Andrikidis set to direct ANZAC film
Producer Danny Mackay has announced that Peter Andrikidis will direct Simpson, a story about a stretcher bearer and ‘donkey whisperer’ who died in Gallipolli.
“We won’t look at budgeting until Peter and Sam [Meikle, writer] have completed their new drafts. From that we will budget but we expect it to be substantial,” Mackay told Encore.
Mackay said that he expects a mix of Australian and overseas locations, but the director’s drafts will influence this decision.
“When is difficult to calculate with accuracy because of everything we need to complete before that is decided. This also pertains to who will be funding it, but we have established wide interest at least,” he explained.
The producer attended the recent International Day of the Donkey – organised by Donkey Rescue – to discuss the project with donkey owners and look for the right animal to play Simpson’s donkey.
The project, which Mackay says “will illustrate the courage and spirit of the ANZACs on a grand scale”, has been developed with the assistance of Screen Australia. Mackay will be joined by Matt Carroll in his production duties.
Andrikidis is currently set to shoot the Screentime series Killing Time, and his feature debut The Kings of Mykonos: Wog Boy 2 will be released by Paramount/Transmission on May 20.
