THE PITCH

Animus Industries is producing a feature length documentary about the history of Heavy Metal music in Australia. The film will trace the origins of metal in Australia and explore this ever-evolving genre of extreme music.

From grind-core, thrash, death metal, black metal, hardcore, doom, melodic metal, sludge, power metal and the many more sub genre's that exist Metal Down Under will cover it all.

The history of metal in Australia has never been fully told and this film attempts to rectify that. Rather than a back-stage interview film with a bit of live footage in between, Metal Down Under will tell the story of Aussie metal through formal interviews, archival, animation, candid observation-style footage and first person narration.

The film will be accompanied by an interactive website that will document the production of the film as well as profile and publicise many of the bands and identities involved in Heavy Metal. Released in conjunction with the documentary DVD will be a bonus DVD of music videos, interviews and extended material as well as a compilation CD.

We're in the processing of adding to the website where you will be able to access a full treatment of the film and more information - www.metaldownunder.com

THE PLAN

Animus Industries are raising funds for this film in stages - Development, Production and Post-Production. This will allow the company to undertake each phase of the production as they have the necessary funds to do so.

This is an independent production. Heavy Metal does not really make a dent on the commercial music scene in Australia and we do not expect the commercial television networks to come knocking any time soon. This film will finds its audience on DVD, online, film festivals and then possibly on ABC2 in Australia.

If we raise more money in this fundraising campaign than the current target, it rolls over into the next category. With the quality of rewards we have on offer it is not out of our reach to raise the entire budget in one campaign.

CURRENT STAGE: DEVELOPMENT

At this stage we are raising development funds. This will enable Producer/Director Nick Calpakdjian to carry out the necessary research required. Nick will meet with key industry figures, band members, critics and historians as well as delve into the archives available. He'll record preliminary interviews and cover any relevant events. Animus Industries have already started a call out to metal fans and identities throughout Australia to collect archival footage, stories, photos and rare LP's, CD's and other recordings of metal through the ages in Australia.

WHO’S SUPPORTING THE PROJECT

Animus Industries have put the feelers out for people interested in being involved in the production as on-camera interviews, assisting with research and/or fundraising amongst other things.

Presently the following bands have pledged their support: Allegiance, Psycroptic, Blood Duster, Psychonaut, Pegazus, Frankenbok, Tzuntzu, Be’lakor, Lord, Synthetic Breed, Soulforge, Darker Half, Breaking-Orbit, Sydonia, Mammoth Mammoth, Thy Art is Murder, Kunvuk and Humonic.

Industry personalities/organisations supporting the film include: Greta Tate (Metal for Melbourne), Leigh Wilson, Dave Harrison (Ex-Allegiance / Heavy Metal Merchant), Tony Campo (Allegiance), Steve Hughes (Slaughter Lord), Andrew Haug (Radio Presenter / Contrive), Martin Popoff (Author), Adam Agius (Alchemist / Metal for the Brain), Peter Hobbs (Hobbs Angel of Death), Simon Lukic (Musicaly Incorrect), Dave Leonard (Modern Music), Adrian Dixon (MetalDad Blog), Dysie (Prime Cuts Record Label / Soundworks) Todd Hansen (Rome) and magazine ‘Heavy.’

Many more are expected to follow as we continue to put the word out. We’ll update this list as the campaign goes.

Metal Revelation are handling all things to do with marketing and promotion throughout the fundraising campaign and the production of the DVD. A huge thanks to Marjo for his support of the project.

If you want to support the project in any capacity contact Animus Industries: [email protected]

THE BUDGET

The budget for this film is modest. And it's flexible. As we carry out development we will discover the true needs of this production. Australia is a large country and to cover the history of metal down under we envisage needing to travel to all corners of it. The basic breakdown is below:

Development: $7,500
Pre-Production: $7,500
Production: $65,000
Post-Production: $35,000
Deliverables: $5,000 (Master Tapes, DVD’S, CD’s etc)
Total Costs: $120,000

This allows for a 4 week development period followed by a 4 week pre-production period. The shoot will be flexible based on the requirements of talent and location but will allow for a total of 28 days filming. Post-production will be carried out over a 10-week period.

