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The Cup has tried my patience: Wincer

Director Simon Wincer is about to start production of his new horseracing film The Cup, but he admits that the project has been particularly difficult to put together.

“I’m glad that we’re up and running, because it’s certainly tried my patience a number of times,” Wincer told Encore.

The Cup tells the story of Damien Oliver, winner of the 2002 Melbourne Cup with the horse Media Puzzle. Oliver’s brother was killed in a horse racing accident in Perth, one week before the event.

Wincer and Eric O’Keefe started working on this project in 2003, and it’s taken seven years to make it happen. The $17.5m film was financed in 2008, but fell apart due to the global financial crisis.

Win some, lose some. That’s what The Cup has experienced in its long journey.

Ray Winstone was attached to the project, to play Irish trainer Dermot Weld. The role has gone to Brendan Gleeson; Wincer met with the actor in Dublin recently, and introduced him to the real Dermot Weld. He is joined by Stephen Curry as Damien Oliver and Daniel McPherson as Jason Oliver.

The budget has also taken a hit, and it is now under $15m. It was financed “with great difficulty”, according to Wincer, combining funds from Screen Australia, Village Roadshow, pre-sales, private investors and the Producer Offset – cash-flowed by Ingenious Media.

“It’s a huge film to do for that kind of money. It’s been a really tough one to put together,” admitted Wincer.

The most expensive element is the horses. The production bought 55 thoroughbreds when the financing was closed a couple of months ago, to train them for the shoot.

“You can’t just go to racehorse trainer and buy 55 of those! They have to be trained to work in a movie,” said Wincer.

The 40-day shoot will begin next Monday, and it will be complemented by a further three days at Flemington, after the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Post-production will take place at Horizon Films and Soundfirm in Melbourne.

The Cup will be mainly shot on the Sony S35 digital camera, with action footage shot on the GoPro sports cameras.

“We’ll be able to ride the race with the characters, and I’ll be able to deliver something that people have never seen in a horseracing film.

“The cameras are the size of a matchbox, and we’ll have them on jockey’s helmets and on the saddles and riding amongst them. We rehearsed on the track last week and it was all very successful,” said Wincer.

Last year, the plan was to have the film ready for release before the 150th Melbourne Cup this October. It will now be released by Roadshow in Easter 2011.

“It’s a terrific time to release a film, and we’ll get a lot of publicity around the 150th Melbourne Cup, because this is a very positive portrayal of the racing industry and they’re helping us put it together,” said Wincer.

According to Wincer, Australia is likely to embrace this film because of its positive tone, similar to the way audiences embraced last year’s Mao’s Last Dancer.

“Most people remember the moment when Oliver crossed the finishing line, and that’s a real Hollywood moment. It’s a very positive and uplifting movie.

“It’s just wonderful to be able to set a film around Australia’s biggest and most iconic events,” he said.

SPAA president Anthony I. Ginnane recently said that filmmakers like Wincer shouldn’t have to struggle to make their projects. Realistically, Wincer knows that his body of work does not guarantee anything.

“It would be lovely to think so, but unfortunately, it’s a level playing field when it comes to financing movies. That’s the nature of the world we live in at the moment; it doesn’t matter who you are, you have to be very dedicated and have enough confidence in your story. I’ve had so many knockdowns with this, but on the other hand, it’s a project that is worthwhile,” he said. “And I’m good at making this kind of movies.”

THE CUP

Director: Simon Wincer

Producers: Simon Wincer, Jan Bladier, David Lee

Executive producers: Lance Hool, Kirk K’Amico, Greg Sitch, Joel Pearlman, Peter de Rauch, James M. Vernon

Script:  Simon Wincer and Eric O’Keefe

Production designer: Liz Thomas

Director of Photography: David Burr

Costume designer: Julie Middleton.

Horse trainer: Evanne Chesson

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