events
FRAMED #08: Charlie & Boots with director Dean Murphy and producers Shana Levine & David Redman
Friday November 27, 12.30 - 2.00pm
Open Channel Theatrette - Shed 4
North Wharf Road, Victoria Harbour - Docklands
Admission Free. Bookings essential - framed@openchannel.org.au
Find out how a Melbourne-based creative team pulled off the Australian box-office hit of the year!
Starring Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobson (Kenny), Charlie And Boots was a box office smash-hit amongst Australian films in a year which saw more than 30 Australian feature films released in cinemas. It achieved the second highest opening weekend and overall box office of any Australian film this year.
Directed by Dean Murphy and produced by Shana Levine and David Redman (the creative team working as Instinct Entertainment), Charlie And Boots tells the story of Charlie McFarland (Hogan), a Victorian farmer in his late 60s who has suffered a devastating loss, and his estranged son "Boots" (Jacobson). In an attempt to cheer up his grieving father, Boots takes him on a long-promised fishing trip - 3,000 kilometres away at Cape York behind the wheel of an old Kingswood.
But the story behind the film is even more interesting and a remarkable example of 'can-do' filmmaking. In late-2008 director Dean Murphy approached a key local distributor and pitched the concept of a father-son road movie starring Paul Hogan and Shane Jacobsen. At that stage there was no script, no actors, just the idea for the film. Within a year the film was released on Father's Day and took nearly $1 million dollars at the box office in it's opening weekend. Not bad for a film shot almost exclusively using regional locations from Warrnambool to Cape York with a relatively modest crew of 75 travelling in 35 vehicles.
How, you might ask, did they pull it off. Come along to Framed 8 on Fri Nov. 27 and find out.
The filmmakers
Dean Murphy wrote, produced and directed his first feature, "Just Cruising" at the age of 17. In 1992 he wrote, produced and directed his second feature "Lex & Rory" before moving to Los Angeles to write and develop projects with producer George Folsey Jr ("An American Werewolf in London", "Trading Places"). Dean returned to Australia in 1997 to direct his 3rd feature "Muggers" and in 2000 became a founding member of Instinct Entertainment, producing "Till Human Voices Wake Us" starring Guy Pearce and Helena Bonham Carter. In 2004 he co-wrote, executive produced and directed "Strange Bedfellows" starring Paul Hogan and Michael Caton, which was the highest grossing film of that year. Dean is currently in production on the animated feature "Little Johnny".
Shana Levine has produced Instinct feature films "Till Human Voices Wake Us", "Strange Bedfellows", US set thriller "Torn" and executive produced the documentary feature "Salute". Prior to working as a producer Shana worked as an entertainment lawyer representing many of Australia's leading independent film and television producers. While still at University Shana was awarded a one-year scholarship to UCLA where she studied Entertainment Law and Management of the Hollywood Studio System with Peter Guber (then head of Columbia/Tri Star).
David Redman has worked across all areas of production in a 15-year career. His associate producer credits include UK-based co-productions "The Young Poisoners Handbook", "Sweet Angel Mine" and the Oscar-nominated "Before the Rain". In addition to his producer credits with Instinct he produced "Take Away", "You and Your Stupid Mate" and "Funny Man". David also line produce Bollywood hit "Singh is King". Prior to working in production, he ran the UK-based sales, distribution and exhibition company Recording Releasing, a joint venture between Isalnd Records founder Chris Blackwell and producer Jeremy Thomas.
More Info: 03 8610 9300, info@openchannel.org.au
FRAMED is generously supported by Film Victoria.
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