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MAN is a short film that explores the underbelly of Australia’s regional drug epidemic and tackles the universal theme of what it means to be a man.

We have a killer production team, cast and crew already attached to the project. What we need is your support to help fund this film and make it the best it can be.

Thanks to an amazing group of supporters, we raised over $10,000 within the first day. Now that this film is getting made, we want to raise the bar on production values to ensure the film is as good as it can be.
Help us get to $50,000. The additional $10K will go towards investment into talent, equipment, set design, post-production and more to ensure this film is as awesome as possible. Check out what it’s all about below:

THE FILM

BACKGROUND

A little while back, whilst Rich [director, co-writer] was shooting a doco in regional Aus, he noticed some chatter about issues with drug abuse in the sheep sheering culture. We looked into it and discovered there is an increasing drug epidemic going on in shearing sheds around the world, with Australia being one of worst hit regions [see news articles below].

Essentially, shearers are turning to drugs like meth-amphetamine and speed to increase work productivity. What we found even more concerning was that in some places the working culture not only accepts the drug abuse, but even encourages it, especially within the younger, upcoming generation of shearers.

In the news:
- ABC: Sheep shearing champion takes anti-drug message to the world.
- The NZ Herald: Drug epidemic among Australia's sheep shearers.

STORY

MAN explores the world of performance enhancing drug abuse through the eyes of a hard working, aging shearer, who once reigned king of the high country, but now worn by decades on the job, is running on his last legs. The kind of aussie battler who defines himself by his job and it’s place within the community.

So when he’s put on probation, encouraged to retire and is dumped with the responsibility of training up an aboriginal teen intending; he faces the prospect of life outside the woolshed. Not liking what he sees, he becomes determined to do whatever it takes to keep up his numbers and hold onto his job -- the only thing left that defines him as a man.

But when old-fashioned hard work doesn’t make the cut, he yields to the drug culture and turns to meth, unaware that his boss wants him gone, regardless of his performance.

And so, as he fights for his job, his pride and against an increasing drug addiction, he forms an unlikely bond with his young apprentice and inevitably faces the prospect of life outside the woolshed.




THE REWARDS

See to the right for details on the awesome rewards offered for your awesome support. A few T&C’s to note:
- Digital and printed movie posters and limited edition mosaic rewards will be produced and sent out during post-production [scheduled for April/May 2013]
- Digital download and DVD of the film rewards will be delivered once the films festival run is complete [domestic and international]. Thanks for the understanding!
- Sweet MAN trucker’s caps will be sent out early 2013 for some sweet hat wearing action.
- Original PROP or COSTUME and signed shooting script will be sent out during post-production [scheduled for April/May 2013].

THE MONEY

All funds pledged will go towards to the production and distribution of the film. The initial $40K is the minimum we needed to produce it. Any funds raised in addition to this will go towards making it bigger, better and more awesome. That means further investment into talent, equipment, set design, post-production and more to ensure this film is as awesome as possible.

THE TEAM


CAST


Shane Connor
[as Flanagan, lead protagonist]



KNOWN FOR: Neighbours, Moby Dick & most recently Killing Time & City Homicide.

A prolific Australian performer, Shane’s career spans nearly 20 years in film, theatre and television. A Victorian College of the Arts graduate, Shane has earned several industry awards including: the 1984 Penguin Award for Best Actor, 1995 Green Room Award for Outstanding Fringe Performer and a nomination for the 1998 AFI Showtime Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role in a Television Drama.

See Shane’s impressive breadth of work here… http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0270359/

Richard Sutherland
[as H, lead antagonist]



KNOWN FOR: Muriel’s Wedding, Chopper, Red Hill, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms.

Richard has appeared in many well-known Australian dramas over the past 20 years, including roles in Killing Time, Rush, City Homicide, The Straits, McLeod’s Daughters and award winning episodes of Police Rescue and Wildside. Richard plays Davo, a supporting lead role in the 2012 Australian drama, Bikie Wars: Brothers in Arms and has featured in highly acclaimed Australian films such as Red Hill (2009), Playing For Charlie (2008), Chopper (1999), and Muriel’s Wedding (1993). Richard most recently appeared on stage in the Australian production, Barassi.

