Helliar working on a ‘romantic action comedy’
Writer/comedian Peter Helliar is working on his follow-up to the upcoming romantic comedy I Love You Too, writing a ‘romantic action comedy’ entitled Mr. Busby Married a Lesbian and contemplating a comedy show with Princess Pictures for Seven.
“There’s a bit of action, but it’s not necessarily going to be competing with a Hollywood blockbuster,” Helliar told Encore.
“There are no glossy car chases, but there might be some explosions. We hope to do it as an action movie, indie style. It’s a very funny script,” he said.
According to Helliar, the film is about a geography teacher who is looking for love, and he will start pitching the script to potential investors very soon.
Helliar’s first feature script is the romantic comedy I Love You Too, directed by Daina Reid and produced by Laura Waters and Yael Bergman at Princess Pictures. It will be released by Roadshow Films on May 6.
“If I Love You Too is successful, it’s only going to help [get this film up]. Whether it entirely depends on that I don’t know,” said Helliar.
From I Love You Too, Helliar learned that “movies are really hard to make”.
“I’ve got some profile in this country; Roadshow were on board at a reasonably early point; we had the team that created We Can Be Heroes and Summer Heights High, and we still had to go through tough financial meetings and casting decisions.
“I’m amazed that movies get made,” he admitted.
After a ten-year stint on Rove Live, Helliar is currently one of the hosts of Seven’s AFL show The Bounce, and the relationship with the network might give him the opportunity to create a new comedy show.
“I’m not sure if I’m interested in doing a full blown sketch comedy show, but there might be an opportunity with Laura Waters and Princess Pictures to develop a show with Seven, a narrative comedy,” said Helliar.