Production costs include equipment hire, travel & accommodation, crew fees, catering, legal fees etc. Post-Production costs include crew fees, hard drive purchases, music licensing, colour grading, sound mix and animation.

REWARDS

The rewards we have offer donors real value for money. Many have been donated (or provided very cheaply) by a range of bands, organisations and individuals. I've provided more detail of the rewards on offer below and will update if further rewards become available.

Dave Harrison at Heavy Metal Merchant is offering a 10% discount at his store for anyone that makes a donation to this film! Big thanks to Dave and the team at Heavy Metal Merchant - http://heavymetalmerchant.com/

**Please note that I have removed the need to pay $10 extra for international postage. However I cannot update the reward packages on the right due to Pozible terms & conditions. If you are from outside of Australia and you want to donate, we'll get the rewards to you without the need for extra cash!

Digital Streaming of Film
Pegazus

The Stealth Creeping Apocalypse
Stubby Holder

Metal Down Under T-Shirt

Breaking Orbit Pack 1
Kunvuk Album Pack
Breaking Orbit Pack 2

Devour The Martyr Merchandise Pack
Twelve Foot Ninja Pack
Metal Down Under Pack 1
Heavy Magazine Gift Pack
Ultimate Music Pack
A big thank you to the team at Primecuts/Soundworks for providing a lot of these CD's and T-Shirts as well as the bands themselves!

Choose from these CD's:

1. The Furor - Advance Australia Warfare

2. Malignant Monster - Foul Play

3. Frankenbok - Murder Of Songs

4. Frankenbok- The Last Ditch Redemption

5. Grotesque - Museum Of Human Disease

6. Noctis - For Future's Past

7. Vespers Descent - Reality Dysfunction

8. Dyscord - Dakota

9. Empyrean - Quietus

10. Be'lakor- Stone's Reach

11. Infected - Crawlspace Re-Release

12. Dawn of Azazel - Relentless

13. The Furor - War Upon Worship

14. C**tscrape - Thrush Bang Mania

15. C**tscrape/DeathF**kingC**t Split - Split Roast

16. C**tscrape - Papsmear Campaign

17. C**tscrape/ Goresluts/ Rezume/ Morbid Vision - Split My Bitch Up

18. C**tscrape/Fecalizer - Scraping the Barrel/The Walking Dead Invasion Split

19. Psychonaut – Shock Em Dead

20. Blood Duster – C**t (5 only)

21. Blood Duster – Another Title (5 only)

22. The Stealth Creeping Apocalypse EP

When you make your pledge/donation please indicate desired CD. It will be on a first come, first serve basis. I’ll update this list as stocks decrease or new titles become available.

Choose from these T-Shirts:

1. Arch Enemy 2009 Tyrants Of Evil Australian Tour - SS (L,XL)

2. Arch Enemy 2009 Root Of All Evil Baseball Shirt (XL)

3. Children Of Bodom Relentless Reckless Forever - SS (L,XL)

4. Claim The Throne Aus/NZ Raid 2011 Tour Shirt - SS Red (Girly,S,M,L,XL)

5. Exodus 2010 Australian Tour - SS (L)

6. Finntroll 2011 Australian Tour - SS (M,L,XL)

7. Finntroll Logo Tshirt (M,L,XL)

8. Finntroll 2011 Australian Tour - LS (L,XL)

9. Job For A Cowboy Ruination - SS (S,M,XL)

10. Job For A Cowboy Priest (S,M,L,XL)

11. Whitechapel We All Will Spread Disease - SS (S,YL)

12. Winds Of Plague Impaler - SS (S,L)

13. Psychonaut - (L) (3 only)

SS – Short Sleeve, LS – Long Sleeve

When you make your pledge/donation please indicate desired T-Shirt. It will be on a first come, first serve basis. I’ll update this list as stocks decrease or new titles become available.

*"Broken" is a compilation of hard rock and heavy metal music videos including: Karnivool, Greyn, The Mark of Cain, The Butterfly Effect, No Grace, Sick Puppies, .hinge, A Darker Shade and more.

Metal Down Under Pack 2
Metal Down Under Pack 3

Metal Down Under Pack 4