Around the Block to begin production in Redfern
Writer/director Sarah Spillane
A new film starring American actress Christina Ricci and local veteran actor Jack Thompson is due to begin filming in Sydney this month.
Written and directed by Sarah Spillane and produced by Su Armstrong, Brian Rosen and Andrew Fierberg, for Tree Productions, Around the Block is about a young American drama teacher at Redfern High School who helps an Indigenous student on his path to becoming an actor by staging a production of Hamlet.
Snowtown’s Daniel Henshall, Bikie Wars’ Damien Walshe-Howling, TV presenter Ruby Rose, Matt Nable and Madeline Madden have also been cast along with Hunter Lochard Page as Liam, the aspiring actor.
Spillane said: “This a story about freedom, the ability to choose one’s own path in life and create one’s own destiny. As Liam is lead down two opposing paths by his criminally minded brother and optimistically inspiring drama teacher he becomes painfully aware that he must make a decision that will shape his life forever.”
In a statement, the producers said: “Although this is a hard gritty urban tale set in the cauldron of The Block in Redfern what attracted us to this story is that it does not look at past grievances but rather the strengths and opportunities of the future which is what is happening at The Block right now.”
Also currently filming in Redfern is ABC TV series Redfern Now, with an almost all-Indigenous film crew and cast.
Arclight Films will handle international sales while locally the film will be distributed by Michael Wrenn.
