy, including Sarah Spillane.s Around the Block, Mark Grentell.s Backyard Ashes, Aaron Wilson.s Canopy and David Field and George Basha.s Convict.
Features that have been released on VOD platforms and on DVD and had at least one festival or event screening in at least three Sates can be submitted for pre-selection.
However in a change from previous years, entries will only be accepted from Aacta members.
- 5/18/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Riding high on the unexpected success of his debut film Backyard Ashes, writer- director Mark Grentell next plans to tackle a comedy about a struggling Aussie Rules team in a bush town.
The film is based on The Merger, Damian Callinan.s one-man show in which he played all the characters. Callinan is set to play the lead, Troy Carrington, the coach of the fictitious Bodgy Creek Roosters Football Club.
Desperately short of men and faced with the prospect of the team folding or merging with its arch rivals, Troy has the bright idea of recruiting players from the local asylum seekers. refuge centre.
.It.s very funny,. says Grentell, who cast Callinan as Spock in Backyard Ashes, the comedy set in Wagga Wagga about two neighbours who settle their differences with a bizarre game of backyard cricket, featuring Felix Williamson, John Wood, Andrew S. Gilbert and Rebecca Massey.
Callinan is a stand-up comic,...
The film is based on The Merger, Damian Callinan.s one-man show in which he played all the characters. Callinan is set to play the lead, Troy Carrington, the coach of the fictitious Bodgy Creek Roosters Football Club.
Desperately short of men and faced with the prospect of the team folding or merging with its arch rivals, Troy has the bright idea of recruiting players from the local asylum seekers. refuge centre.
.It.s very funny,. says Grentell, who cast Callinan as Spock in Backyard Ashes, the comedy set in Wagga Wagga about two neighbours who settle their differences with a bizarre game of backyard cricket, featuring Felix Williamson, John Wood, Andrew S. Gilbert and Rebecca Massey.
Callinan is a stand-up comic,...
- 1/29/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
An analysis of the Australian films released in cinemas in 2013 makes for grim reading, with a handful of critical and/or commercial successes outnumbered by misfires and under-achievers.
On the positive side, the debut films from directors Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Catriona McKenzie (Satellite Boy) and Mark Grentell (Backyard Ashes) unearthed talent with plenty of potential.
The year ended on a strong note with the Boxing Day launch of Jonathan Teplitzy.s The Railway Man, which ranks as the second-highest local grosser behind Baz Luhrmann.s The Great Gatsby, which amassed $27.4 million to become the fifth-biggest Australian title of all time.
Tellingly, the drama starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman raked in more money in its first week than the lifetime earnings of every other title. According to If.s estimate, the combined B.O. tally of the 26 local films and documentaries is $38.88 million, well short of 2012.s $47.9 million.
Only...
On the positive side, the debut films from directors Kim Mordaunt (The Rocket), Catriona McKenzie (Satellite Boy) and Mark Grentell (Backyard Ashes) unearthed talent with plenty of potential.
The year ended on a strong note with the Boxing Day launch of Jonathan Teplitzy.s The Railway Man, which ranks as the second-highest local grosser behind Baz Luhrmann.s The Great Gatsby, which amassed $27.4 million to become the fifth-biggest Australian title of all time.
Tellingly, the drama starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman raked in more money in its first week than the lifetime earnings of every other title. According to If.s estimate, the combined B.O. tally of the 26 local films and documentaries is $38.88 million, well short of 2012.s $47.9 million.
Only...
- 1/5/2014
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Australian cinemagoers flocked to the latest edition of The Hunger Games and the Doctor Who anniversary special last weekend, but Adoration was unloved.
Box-office takings shot up to 72% to $20 million, thanks to the two newcomers and a reasonable hold by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hauled in $12.5 million, 34% bigger than the opening of the original and on par with the debut of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2.
The first Hunger Games wound up with $31.2 million so the sequel starring Jennifer Lawrence as feisty heroine Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Philip Seymour Hoffman has an excellent chance of beating that, particularly with no new films targeting that demographic in the next few weeks.
