Paper Champions

PAPERLESS FILMS & EXILE ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT

PAPER CHAMPIONS

Directed by Jo-Anne Brechin

2020/ AUSTRALIA/ 83 MINS/ ENGLISH LANGUAGE

THE FILM Title: PAPER CHAMPIONS

Production Company: Paperless films & Exile Entertainment Year: 2020 Country: Australia

Running time: 83 mins Genre: Comedy Language: English Shooting format: Arri Alexa. Prores 444 3.2k Format: DCP Aspect: 2.35:1 Audio format: 5.1 Dolby Digital Location: Geelong, Australia

Director: Jo-Anne Brechin

Writers: Luke Saliba & James Pratt Co-Written by: Michael F.J. McCallum

Producers: Alexandros Ouzas, Luke Saliba and Erin Saliba

Executive Producers: Robbert Costa Keith Fagg David & Gale Derham Barry Fagg Michael Peck Phil Hunt Compton Ross

Associate Producer: Tom Harberd Line Producer: Tessa Mansfield Hung

Director of Photography: Rudi Siira Sound: James Browning Production Designer: Bianca Milani

Editor: Adrian Powers

Sound Design: Ryan Granger & Adam Hunt Music by: James Orr & Emily Swanson

Main cast: Luke Saliba John Tui Gary Sweet Kaarin Fairfax Tessa De Josselin Genevieve Morris

LOGLINE Paper Champions is an uplifting comedy about Rey, a young man who wants to find love despite having lost his 'Mana'.

SYNOPSIS Rey is a regular guy, working a regular job, living a regular life. After spending 10 years in a job he doesn’t like, he realises all of his skills can be summed up in a pamphlet. A surge of inspiration causes Rey to quit, forcing him further outside his comfort zone than he's ever ventured before.

Slowly, Rey's life begins to take shape, but not without the help of his old work colleague and best mate Wade: a big man, with an even bigger heart. After a backyard rugby incident involving Wade’s cousins, Rey is rushed to the local clinic where he meets Holly.

There is immediate chemistry between the two but Rey is unable to muster up the courage to ask Holly on a date. Wade and his cousins explain to Rey that he needs to find his Mana. To have Mana implies influence, authority, and efficacy—the ability to perform in a given situation.

Rey sets out in search of his Mana with some help from his mum’s new lover Terry. Being an ex-wrestler himself, Terry thinks he has the key to bringing Rey out of his shell. In the ropes of Terry's wrestling ring, Rey begins to find his Mana.

After putting an old man in a coma, Rey crosses paths with Holly once again. Using his newfound confidence, Rey asks Holly out on a date. But just as their relationship begins to blossom, his old anxieties get the best of him.

In a quirky and loveable story, Rey must rely on a Polynesian family, a Spanish dance teacher, an ex-wrestler, and all of his friends to help him become the Paper Champion.

INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTOR

What attracted you to directing this film? For me, the Paper Champions script leapt off the page with heart and humour. It had a unique sense of comedy and layers of themes that really resonated with me. I think it’s a story that will appeal to every man, everyone dating a man, and most definitely, anyone raising a man.

Please describe your working method and the atmosphere on set. With independent films you always have to work fast, no questions asked. So the key to success is being prepared. I was fortunate enough to have an amazing DOP, Rudi Siira who is as organised as me and was as passionate about having a detailed and well-documented shot list and game plan so that when we stepped onto set each day, we knew exactly what we needed, and how we were going to get it, and from there, we could just play. This helped create a relaxed and joyous atmosphere on set where everyone could be present and stay in the moment. Which helps a lot when you’re creating comedy

How did you decide on the shooting style for the film? The style was inspired by the story. In act one, Rey’s life is a rigid and structured existence, and so the film’s style and shot choices needed to reflect this. We opted for symmetrical, centred, and locked-off shots to draw the audience into Rey’s world. Then, as Rey journeys beyond his safety zone, the style and shot choices morph into a more handheld, visceral style to map his transformation across the film.

Please share a few words about your actors. The cast of Paper Champions were stellar. With the likes of Gary Sweet, John Tui and Genevieve Morris bringing decades of experience to the set, their energy and vibrance elevated everyone around them. I’ve never experienced a more generous cast.

What did you learn during the course of making this film? In most cases a director is the first creative onboard a project, and helps hand pick the cast and crew. But when I attached to Paper Champions, all HODs and most cast had already been attached. In a way, I was the last one in. At first this concept seems a little scary, stepping into a cast and crew I didn’t know, and had never worked with before. But what Paper Champions taught me is that taking a leap of faith, shaking it up, and collaborating with fresh voices is so liberating and produces results better than I could have hoped for.

THE DIRECTOR - JO-ANNE BRECHIN Jo-Anne is an award-winning writer and director who specialises in crafting nuanced performances from both trained actors and real people. As an AFTRS graduate, Jo-Anne brings bold stories to screen across commercial content, as well as short and long form drama and documentary. In 2017 Jo-Anne directed her debut feature film Zelos in partnership with Screen Australia, Definition Films (The Water Diviner, Samson & Delilah) and The Steve Jaggi Company (Rip Tide, Back of the Net).

