by Dov Kornits
The Merger is the story of a former professional AFL player who returns home to the country town he grew up in after an abrupt end to his sporting career. Persuaded to coach the local team, he decides to recruit recently settled asylum seekers, which not only turns around the floundering team’s prospects but also offers the protagonist a chance of redemption.
Sounds like it might also offer Australia some redemption in the process.
Reuniting producer Anne Robinson, director Mark Grentell, actor/writer Damian Callinan (pictured) and distributor Umbrella Entertainment, who all toured the micro-budget Backyard Ashes through regional Australia and made it a relative success at a time when Australian cinema was floundering in cinemas, The Merger is adapted from Callinan’s 2009 live comedy show, which toured nationally for six years.
“The live version of The Merger, which has toured every nook of the nation, used empathy to simplify the confusion over the refugee issue and was well received by audiences of all ilks. We are excited to be able to take the story to a wider audience. Go Roosters!” said writer Damian Callinan and director Mark Grentell, the last sentence a reference to the fictional team at the centre of the story.
The Merger has also secured a grant from the City of Wagga Wagga, which will also host the film’s production.
