PRODUCTION NOTES DUMB CRIMINALS

Writer, Producer, Director: Paul Fenech

Rabbit Productions Pty Ltd, A Transmissions Films Release

Release Date: 21st October, 2015

Running time: 91 minutes

Classification: CTC

PUBLICITY REQUESTS

Kabuku Public Relations (02) 9690 2115

Belinda Dyer [email protected] or 0415 686 014

Marissa Giannone [email protected] or 0421 801 929

Distributed in Australia by Transmission Films, 3 Little Collins St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

SYNOPSIS DUMB CRIMINALS – THE MOVIE

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE STUPID.

From cult comedy hero Pauly Fenech comes ‘Dumb Criminals: The Movie’. Real dumb crimes recreated with the fictional wannabe gangsters; Rabbit, Rongo, Jimmy the Junkie, Pothead and Droptank. The crew lead by Rabbit (Paul Fenech) are on a mission to raise money to buy expensive medical care for a sick little girl. Dumb crimes, for a good cause.

Sadly our anti-heroes fumble, bumble and stumble, often failing miserably. Their final mission, a hit on a dodgy accountant in Las Vegas. Can they over come their own stupidity to save the day?

SYNOPSIS

Based on real dumb crimes from all over the world, cult comedy hero Pauly Fenech reunites his comedy ensemble, including Angry Anderson, Elle Dawe and Kevin Taumata.

The film follows 5 really stupid criminals trying to steal money in order to help save the life of a little girl who needs expensive medical treatment.

Rabbit (Pauly Fenech) is the brains of the crew a wannabe bikers. He has many enemies including a ‘roid raging bikey called Tiny. Rongo (Kevin Taumata) is Rabbit’s best mate and the muscle of the crew. He and Rabbit used to ride with a biker club called ‘The Hunters’. Pothead (Benny “Bogan” McLean) is also a member of the dumb criminal cartel, his nickname says its all. Rounding out the crew are Jimmy the Junky (Alex Romano) and Droptank (Shaun Robinson).

The film follows our dumb heroes attempting stupid crime after stupid crime, eventually ending up in Las Vegas as wannabe hit-men. Their mission? Kill an accountant who has stolen money from the infamous ‘Hunter’ biker gang. If they kill the accountant they will receive the money to save the little girl.

Our dumb criminals battle Mexican cartels, Bikers, Elvis impersonators and the police.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

“Dumb Criminals” appealed to me because of the great array of real true dumb crimes from around the world. I wanted to create a set of new characters that where great Aussie criminals. But not the big fish, the real low end stooges.

I play ‘Rabbit’, a bikie wannabe, who loves strippers and is scared of Elvis impersonators. Kev plays ‘Rongo’ the muscle of the crew, a tough Harley riding Maori who is Rabbit’s best mate. ‘Jimmy the Junkie’ is an over addicted petty thief. “Pothead” is the quintessential Aussie stoner with a passion for Ned Kelly. There’s also Droptank, whose nickname is for his huge gut and also his ability to drop most things that come into contact with his hands. These five are the ‘Dumb Criminals.

Elle Dawe plays ‘Sharnelle’ a stripper whose daughter suddenly becomes extremely ill. She can be cured in Switzerland but Sharnelle can’t afford the fee. Rabbit and Rongo decide they will steal the money for her.

It was a very hard shoot four me as well as the usual directing, producing, writing and acting difficulties, I had to ride one of the bikes to set every day. One hour there and one hour home in the middle of winter freezing my nuts off.

Also, the film had no government support like all of my last films ‘Fat Pizza’ (2003), ‘Housos vs Authority’ (2012) and ‘Fat Pizza vs Housos’ (2014). My producing partner Serge Lacroix, who also is our sound mixer and myself also financed the films.

We had a great cast of heavily tattooed bad guys. Including,‘Tiny’, played by Michael Handley an ex soldier who toured in Afghanistan and Lee Priest an Australian winner of the ‘Mr. Universe’ title. Angry Anderson returned to play the leader of the ‘Hunters’ outlaw motorcycle club. If you look at the film and think, ‘Gee these guys look like real bikers’, it’s because many are the real deal.

We also shot a portion of the film in Las Vegas and the Nevada desert. In the story, my character, Rabbit and Rongo are chasing the Hunters former accountant, who is hiding in Vegas after stealing the biker’s money.

Now shooting in Las Vegas was difficult for three reasons. One, we had zero permission so we were constantly running from security guards near casinos. Two, our crew was a crew of five. One cameraman, one sound guy (who is 19 and had never recorded a feature film before and one producer to help organise everything. We also had three cast Kev, myself and Nick Godsell who plays the ‘Accountant’. So numbers were small. The third and most difficult thing was the heat, we were shooting in 45 degree desert heat every day from 10am until around 11pm each night and our entire Vegas shoot was only 4 days on the ground.