Her second feature film Paper Champions features John Tui (The Hobbit, Fast & Furious, Solo: A Star Wars Story), Gary Sweet (The Pacific, House Husbands) and Genevieve Morris (Ride Like A Girl, Bloom) and is due for theatrical release in 2020.

Her short drama and documentary films have aired on SBS and have screened in film festivals across Australia and around the world, including most recently, in the Academy-Accredited competition at Flickerfest.

Commercially, she has created TVCs and content for brands including Red Bull, Samsung, Virgin Australia, Coles, NAB, ING Direct, First State Super, Headspace, Tourism Australia, Cochlear, Colonial First State and Greenpeace.

Jo-Anne currently has multiple projects in development, including a comedy web series, various feature scripts and two TV series.

THE PRODUCERS

ALEXANDROS OUZAS Alexandros Ouzas is the founder and Managing Director of Exile Entertainment, a Film & TV production and distribution company based in Melbourne.

LUKE SALIBA Luke has produced and written three short films in the past five years including working alongside Guy Pearce and award winning cinematographer Mike Wylam for the short film Lorne. The next short Luke wrote and starred in was Rey. After Rey’s festival success Luke wrote Paper Champions and dove into producing his first feature, which led to the beginning of Paperless Films.

ERIN SALIBA Erin Saliba is co-director of Paperless Films. This is her first feature as a producer. She has had experience in various roles in the past from leading large teams and producing content for companies including the ABC.

PRODUCERS NOTES

PAPER CHAMPIONS was produced by Paperless Films & Exile Entertainment and is an adaptation of the 2016 short film Rey. The film is distributed by Umbrella Entertainment. The film follows its protagonist, Rey, as he navigates the different notions of 'Manhood' while discovering his inner power. It is a light-hearted comedy that combines the best of Australian and New Zealand comedy, something audiences are yet to see. The film was shot in the Producers’ regional hometown of Geelong. Geelong is full of diverse locations with a small community feel, making it an ideal place for production. It is the first time in Geelong’s long history that a large scale, independent film has been written, produced, funded, and shot entirely in the town. The film is a testament to the support of the local community and the idea that anything is possible with hard work and determination. The film was funded through a combination of Geelong based investors, the Producer’s Offset and Film Victoria through its Regional Funding. The film was shot on location in just 19 days. We are excited to share this film as it holds a special place in our hearts and of those who were involved in bringing this film together.

