Gettin’ off your arse!

“Oh, it’s so hard making a film in Australia…”
“There’s no industry here, it’s just not worth it…”
“You’re better off going to the States and making something there…”

Bullshit.

A couple of guys, editors by trade, have managed to garner more hype for a low-budget film than any other in recent memory.
Officially launched last night at Popcorn Taxi, ‘The Tunnel” is the result of a unique model asking punters to spend $1 on purchasing a single frame from the film, sight unseen. The film is then ‘given back’ to the public via Bit-Torrent for a legal and free download. A fair trade if ever there was one.

Enlisting an enthusiastic first-time director; the comforting advice of a group of people who know their stuff, and an innovative online agency with a difference; the wheels were in motion and the pre-production plus a calculated hype campaign kicked into high gear.

In-the-can in a staggering non-sequential 14-day shoot (including pick-ups), the post-production process (edited completely by the writer/producers) melted into the wee hours and with a teaser and a few behind-the-scenes offerings plus an opening credit sequence, the film was launched to the media on Dec 7, 2010.

Fast-forward to May 2011 and much has happened. A sneak-peak at A Night of Horror Film Festival to a packed house; a DVD distribution deal with Transmission Films inked, a sales agent in Cannes, a Showtime release schedule and an exclusive deal with Bit-Torrent to be actively promoted to their 100 million plus subscribers. Not bad.

It cost $30K in hard cash and countless thousands in good will and a ‘can do’ spirit of MAKING a film, rather than talking about it over lattes in a trendy café.

No Govt handouts, no huge marketing dollars, and no complaints or whinging about a lack of an ‘industry’ to sustain the dream to make a movie.

Over the next 48 hours it’s highly probable that hundreds of thousands of people will have seen the gripping little horror/thriller-that-could. In the weeks that come this figure could explode to millions… no, really!

“When they (Julian Harvey and Enzo Tedeschi) pitched this idea, it was just so interesting to us,” explained Zapruder’s Andrew Denton at last night’s premiere.

“The entire communications industry is in a state of flux because of digital media and no-one has really worked out how to chart these waters and here they were casting off in a decidedly unusual boat and no one knew if we’d ever see them again. What did we do? We provided strategy, contacts, finance advice, office and facilities. It was problematic occasionally when they would come to the office covered in blood, but we never asked. From our point of view, we’re really very excited to be associated with this. I’ve met so many people in my career who want to do this, want to do that, one day they’re gonna do it. But very few people get off their ass and put their own career, money and time on the line and make it happen. Whatever else happens out of this mob, I don’t think Enzo and Julian are going to retire on this, certainly not by the time we’ve gauged our percentage! But, the next time they walk through a door and wanna make a film, there’s people that are gonna be interested, and two years ago that wasn’t the case.”

Back in August 2009, Quentin Tarantino was gracious enough to attend Popcorn Taxi; not so much as a guest – but a host.
During his incredibly entertaining hour-long ring-mastery he offered a tale of a young would-be director who also only had $30K and wanted to make a film his way.
Have a listen; the world’s may be different – but the principal is the same… just make the goddamn film you want, now.

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‘The Tunnel’ is currently screening on Showtime, has a limited theatrical season
at Hoyts Entertainment Quarter and is available to buy on DVD here.

Oh – it’s also available for free right here!