Screen Australia backs Wolf Creek sequel, 3D surfing documentary, debut features

The other three are all directorial debuts: Kim Mordaunt’s The Rocket, set in Laos; Boyd Hicklin’s comedy cricket bromance Save Your Legs, produced by Bran Nue Dae’s Robyn Kershaw and Madman executive Nick Batzias; and David Pulbrook’s political drama Last Dance, produced by Antony I Ginnane.

John Jarratt [pictured] will reprise his role as the depraved psychopath Mick Taylor in Wolf Creek 2, which will be in pre-production by December and in production by February. Casting for the other roles begins shortly.

Greg McLean will again be directing, Roadshow will release the film locally, and Arclight has been preselling the film.

“We’re keeping story details top secret for now, but it is safe to say: scarier, bigger, badder,” producer Matt Hearn told ScreenDaily. The South Australian Film Corporation and private investors are also investors.

A spokesperson for See-Saw Films said it was too early to reveal who was attached as sales agent to the Spierig brothers’ Jungle, their third film after Undead and Daybreakers.

“This film is going to give people the experience of being inside a wave as big as a four-storey building,” said producer Ellenor Cox about Storm Surfers 3D. The other producer is multi-platform specialist Marcus Gillezeau, and the directors are Chris Nelius and Justin McMillan.

The feature documentary is set to take full advantage of the fan base in place from the television documentaries already seen on Discovery by an estimated 30 million people in 100 countries across all media including iPhone and iPad applications. By the Easter 2012 release date there will be a barrage of webisodes, augmented reality and other new media applications supporting the film.

Already in production, Storm Surfers 3D follows the story of veteran big-wave surfers Ross Clarke-Jones and two-time surfing world champion Tom Carroll as they work with surf forecaster Ben Matson to track massive weather systems and surf some of the biggest waves on the planet. Ten times world champion Kelly Slate, Maya Gabiera and other younger surfing heroes will also be in the film.

Red Bull Media House has distribution rights for Europe and, for rest of world, has partnered with 6ixty Foot Productions, the production company behind this ambitious franchise. Madman Entertainment is distributing in Australia.

The Storm Surfers 3D team is scoring many world firsts for technology and many key manufacturers and providers are on board including Sony, Fujinon, Panasonic and GoPro.

“Many people are doing ground breaking work with 3D but we’re using them on boats and jet skis in huge waves,” said Cox.

Other supporters and investors include ScreenNSW, post-production facility Deluxe Australia, the NSW Digital Media Initiative, which is providing a lot of the new media funding, Quiksilver, Sky3D and a 3D US broadcaster.

The intention is to claim 40% of qualifying Australian production expenditure through the Producer Offset, and this is being cashflowed by Fulcrum Media.

Details of backed projects:

JUNGLE
Production companies Pictures in Paradise, See-Saw Films, Locomotion Pictures
Producers Chris Brown, Emile Sherman, Iain Canning, Dana Lustig
Writers Justin Monjo, Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig
Directors Peter Spierig, Michael Spierig
Australian distributor Transmission Films
Synopsis What begins as a dream adventure for three backpackers and their enigmatic guide, quickly becomes a struggle for survival as they unravel in the wilderness. A tale of survival, human fortitude and social manipulation, based on the true story of what happened to Yossi Ghinsberg.

LAST DANCE
Production company Ulah
Producer Antony I Ginnane
Writers Terence Hammond, David Pulbrook
Director David Pulbrook
International sales Highpoint Media Group
Australian distributor Becker Film Group
Synopsis A human story, torn from today’s headlines but touching on themes as old as the human condition itself: faith, freedom, love, loss and hope.

THE ROCKET
Production company Red Lamp Films
Producer Sylvia Wilczynski
Executive producer Bridget Ikin
Writer/director Kim Mordaunt
International sales Memento Films International
Australian distributor Curious Films
Synopsis A boy who is believed to bring bad luck to everyone around him, leads his family and a couple of ragged misfits through Laos to find a new home. He proves he’s not cursed and builds a giant rocket to enter the most lucrative but dangerous competition of the year: the Rocket Festival.

SAVE YOUR LEGS
Production company Save Your Legs
Producers Robyn Kershaw, Nick Batzias
Writers Brendan Cowell, with additional writing by Boyd Hicklin
Director Boyd Hicklin
International sales Protagonist Pictures
Australian distributor Madman Entertainment
Synopsis When cricket obsessed Teddy Brown realises his best mates are growing up and moving on, he grasps at a boyhood dream and leads his mates and their D-Grade team on an audacious tour of India where stumps fly, friendships fray and Ted learns that it’s time to start playing shots for himself.

STORM SURFERS 3D
Production company 6ixty Foot Productions, in association with Firelight Productions
Producers Ellenor Cox, Marcus Gillezeau
Writer Chris Nelius
Directors Chris Nelius, Justin McMillan
International sales RedBull Media House & 6ixty Foot Productions
Australian distributor Madman
Synopsis Big-wave surfers Ross Clarke-Jones and two-time surfing world champion Tom Carroll work with surf forecaster Ben Matson to track massive weather systems and surf some of the biggest waves on the planet.

WOLF CREEK 2
Production companies Emu Creek Pictures, 403 Productions
Producers Greg McLean, Matt Hearn
Writers Greg McLean, Aaron Sterns
Director Greg McLean
International sales Arclight
Australian distributor Roadshow
SynopsisThe outback once more becomes a place of mind-bending horror, action and suspense as another unwitting tourist becomes the prey for crazed, serial-killing pig-shooter Mick Taylor.