latest features
Interview With A Werewolf
Filmink chatted with the lead werewolf from the Twilight films, Chaske Spencer
Feast from South East
India gets ready to showcase its best, brightest and most colourful at the Indian Film Festival kicking off in Australia this week.
The (Mad) Man – Part 3
In part three of our exclusive chat with Matthew Weiner, creator of Mad Men, we discuss the importance of casting in bringing his characters to life.
Black & White
Filmink caught up with British director Anthony Fabian when he was in Australia recently and chatted with him about his new film Skin, a fact-based drama about a young girl who was born black to white parents during apartheid.
search the site
newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive the weekly Filmink newsletter
Combined Forces
FILMINK’s Erin Free spoke to director David Field about the release of his debut film as director, The Combination, onto DVD and whether there will be smoother sailing with this release.
Do you think the dramas surrounding the film's release overshadowed the film in a way?
I think too often what happens is that people lose sight of the film, the film is the boss, not the people around it. But anyway that's my view.
Were you happy with the critical response?
Reviews were great, people like Stratton and that were fantastic. I think the film was beautiful. I think the whole kind of gang stuff was misconstrued. You've seen the film, it's not a gang film. The core of the film is a love story, and the other story is about disenfranchised kids who are angry and displaced, not gangs. No one was wearing red bandanas.
How did it affect the boys in the film?
The ones I've spoken to are really proud and pleased with the film. Vaughan White has gone on to do some work and he's got an agent, Firass Dirani scored the lead I believe in the next Underbelly, George Basha went on to do something and he'll do more, and Clare Bowen's done a couple of films since. I think it's been really great for everyone.
What's happened with Ali Haider?
Ali got out of prison, so he's back out in the world which is great.
What about you personally?
I think I certainly want to continue directing, it's just finding another project. I'm still working on this one, and I'm still working on deliverables for overseas and stuff.
How's that going?
The international sales agent is in London and the producer has been dealing with him, but I think it's just been a Middle Eastern sale and we're just waiting to see if we've got a UK sale. So we're waiting to hear back and we're hoping the film can make its way to the world now.
Are you actively looking for other stuff to direct?
I'm always thinking and always looking for stuff. At the moment I'm working as an actor and so focussing on that at the moment. It will take me a couple of months to complete the project. We're now working with Universal for the DVD release which is a really important thing. They've been really supportive of the project. I think it's been quite a few years since they've taken on an Australian film so we're feeling really honoured working with them.
Are you hoping that the DVD release might pick up a broader audience?
Without a doubt. George has had many many emails and phone calls from people, especially the older people, that are a bit wary of going to the cinema because of what happened and now want the DVD. And a lot of people that went to the cinema now want the DVD so there's a great interest in it and a great interest in the soundtrack as well.
Are there any commentaries or DVD features?
There's some behind the scenes stuff which we've cut together and there's about a dozen deleted scenes which are really interesting.
Has that been a fun process for you?
Yeah it's been great because we dropped quite a few scenes so it will be interesting for people who saw the film and will realise how much we cut out to make it the way it is. But yeah it's been really fun, we're excited to make it the way it is.
With the benefit of hindsight, what would you have done anything differently?
Not in the making of the film but in post, and in terms of distribution I would have done differently. In terms of marketing I would have marketed it a bit differently. But in hindsight that's life, you learn as you go. This is the first time I've been involved in this way and I certainly learned a lot about that end of filmmaking that I never really understood and I now have a much clearer vision about where I would go and how I would deal with it.
In terms of your career, has this been one of the most enjoyable things you've been involved with?
In terms of making the film definitely and in terms of my relationship with George Basha and the Lebanese community out in the west absolutely extraordinary.
Any chance of working with George again?
Oh sure, George and I have become very dear friends. I think he's actually a great talent, and I don't think anyone can deny what sort of talent George has to have written the film and played the lead so wonderfully, I have great faith in George.
The Combination is out on now on DVD.