Screen Australia has announced almost $20 million investment in a diverse slate of feature films, adult television drama projects and children’s television series. The investment in 12 projects will trigger $100 million in production.
Features approved include The Rover, a futuristic Western from the producer and writer/director of Animal Kingdom, Liz Watts and David Michôd. Michôd will join Watts and David Linde (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as a producer. The film’s cast includes world-class acting talents Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce.
Screen Australia’s Chief Executive Ruth Harley said, “These four highly engaging and diverse Australian stories have huge potential. The Rover is a powerful well-crafted script from a talented team with an impressive cast. Anna Broinowski’s Aim High in Creation is a distinctive, ambitious film with a humorous and entertaining story. Felony has international breakout potential and Healing promises to be a highly emotional and moving story on screen.”
THE ROVER Porchlight Films Pty Ltd in association with Lava Bear Films LLC Producers Liz Watts, David Linde, David Michôd Writer/Director David Michôd International Sales FilmNation Australian Distributor Village Roadshow Synopsis The Australian desert in a dangerous and damaged near future. Eric has left everything, everyone and every semblance of human kindness behind him. And then he has his last possession stolen by a gang of dangerous criminals. Eric sets off on a ruthless mission to track them down, forced along the way to enlist the help of Rey, the naïve and injured junior member of the gang, who was left behind in the bloody chaos of the gang’s most recent robbery.
Robert Pattinson’s new starring role was given the greenlight.
Screen Australia said it will provide production financing for a previously announced Australian feature film project,The Rover, from Animal Kingdom writer-director David Michod. The Twilight star and Guy Pearce are both attached.
Set in the Australian desert, the futuristic western tells the story of Eric, who has left everything, everyone and every semblance of human kindness behind him, as he’s forced to join an injured gang member, Rey, to hunt down Rey’s gang after they steal the last of Eric’s possessions.
The Rover is produced by Porchlight Films in association with Los Angeles-based Lava Bear Films, with Liz Watts, David Linde and Michod producing. Film Nation will handle international sales, and Roadshow Films will be the Australian distributor.
The Rover is one of four features, four adult TV dramas and four kids TV series to receive $20 million of production funding from agency Screen Australia, triggering more than $100 million worth of production here.
His fans were very excited when Robert Pattinson visited Berlin a few weeks ago. The actor wasn’t here to promote his role of the vampire in “Twilight”, but to present David Cronenberg’s film adaptation of Don DeLillo’s “Cosmopolis”.
We spoke with the Englishman about his old and new roles and also about his best and worst moments of last year.
INTERVIEW: Mr. Pattinson, your hair has gotten longer again. You had your hair cut into a buzz cut back then. Was it for your role in “Cosmopolis” or “Bel Ami?”
ROB: Neither, it was for a movie in which I’m playing a soldier who found Sadam Hussein. The shoot was supposed to start in spring but it was postponed until fall.
INTERVIEW: Your roles left the fantasy genre and have become more realistic, do you agree?
ROB: As an actor, you just have to be very lucky to get great roles and when I like one, I’ll take the opportunity. If they do get more realistic, it’s either a coincidence or it happens subconsciously.
INTERVIEW: In front of the “Kino International” here in Berlin – where “Comospolis” will premiere this evening – faithful fans have been camping out since yesterday. Do you think about the possibility of scaring them off with such roles [as yours in Comospolis]? Your fans might want to see the vampire Edward Cullen instead of Eric Packer, a billionaire with an identity crisis.
ROB: I don’t think that is the case. Since I shot “Bel Ami” something peculiar happened: my fans gave me my favorite books as presents. Yesterday I was in Paris and at the premiere there was a queue of people who wanted to give me books! It’s incredible, isn’t it?
It has recently come to my attention that TwiFic Central is helping raise money for those affected by suicide. This is a great cause. So many people suffer in silence. You can check it out here.
This has always been a cause very close to my heart. I don’t share my story that freely often, but I do when it’s time to help others. I’ve always thought that if one day, I can save one life with my story, then it will have been worth me telling it. My mom committed suicide when I was 21. The people left behind after the suicide of a loved one are survivors. Time goes by, we learn to move on, the pain fades but it never really goes away. We learn to live with it and the past shadows our memories to make the transition a bit easier on us. I’ve always thought that suicide and mental illnesses are such a taboo in our society when they shouldn’t be. So many people suffer in silence and are scared to go get help. My advice to you is reach out to people, reach out to get the help you need. The people around you love you, no matter what you think. If you think that my story, one of someone who survived the suicide of a loved one, can help you in any way you can read it here. If you’ve ever thought of committing suicide please read it. Be advised it is a story filled with tears and grief. Start at the bottom and scroll back to the beginning. I don’t particularly like sharing it, but I do when I have to. I’m also not looking for pity from that story, it is part of my past now. It is a part of me, yes. However as I said, I wrote it for those who need to read it.
Please support TwiFic Central in their effort to raise money for those in need. Read their post here.
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