One of the great things about filming in Las Vegas was the freedom to use guns with blanks. In Australia, it’s almost impossible for crew or cast to use stage guns without a team of safety officers, in Vegas we just went to store bought some special blank firing pistols and off we went. No licence, no questions asked.

As difficult as it was, it was a great project. It started as a web series and the idea was so strong we were able to pitch it as a film. In a pure stroke of luck, the web series became an entree for the main course, which is this film.

I also realised while making our film, that Aussies are seeing less and less movies in the the cinema. Why? The ticket price can be as high as 25 dollars. Aussie films have less than half a chance against all the American movies. So I created a new ‘on demand’ system where our ticket price is set at 16 dollars, the only trade off was you had to pre-buy your tickets online.

I’m very proud of the film, its authentic Australian crime vernacular. I did lots of research hanging out with crime cops and generally dodgy characters.

To play ‘Rabbit’, I also had to spend two hours every day putting my fake tattoos on. Sorry too break a few gears here, but I have to admit, I don’t have one real tattoo. I also went to the gym and tried to bulk up a little to play Rabbit. I also drank a lot of tequila to get that hard drinking stupid tough guy look for the film. I was pulled over many times and questioned many times by police just walking around on my days off, so I think my character and look were a success.

This film also reunites our awesome production team. Our DOP Mike Kliem, who I have been working with since 1993. Dave Rudd, our editor, who I have been working with since 1998 and Joe Weatherstone, our producer, who has produced around 5 TV series and three films with me to date. Not to mention our ensemble of great comic actors.

I wanted the film to be different but similar to ‘Housos’, so we set the film in ‘Sunnyvale’ the same fictional sunburb where ‘Housos’ is set. We even used ‘The Hunters’ which are the same biker group who play baddies in ‘Housos’.

After over a hundred half hours of TV comedy, five feature films and an innumerable amount of stage shows around the country, I feel that I have got to know our fans and supporters very well. This movie is a ‘bogan bandit’ film. I believe I’ve created a new genre. It actually reminds me of a ‘Western’ in some ways, not that many people even remember ‘Westerns’ anymore.

Pothead played by Benny MacLean was probably the greatest newcomer in this movie, We met him as an extra and just a fan of our other films, so before the ‘Dumb Criminals’ web series Benny had little or no acting experience, but he steals the film in many scenes and had me laughing.

I suppose many performers in the film are newcomers. I love the experience of working with new people who look great on camera and getting a great comedy moment from them.

CAST – BIOS

Pauly Fenech - RABBIT - see Crew

Kev Taumata - RONGO

Kev has been performing for the past 15 years. He has had roles in shows such as “Murder Call”, “Heartbreak High”, and makes an appearance in “Race the Sun” and can be seen in Paul Fenech’s “Pizza Series 4 and 5”, and various spin off “Pizza” shows. Most recently he has a leading role in “Swift and Shift Couriers” season 1 and 2 as well as the TV series “Housos”, “Housos Vs Authority”, “Fat Pizza vs Housos” and now is the lead in Dumb Criminals alongside Paul Fenech.

Alex Romano – JIMMY SPEED

Alex is an Argentine-Australian actor. He has starred in all of Paul Fenech's TV series; as DJ BJ (Big Jams) in Pizza, "Alex" in Swift and Shift Couriers, and "Jimmy the Junkie" in Housos. He grew up in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, Australia, after he migrated there with his family in 1981. Romano also co-starred in the 2013 Australian film, Housos vs. Authority, as "Jimmy the Junkie". He featured on Australian rapper Fortay At Large's YouTube television show 'The Fortnightly Report' in the episode 'Sunnyvale Junkies' and made a cameo appearance on 7mate's Bogan Hunters. He is currently one of the lead actos in DUMB CRIMINALS the web series and feature film due for release 2015.

Shaun Robinson – DROPTANK

Shaun Anthony Robinson Actor, Singer, Born entertainer. From 2009 to 2015 he was the frontman for Sydney Rock band "Origin of Janken". In 2013 he was given his first TV exposure by Pauly Fenech and appeared on “Bogan Hunters” (7mate). In 2014 he made another appearance in film in "Fat Pizza Vs Housos" and appeared as a featured extra in a “Truth” staring Cate Blanchett. In 2015 Shaun branched into theatre playing the role of a Cockney thug in the Comedy Scratch play by Tom Green. This was Shaun’s first ever theatre role taking out the Short + Sweet festival 2015 placing 1st in the following, Best production, Best Director, Peoples choice & Best actor. 2015 Shaun plays Droptank a key character in Paul Fenech’s new show “Dumb Criminals” a web series and feature film. If you are looking a nasty boyfriend, bad guy, monster, mildly stupid stoner, serious biker, bogan or character - even a hopeless romantic that’s a team player with a willingness to learn, Shaun’s your man.