See Richard’s impressive breadth of work here… http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0840161/

PRODUCTION

Richard Hughes
[Director, Co-writer, Editor]



Richard graduated from RMIT Film and Television in 2007. In early 2008 he directed a documentary titled THE ELUSIVE EEL, which was accepted and well received at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival that year.

In 2009 he shot and directed the DVD featurette for the Australian feature film Red Hill, titled 24 Days Of Adrenaline. Later that year he started working in TV at the Seven Network as an editor/cameraman/producer for AFL, Horse Racing and Australian Open Tennis.

With the majority of his work being aired in the AFL season, Richard
quickly gained a strong eye and was given the opportunity to direct and shoot on-air and digital content for Saturday Night Football. It is there where Richard further developed his skills in story telling through a unique perspective while keeping the content original and the audience captivated.

Richard’s work was recognised this year with Saturday Night Football being nominated at the AFMA awards for best Football content. Richard has just returned from QLD where he was editing for the TV program I’m A Celebrity; Get Me Out Of Here, which recently aired in the UK.

See examples of Richard's work here... https://vimeo.com/user13936247

Seph McKenna
[Executive Producer, Script Supervisor]



Seph has an incredible wealth of knowledge and experience in the film industry and is an invaluable addition to the team. As the Head of Australian Production for Roadshow Films, Australia’s largest film distributer, Seph has overseen production for +100 million dollars of local feature film projects. He evaluates over 250 local and international feature film acquisitions per year and has implemented development work on Roadshow distributed films such as Red Dog, The Cup and soon to be released Godess. He is an in demand guest panelist and lecturer in areas of script development, pitching and distribution strategy.

Seph has overseen and advised on the development of MAN thus far and will continue to oversee, advise and input into the development of the project through to completion.

Dave Christison
[Producer, Co-writer]



Dave is a marketing professional who’s diverse experience includes several years at Roadshow Films, where he worked across the marketing campaigns for over 50 major box office releases including The Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Green Lantern and Happy Feet Two.

With an enormous passion for film, Dave spent 2 years studying the anatomy of story and script with a key focus on what constitutes commercial and qualitative success in a screenplay. Prior to writing MAN, Dave wrote 3 x feature length screenplays with the intention to further understand the writing process through the act of implementation.

He has also produced a handful of short films, including Handle With Care – ‘Winner of Best Character and Script’ @ the 2009 Melbourne 48 Hour Film Festival [producer & co writer] and a number of marketing hype/sizzle reels and award entry case studies.

Alana Watts and Jodie Fullerton
[Producers]



Born and raised Perth girls, Alana and Jodie are co-producing this project with an all-encompassing focus. When Jodie first came across an early draft of MAN, she was immediately drawn to its potential. Partnering up with her long time collaborator and friend, Jodie and Alana helped develop the script and now snowballing project, to where it is today.

Alana has always had a great passion for the arts, first pursuing that passion by studying fine arts at Curtin University with a focus in photography. Alana exhibited her work at an exhibition called “The Body” in 2005 at the John Curtin Gallery. She has traveled the world drawing great inspiration from her journeys by capturing her experiences through a lens and being able to tell her story though her images. Alana has always pushed the barriers with developing her craft, having completed work-shops in Esperance in felting, swirling and of course photography.

Jodie currently works in TV, producing broadcast and digital content for the Seven Network. She has proficient experience in coordinating, planning, managing crew and talent, budgeting and logistics as well as creative direction as demonstrated in segment producing on Sevens sport coverage.

CREW

Thom Holt
[Head of Sound & Lighting Design]



Thom has worked extensively in the lighting and camera department on film shoots of various mediums from 35mm to digital. His body of work includes feature length productions, commercials, trailers, TV pilots as well as hundreds of short films and music videos acting as both head of lighting department and assistant. From TV shows such as The Block, Project Runway, Undercover Boss, Sunrise, to music videos for Grin Spoon, Little Stevies, Seagul, Vasco Era, Glen Richards, and feature films such as Van Diemen’s Land, Canopy, Blinder, Crawlspace, Animal Kingdom, The Cup and Killer Elite.