Production company EC/FC launched in Newcastle
A pair of childhood friends will celebrate the launch of their production company in Newcastle on Saturday.
The announcement:
EC/FC LAUNCHES On Saturday, 22 June 2013 childhood friends Zac Garred and TomArthur will launch their production company, EC/FC.
Towards the end oflast year, the two young men formed the company to produce feature film, short film and television content for Australian and international audiences.
Zac Garred is an accomplished actor of stage and screen. His career began at age 17 when he starred in the Channel 9/RTE co-production FOREIGN EXCHANGE. Since then he has had starring roles in Bryan Brown’s TWO TWISTED, the Emmy Award-winning SCORCHED: THE COMPLETE STORY, Rebel Penfold-Russel’s acclaimed short film ALEX’S PARTY, as well as ALL SAINTS, HOME AND AWAY, BLUE WATER HIGH, OUT OF THE BLUE and the feature film NEWCASTLE.
Zac holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and History from the University of Newcastle, and studied under Trinity College of London drama tuition,where he topped the state in his graduating year.
Tom Arthur is an accomplished musician, best known for his work as guitarist and songwriter in the former Newcastle-based band FICTIONS, which released EPs in 2008 and 2011 and toured with major acts including British India, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Magic Dirt and Dukes of Windsor.
Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Newcastle, majoring in English and Film, and with Honours in Film, Media and Cultural Studies. Collaboratingwith up-and-coming Director of Photography Gavin Blyth and established editor Shane Burrell and his company FinalPost, EC/FC (short for El Chupacabras Film Company, inspired by the name of Arthur and Garred’s indoor soccer team) has begun to assemble a varied slate of challenging projects that it hopes will pique the interest of Australian and international audiences.
“Our motto is simple: good stories well told,” said Arthur and Garred. “We have access to some incredibly talented people across all fields in the film and television world. They have the capabilities to bring these stories to life in a proficient, productive and extremely engaging way.”
On 22 June, EC/FC will be screening a trailer from SIPS, a television project that is in development, as well as making an announcement about its feature film project, THE BALLAD OF LES DARCY.
SIPS is a half-hour dramedy about five bar staff whose lives are enmeshedwith an iconic live music pub that is besieged by controversy and forced to fall into line, threatening the very scene on which its reputation was built. It is inspired by the narrative style of GIRLS and iconic television dramas such as THE SECRET LIFE OF US and SKINS, and is based on real-world experiences. SIPS is intelligent, immersive and often confronting, and explores the tensions between the institutions of business, culture and community, and the generations that control them.
THE BALLAD OF LES DARCY is a feature film about the iconic Maitland boxerwho was born in to poverty, rose up to be Middleweight and Heavyweight Champion and who polarised the worldwhen he chose not to fight in the GreatWar.
Earlier this year, Arthur and Garred acquired the screen rights to PETER FITZSIMONS’ book of the same name. They will shoot a trailer in July to begin raising the estimated $8 to 10 million needed to make the film. After launching a fundraising campaign for the trailer via crowdsourcing website Pozible,they allowed themselves sixweeks to raise $2500. Within two weeks, over $3500 was pledged.
“The support behind this project has been amazing,” Garred said.“We knew it was out there, but to see it come to fruition is very exciting.”
Their development slate also includes the feature film THE STAR. Set in Newcastle, 1979, it is the story behind the infamous riot that ensuedwhen one Australia’s most iconic live music venues was forced to close. STONE WINDOWS depicts a young womanwho is raised within controversial Christian sect The Exclusive Brethren, and who questions her devotionwhen an old flame returns to reignite her passion for the ‘secular arts’.
“These are all rich and interesting stories that have a broad appeal across audiences,” said Arthur. “EC/FC looks forward to working with its talented contemporaries to bring these stories to big and small screens throughout the world.”
The launch will take place from 6–9 p.m. at Pippis at the Point Hotel, 199 Main Road, Speers Point. All welcome.
Source: EC/FC press release