PAPER CHAMPIONS

DIRECTED BY JO-ANNE BRECHIN

WRITTEN BY LUKE SALIBA

JAMES PRATT

PRODUCED BY LUKE SALIBA

ERIN SALIBA

ALEXANDROS OUZAS

CO-WRITTEN BY MICHAEL F.J. MCCALLUM

LINE PRODUCER TESSA MANSFIELD-HUNG

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS ROBERT COSTA

KEITH & HEATHER FAGG

DAVID AND GALE DERHAM

BARRY FAGG

MICHAEL PECK

PHIL HUNT

COMPTON ROSS

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER TOM HARBERD

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY RUDI SIIRA

EDITED BY ADRIAN POWERS

ORIGINAL SCORE BY JAMES ORR

SOUND DESIGNER RYAN GRANGER ADAM HUNT

COSTUME DESIGNER GRETA WEINER

HAIR & MAKEUP DESIGNER SAM PEARCE

CASTING BY MELANIE MACKINTOSH

UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER EVE GAILEY

FIRST ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ANDREW PANTE

SECOND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ANNA CHARALAMBOUS

2ND ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ANDREA MERSITS

3RD ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HAYDEN MUSTICA

GEMMA MURPHY

HANNAH KOCH

CAST

REY LUKE SALIBA

WADE JOHN TUI

TERRY GARY SWEET

HOLLY TESSA DE JOSSELIN

LINDA GENEVIEVE MORRIS

MORINE KAARIN FAIRFAX

RICCO ADAM FIORENTINO

STEPH ERIN SALIBA

RODNEY CHRIS FORTUNA

PRUE FRANCESCA WATERS

GEOFFREY JUSTIN KENNEDY

KENIFE DAVID FANE

ARDI MICHAEL LOGO

JEROME JASON KATU

KIAN ROAMAN AKAI

MATIU TAMA TAUALI'I

ANIKA ESITA MORGAN

ANA CECILIA LOW

LIMA CHARLIE WAIRASI

MAIA LILA HEIMANN

YOUNG REY GEORGE RAYIAS

DANNY YUCHEN WANG

AVA LORRAINE PATTERSON

JOE DON BRIDGES

DR LEACHMAN ALEX PINDER

VANESSA JESSICA REDMAYNE

TRENT ANTHONY AHERN

THE MOUNTAIN KAINE BAKER

RING ANNOUNCER TIM EDWARDS

REFEREE SAM ADDISON

HAND GRIP HUNK LEWIS MITCHELL

PHOTOCOPY KING PETER PALTOS

CREW

SCRIPT ADVISOR MARIA ANGELICO

SCRIPT SUPERVISOR PIA HARRINGTON

PRODUCTION DESIGNER BIANCA MILANI

SET DRESSER IMOGEN WELSH

STANDBY PROPS BEC PATTERSON

ART DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT ELIJAH BIK

1ST ASSISTANT CAMERA "A" CAMERA DREW COLLINS

2ND ASSISTANT CAMERA "A" CAMERA AUSTIN GILBERT

3RD ASSISTANT CAMERA / DATA WRANGLER SARAH FRASER

"B" CAMERA OPERATORS TRISTAN MCDOUGALL

1ST ASSISTANT CAMERA "B" CAMERA DANIEL MUDRINIC

GIMBAL OPERATOR JAKE PLUMRIDGE

STEADICAM OPERATOR GLENN CLAYTON

GAFFER JOSH POTTS

BRANCO GRABOVAC

BEST BOY HARRY KENNEDY

PRELIGHT GAFFER SCOTT POPE

BUMP-OUT BEST BOY HARRISON BAILEY

3RD ELECTRICS HAYDEN MUSTICA

GRIP PETER STOCKLEY

SOUND RECORDIST JAMES BROWNING

BOOM OPERATOR LACHLAN STEWART

ALEX CHRISTENSEN

COSTUME STANDBY / SUPERVISOR INGRID BEILHARZ

COSTUME ASSISTANT LISA GANDERTON

ASHTON LANGDON

HAIR & MAKEUP ASSISTANT AMELIA MILLS

LINDSEY HENRY

TONAYA MARJANOVIC

PRODUCTION COORDINATOR PAIGE GIBSON

PRODUCTION RUNNER HANNAH KOCH

AMY SCOTT

ZACH EDWARDS

AMY MUSCAT

BONET LEATE

CHLOE EDWARDS

MATT WERKMEISTER

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT GEMMA MURPHY

MEGHAN CUMMINS

LEGALS CLEMENT DUNN - MARSHALLS+DENT+WILMOTH

JENNY LALOR - LALOR LAW

PRODUCTION ACCOUNTANT RYAN GOLLAN

ANAR SHAH

STUNT COORDINATOR CHRIS KEMP

ASSISTANT SAFETY SUPERVISOR DARYL SUTER

CASTING ASSOCIATE TOM CRAWFORD

CATERING PROVIDED BY ALEXIA LEIBEL AND TEAM - DAILY FOOD CO

TESSA MAHONEY AND TEAM - HOUSE IBERIA

GREG HALL-BURNS AND TEAM - COFFEE CAFFEINE PROVIDED BY CARTEL

STILLS & BTS PHOTOGRAPHER TIMOTHY MARRIAGE

JONTEE LANGTON

LEVI INGRAM

ROBERT SPICER

PHIL NITCHIE

UNIT MANAGER RANALD MACLURKIN

SAVAGE FILM SERVICES TOM SAVAGE

JAKLENE VUKASINOVIC

ACCESS SCAFFOLDING CRAIG CUMMIN

CAMERA EQUIPMENT KIEREN WHEELER - HUMMING BIRD

FLYING DRAGON

LOWLOADER MAX ACTION VEHICLES

ON SET NURSE LAURA SHAWCROSS

NICKI EDWARDS

TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT GO TRAFFIC

ACCOMODATION JODIE HAZELL - DEAKIN WATERFRONT

LEIGH ANDERSON - LEAFY RETREAT

POST PRODUCTION SERVICES BY SERVE CHILLED

POST PRODUCER EMILY TATHEM

ASSISTANT EDITOR KRISTINA DOBROWOLNY COLOURIST JUSTIN NGY TRAN

ONLINE EDITOR JUSTIN NGY TRAN

TITLES NIC DEVIN

VFX ARTIST MATHEW SMITH

DIT DARIUS FAMILY

AUDIO POST PRODUCTION BY DEAD ON SOUND

SUPERVISING SOUND DESIGNER RYAN GRANGER

SOUND DESIGNER ADAM HUNT

DIALOGUE EDITOR TALIA RASO

ASSISTANT SOUND EDITOR JACKSON TOSTIVAN

FOLEY JOHN SIMPSON

FOLEY RECORDIST LISA SIMPSON

ADR RECORDED AT DEAD ON SOUND

ADDITIONAL ADR RECORDED AT ZIG ZAG LANE

ENVY STUDIOS

AUS/NZ DISTRIBUTION UMBRELLA ENTERTAINMENT

FOR HEADGEAR SARA BONAKDAR

ANDY CALEY

NATALIE COLEMAN

ADDITIONAL CONTENT BANALARAMA

PRODUCER MARIA ANGELICO

DIRECTOR AND EDITOR ZACHARY BRADTKE

FLAMENCO DANCE MANUEL SALADO BY STOCK FOOTAGE FONOTRON

special thanks

GEELONG CITY COUNCIL

post production services by

SERVED CHILLED

Filmed in Geelong, Australia

financed with the assistance of

HEAD GEAR FILMS / METROL TECHNOLOGY / KREO FILMS

The Producer acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Producer Offset and Screen Australia

Financed with the assistance of Film Victoria under the Regional Filmmaking Fund