Worldwide, the fantasy adventure directed by Francis Lawrence scored $US308 million last weekend, including $160.6 million in North America.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor 3D rang up $1.5 million from 107 locations on Sunday,...
Box-office takings shot up to 72% to $20 million, thanks to the two newcomers and a reasonable hold by Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire hauled in $12.5 million, 34% bigger than the opening of the original and on par with the debut of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn- Part 2.
The first Hunger Games wound up with $31.2 million so the sequel starring Jennifer Lawrence as feisty heroine Katniss Everdeen, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth and Philip Seymour Hoffman has an excellent chance of beating that, particularly with no new films targeting that demographic in the next few weeks.
Worldwide, the fantasy adventure directed by Francis Lawrence scored $US308 million last weekend, including $160.6 million in North America.
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor 3D rang up $1.5 million from 107 locations on Sunday,...
- 11/25/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Are Australian audiences getting soft and avoiding darker and more confronting, challenging material?
That.s the theory of one Australian distributor as he surveyed last weekend.s openings of The Counselor, Insidious: Chapter 2, Mr Pip and Fruitvale Station.
Perhaps giving weight to his theory, Aussie comedy Backyard Ashes had a boisterous opening at just four screens in regional areas.
Ridley Scott.s The Counselor opened with $1.2 million which, pro-rata, is rather better than its lousy $US7.8 million debut in the Us. Some critics admired the Cormac McCarthy-scripted thriller about a respected lawyer.s disastrous involvement with a Mexican drug deal, starring Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz.
But maybe audiences were deterred by the reviews which spoke of the sordid setting, dark-hearted individuals behaving badly, bloodshed and leaden dialogue.
James Wan.s haunted house sequel again featuring Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson took $527,000 on 118 locations.
That.s the theory of one Australian distributor as he surveyed last weekend.s openings of The Counselor, Insidious: Chapter 2, Mr Pip and Fruitvale Station.
Perhaps giving weight to his theory, Aussie comedy Backyard Ashes had a boisterous opening at just four screens in regional areas.
Ridley Scott.s The Counselor opened with $1.2 million which, pro-rata, is rather better than its lousy $US7.8 million debut in the Us. Some critics admired the Cormac McCarthy-scripted thriller about a respected lawyer.s disastrous involvement with a Mexican drug deal, starring Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz, Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz.
But maybe audiences were deterred by the reviews which spoke of the sordid setting, dark-hearted individuals behaving badly, bloodshed and leaden dialogue.
James Wan.s haunted house sequel again featuring Rose Byrne and Patrick Wilson took $527,000 on 118 locations.
- 11/11/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
Umbrella Entertainment is turning the conventional notion of theatrical distribution on its head with Backyard Ashes, an Aussie comedy about two neighbours who settle their differences with a bizarre game of backyard cricket.
The release plan rules out booking the film into any capital city and the distributor is doing its best to keep it away from critics, perhaps fearing reviews that might raise the spectre of cricket-themed misfire Save Your Legs!
The self-funded film from first-time director Mark Grentell will premiere on November 6 at the Forum 6 Cinemas in Wagga Wagga, where it was shot largely in the backyard of Mark.s mother.s house.
The filmmakers and key cast will fly in for the premiere on a helicopter owned by a mate of Mark.s which was used to film aerial shots of the town in the opening sequence.
The comedy will open on November 7 in four towns: Wagga Wagga,...
The release plan rules out booking the film into any capital city and the distributor is doing its best to keep it away from critics, perhaps fearing reviews that might raise the spectre of cricket-themed misfire Save Your Legs!
The self-funded film from first-time director Mark Grentell will premiere on November 6 at the Forum 6 Cinemas in Wagga Wagga, where it was shot largely in the backyard of Mark.s mother.s house.
The filmmakers and key cast will fly in for the premiere on a helicopter owned by a mate of Mark.s which was used to film aerial shots of the town in the opening sequence.
The comedy will open on November 7 in four towns: Wagga Wagga,...
- 10/22/2013
- by Don Groves
- IF.com.au
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.