Face to Face with Michael Rymer
Face to Face director Michael Rymer talks about his new film, working on a low budget, and the Australian film system’s accountability.
To sci-fi nerds around the world Michael Rymer might best be known as one of the driving forces behind Battlestar Galactica’s resurrection, directing 22 episodes and producing 40 episodes. To Australian audiences, he directed Angel Baby starring Jacqueline McKenzie and John Lynch.
Rymer’s new film, Face to Face is an adaptation of a David Williamson play about conflict resolution in the Australian workplace. It’s a tightly woven script based on real conflict resolution transcripts. “It has big ideas and it’s a microcosm of Australia, dealing with workplace relations, race, sex and class. I don’t believe it’s a small film, it’s a big film done inexpensively.”
Loved Face to Face! All the variables came together. Great script, direction, and cast. Go and see it!
Face to Face is the best Australian film I have seen in years so it boggles the mind as to why Screen Australia rejected it and said “it’s not a film.” Yeah, sure it’s based on a play but Rymer does a great job in the cinematic adaptation of it.
“The bureaucrats who get to make these decisions are very slow to take responsibility for those decisions and they are generally gone by the time the films come out. ”
I’m afraid that this is very sadly NOT the case. There should be set terms imposed.
3 years seems fair with a renewal of a further 2 years based on performance of films selected. Seems ‘market place’ fair to me.
There is one executives there who have been around since the likes of ‘Kick’ bombed!!!