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Accidents Happen

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Template:Future film

Accidents Happen
Directed byAndrew Lancaster
Written byBrian Carbee
Produced byAnthony Anderson
StarringGeena Davis
Harrison Gilbertson
Joel Tobeck
Harry Cook
Sebastian Gregory
CinematographyBen Nott
Edited byRoland Gallois
Distributed byChristal Films
Release date
2009
CountriesAustralia
United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish

Accidents Happen is an upcoming British-Australian coming of age black comedy film directed by Andrew Lancaster and starring Geena Davis, Harrison Gilbertson, Joel Tobeck, Harry Cook and Sebastian Gregory. Written by Brian Carbee, based on his own childhood and adolescence, the story revolves around an accident-prone teenage boy and his family. The film was shot in Sydney, New South Wales over June–July 2008, and is scheduled for release in 2009.

Premise

Accident-prone 15-year-old Billy Conway is playing with a friend when he causes an almighty crash with a bowling ball and a moving car, and he is forced to face his family's history of misfortune.[1]

Cast

Production

American-born screenwriter Brian Carbee wrote Accidents Happen based on his childhood in 1980s Connecticut, changing his own name to "Billy Conway".[5][6] He developed the screenplay through the prestigious Aurora Script Workshop in Sydney, where producer Anthony Anderson had worked and collaborated on his 2004 film Somersault.[7] In 2004, the completed script was nominated for an Australian Inside Film Award for Best Unproduced Screenplay,[8] but it took a further three years to gather finances for the project. Anderson, Carbee and director Andrew Lancaster successfully applied for funding from Screen Australia on two occasions; they were granted AU$18,000 in May 2003 to fund drafts of the script, and $50,000 in November 2007.[9] In September 2005, Anderson travelled to New York City with three other Australian producers to meet with investors at No Borders Co-Production Market, a division of the Independent Feature Project Market in which filmmakers attempt to secure financing for their projects.[10] The film was the first production from the Abacus Film Fund, co-founded by producer Heather Ogilvie and corporate advisers BG Capital Corporation.[5] British production company Bankside Films of London also assisted in raising finances and is handling all international sales of the film.[2] The filmmakers received a 40% rebate on all production costs from Screen Australia.[11] Davis was cast the only American actor, in spite of the story's American setting, with the rest of the cast Australian, feigning American accents.[6]

"My dad and I drove around Ku-ring-gai scouting locations. St Ives was chosen as the ideal spot for its deciduous trees and big front yards. If you pan the camera one way you get Connecticut, if you pan it the other way you get St Ives. We just had to make sure the gum trees weren't in shot."

— Andrew Lancaster on St Ives' standing in for Connecticut[6]

Accidents Happen was originally intended to be filmed in Connecticut, where it is set, but production remained in Australia, where the script had been written, because finances were easier to raise than in the United States.[5][12] Filming was slated to begin in April 2008[12] but was delayed until June.[13] Principal photography commenced in early June with scenes shot on a built set at Sydney's Fox Studios.[13] Most filming took place in and around Kuringgai, first on Gillian Pde in West Pymble for a week in late June and then Lincoln St, St Ives for 1–2 July.[14][15] Lincoln St residents complained about possible disruptions to Ku-ring-gai Council, starting a petition to have production moved elsewhere, and threatening to play bagpipes and wave lights around during filming if it went on as planned.[16] The council then offered a revised filming schedule, cutting filming down by two days and bringing each day's finishing time forward by an hour to 12.30 am, and the producers offered some residents a $500 payment to cover any inconveniences.[15] Filming of the story's integral car crash scene was relocated to another street after the discord.[15]

Release

Select footage of the film was screened to potential distributors at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival and will be shown at November's American Film Market.[2]

References

  1. ^ Bartyzel, Monika (13 June 2008). "Geena Davis Flick Gets More Cast". Cinematical. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Thomas, Archie (12 June 2008). "Quintet finds 'Accidents Happen'". Variety. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Accidents Happen". Screen Australia. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  4. ^ "HARRY COOK". Mark Morrissey & Associates. 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  5. ^ a b c George, Sandy (19 December 2007). "US lilt no accident on set". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ a b c Walton, Sophie (2 September 2008). "The changing face of St Ives". North Side. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ "AURORA SCRIPT WORKSHOP". New South Wales Film and Television Office. 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  8. ^ Australian Associated Press (11 November 2004). "IF Awards winners". The Age. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Approvals Search: "Andrew Lancaster"". Screen Australia. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  10. ^ "Four feature producers to take their projects to New York's No Borders" (PDF) (Press release). Film Victoria. 4 August 2004. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  11. ^ "Neighbourhood Watch: Across the ditch". Onfilm. May 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  12. ^ a b George, Sandy (14 December 2007). "Rachel Ward to direct first feature". The Australian. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  13. ^ a b Murray, Elicia; Tovey, Josephine (5 June 2008). "Foul-mouthed mum hits spot". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Shelley, Maureen (26 June 2008). "Angry gripes or Hollywood hype?". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ a b c Vallejo, Justin (26 June 2008). "Geena Davis ready to roll in Sydney". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ "Angry residents promise lights - and action". The Daily Telegraph. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-25. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
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