IF Awards recognition has helped boost the little no-budget film that could.
In spite of the actors in Men's Group never having laid eyes on a script, the movie is nominated for Best Screenplay in the 2008 IF Awards. "People thought that was hilarious," says the film's producer, John L Simpson. "But why does a script have to be in 12 point Courier with double spacing?"
Why indeed? This documentary-style fiction about seven damaged males and the secrets they (don't) share at group therapy sessions was workshopped with the cast. "More than 90 per cent of that dialogue is organic," says Simpson, who devised the film with director Michael Joy. "They were all briefed prior to each men's group session what they would reveal, but they weren't ever told how they should express it."
The result is a movie rich in character and dialogue - not traditionally among our industry's strong points. It has been quietly gaining momentum at festivals, garnering such a positive response that it's up for four IF Awards, including Best Film, Best Actor (Grant Dodwell) and Best Music (the IF Awards are voted on by members of the general public). That's not bad for a no-budget film that was made on a points system, with cast and crew trading their labour for equity in the project.
"It's made exhibitors take us seriously," says Simpson. "We've grown from being on one screen to 12." To get some good word of mouth going Simpson even masterminded a one-week preview season at the Chauvel in September, planning all along to release the film properly this month.
The film was in response to suicides of male friends of Simpson and Joy. "We wanted to say something about men struggling to communicate emotionally. Men, when their relationships fall over, don't know who to talk to or how to handle it. In those terms they're thousands of years behind women."
In spite of the actors in Men's Group never having laid eyes on a script, the movie is nominated for Best Screenplay in the 2008 IF Awards. "People thought that was hilarious," says the film's producer, John L Simpson. "But why does a script have to be in 12 point Courier with double spacing?"
Why indeed? This documentary-style fiction about seven damaged males and the secrets they (don't) share at group therapy sessions was workshopped with the cast. "More than 90 per cent of that dialogue is organic," says Simpson, who devised the film with director Michael Joy. "They were all briefed prior to each men's group session what they would reveal, but they weren't ever told how they should express it."
The result is a movie rich in character and dialogue - not traditionally among our industry's strong points. It has been quietly gaining momentum at festivals, garnering such a positive response that it's up for four IF Awards, including Best Film, Best Actor (Grant Dodwell) and Best Music (the IF Awards are voted on by members of the general public). That's not bad for a no-budget film that was made on a points system, with cast and crew trading their labour for equity in the project.
"It's made exhibitors take us seriously," says Simpson. "We've grown from being on one screen to 12." To get some good word of mouth going Simpson even masterminded a one-week preview season at the Chauvel in September, planning all along to release the film properly this month.
The film was in response to suicides of male friends of Simpson and Joy. "We wanted to say something about men struggling to communicate emotionally. Men, when their relationships fall over, don't know who to talk to or how to handle it. In those terms they're thousands of years behind women."
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