Benny Maclean - POTHEAD

Benny ‘Bogan’ McClean was discovered by Paul Fenech September 2013 at a Housos/Bogan Hunters live show where I competed onstage. Since then I have had a heavily featured extras role in “Fat Pizza Vs Housos” the movie and a small extras part in Bogan Hunters and now a key role in the web series and feature film of DUMB CRIMINALS Paul Fenech’s new show. Prior to this Benny had no acting experience.

Elle Dawe - SHARNELLE

Elle has appeared in TV shows such as Swift & Shift Couriers Season 1 and 2 and has made her mark as Shazza in Paul Fenech’s comedy series Housos and the 2012 film release Housos vs Authority. She has appeared in several national commercials for products like Franklins and New Zealand Tourism. As well as many live comedy shows such as the Adelaide fringe and the Sydney comedy festival. Elle studied acting from an early age attending Newtown High School of the Performing Arts and continues to grow her acting skills with various courses and training. Elle lives in Sydney where she works as an actor, comedian and presenter.

With special appearances by:

Andy McPhee

Angry Anderson, Greg King, Michael Handley & Sage Matchett

The Crew

Creator, Writer, Director, Producer And Lead Cast – PAULY FENECH

After a brief career as an amateur kick boxer and an even briefer stint as a soldier in the Australian Army, Paul Fenech was hired by ABC TV as a stagehand to sweep the studio floors. For the following seven years, Paul worked his way up the TV chain, from sound assistant to floor manager, before realising his ambition of becoming a director.

In 1996 Paul made a short film called Space Pizza that won the open section of Tropfest. In 1998, Paul won first place at Tropfest with a film called Intolerance starring Austen Tayshus. The panel of judges included Jane Campion, Keanu Reeves and Samuel L. Jackson. When the winners were announced, a drama ensued as Paul had entered the competition under a female pseudonym, Laura Feinstein.

On the back of all these short films, Paul made his first low budget feature called “Somewhere in the Darkness”. The film starred Ernie Dingo and Leah Purcell. “Somewhere in the Darkness“ was the first Australian film to be selected for competition at the Slamdance Film Festival in the US.

Paul began working at SBS on various documentaries. It was during this period Paul decided to pitch his pizza delivery concept that had served his short films so well. Pizza the TV series was born. Since its inception, almost seventy episodes of Pizza have been made since 2000 when the series’ first went to air.

Fat Pizza, the feature film, is also one of few Australian films to turn a profit recently, and is currently ranked in the top 100 Australian films that have performed well at the box office.

Paul Fenech’s next creation was Swift and Shift Couriers, a comedy series based on the employees and a typical working day within a courier company. Swift and Shift Couriers season 1 & 2 features TV legend, Ian Turpie and female comedy genius Amanda Keller.

The first series of Paul’s Housos gained a lot of media attention, despite the controversy surrounding the series, Housos went to air in October 2011 on SBS. The series held the 10pm timeslot but continued to pull high ratings. Housos was nominated for a Logie in April 2012.

In November 2012, Paul released Housos vs Authority, a feature film based on the Housos television series. It was distributed by Transmission Films and Paramount Pictures. This was followed by a second television series Housos 2 which aired in July 2013. 2014 saw “Bogan Hunters” air for 7Mate successfully and ‘Housos’ won the 2014 Logie for ‘Best Light Entertainment.”

DP – Michael Kliem

Mike is a veteran cameraman with over 30 years experience in the Film and TV industry. He has worked on everything from news and current affairs through to international documentaries, television commercials and feature films. He has been working with Paul Fenech for over 15 years, and been the principle DP on all his productions from the very beginning.

EDITOR – David Rudd

With a career spanning twenty years in the film & TV industry, David’s work has crossed the spectrum of editing from TVC's & music videos to documentary & drama. In 1998 David teamed up with the Paul Fenech behemoth to edit his ‘Tropfest’ winning short film 'Intolerence' & the pair have been working together ever since.... Through the years their collaboration has produced numerous short films, music videos as well as a feature film “Fat Pizza the Movie” and includes ninety TV shows, the 'Pizza' phenomena, ‘Swift & Shift Couriers’ and 'Housos' which David thinks is Paul’s best work to date. "It's really F@@king good" he said. (After cutting ‘Housos’ and the new feature film “Housos vs Authority”, Dave now swears, a lot). In 2014 Dave cut the indie feature film “Alvins Harmonious World of Opposites” by Platon Theodoris set to hit the festival circuit shortly.