The Great Escape … Italian Style is a short film based on a one-act play The story takes place and unfolds within Nonno Giacobbo’s car. They have collected Jake, who with help from his mother Maria, has just escaped from the mental health institution ‘Casa De Sanitarium’. His grandparents assumed he was on holiday and they had just picked him up from a hotel named after a saint. They are oblivious to the fact that he is still wearing a straight-jacket and instead compliment him on his new dress style.

Image: Josie & family holding a prop at the performance of her play

A typical ten minute car ride with his grandparents can mean a slow poke drive with Italian music blaring, a picnic as well as multiple stops to enjoy views or forage for mushrooms – stretching out for hours. Mother and son can’t seem to convey the message to the Nonni that today there is an urgency to get the hell out of there. An error of comedies ensue in the ‘car ride from hell’ where anything goes - including straight-jackets, salami sticks, a seismic event and saints. Is Jake’s Great Escape a success or have the chaotic Italians managed to change the dynamics and rules, and foiled the end result? (Inspired from a true car ride. Yes, really!)

Image: Filming the trailer

WRITER/CO-DIRECTOR STATEMENT

Hi, I'm Josie Montano - writer, co-director & co-producer of The Great Escape Italian Style (TGEIS) - We, (myself and the production team) are looking to fund the production of this Italian comedic short film script. 

Image: Production Team meeting: L to R - Arryn Leigh Cox (Co-Director, Co-Producer); Josie Montano (Writer, Co-Director, Co-Producer); Amy Langdon (Assistant Director; Izzy Folland (Assistant Director).

A Comedy of Errors is a perfect way to describe this short-film. The phrase is generally used to describe a situation so full of mistakes and problems that it actually becomes comical. The Great Escape Italian Style (TGEIS) is based on a one-act play I wrote many years ago. Seeing it play out on stage demonstrated that it was also very suited to the world of film. TGEIS is semi-autobiographical, and based on a real car trip experienced with my son as a teen and his Nonni (my Italian parents). A typical ten minute car ride with Italian grandparents can turn into a slow poke drive with multiple stops stretching out for hours.  

Most Italo-Australians can identify with my characters. They are the foundations of a traditional Italian ‘casa’ ie: A nonno and nonna who because of their long-term struggles of settling in an unknown country have held onto their culture and traditions for dear life and live in their Little Italy bubble. Then we have the adult child, generally first generation Australian, who sits between their parents & their own children, the sandwich generation – embarassed by their culture growing up, yet fiercely defensive of it at the same time. Finally the grandchild – with already a generation gap and communication challenges between them, they see their nonni as harmless aliens who aren’t to be taken seriously. Their nonni see their grandchildren as the futures they never had, the fruits of their migration sacrifices – and therefore feel they have the right to smother them.  

In the first half of my life I wanted to discard anything to do with my cultural upbringing, and yet now the older I become the more I yearn to become closer to my heritage, to share the stories of my parents generation. Over my creative writing years I have discovered a pattern whereby I tend to stereotype my characters into three generational boxes. Yet this has been therapeutical not only for me but for my fellow ‘sandwich’ generation. We deal with our awkwardness, embarassment and shame of being migrant children who are trying to fit into the Australian way of life … with humour. Laughing about ourselves and our culture is the best medicine.

Italians are a joyous, festive yet hard working and passionate people – and I hope I have been able to respectfully deliver a hilarious dramedy whilst also peeling back some layers that expose the struggles of all three generations.

- Josie Montano, Writer/Co-Director/Co-Producer www.booksbyjosie.com.au

Image:  The real Nonna & Nonno with their salami. Josie's parents inspired the story,

p.s. So excited to be working with young and upcoming filmmaker Arryn Leigh Cox. As a child, Arryn was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome and his special interest is all things film. Coincidentally, under the pseudonym of 'Josie Santomauro' I also write & present on the topic of Autism and look forward to co-directing & co-producing my script with this talented young man.

Script Testimonial:- "Very visual, hilarious and energetic. The script is great and with great acting, from the over the top to the deadpan, it will work." by Dr Maria Pallotta-Chiarollii, Senior Lecturer in Social Diversity in Health & Education, Deakin University.

Projected Expenditure:-

•    Project and production costs;        
•    Marketing and promotion costs;        
•    Administration;      
•    Salaries, fees, allowances;        
•    Logistical and travel costs.        

We have 3 potential budgets we can work with:-

1. $5,000

This budget allows a minimal cast and crew, and relies on sets, catering, props etc to be donated.

2. $10,000

This budget allows for a sizeable cast and crew with funding towards locations, catering, props etc.

3. $15,000

This budget allows for a maximum cast and crew with excess funds for national and international festival entries.