Fighting for a local premiere

IT has been a dream for more than eight years - now director Warren Ryan is fighting to premiere his first feature film in his home town of Warwick.

Frank Biddle (left), Warren and Cassie Ryan are pushing for the Rose City-based rodeo movie Shadows of the Past to premiere in Warwick. Picture: Warwick Daily News

IT has been a dream for more than eight years - now director Warren Ryan is fighting to premiere his first feature film in his home town of Warwick, where Shadows of the Past is set.

“To us, it's important for the local people who helped us throughout the whole process to get the opportunity to see it first,” Mr Ryan said.

More than three years ago, the Ryans - including director Warren, co-writer Elsa and actress Cassie, 17, - relocated to the Rose City, having found the perfect place for their rodeo-inspired flick.

But dwindling funds and lack of government support means Warwick may miss out on hosting the premiere, which Mr Ryan estimates will cost between $4000 and $7000.

“We've asked for assistance every step of the way - we've applied to Screen Australia, the Regional Arts Development Fund and then the Pacific Film and Television Commission (PFTC) on the advice of the (Southern Downs Regional) Council,” Mr Ryan said.

“We should have received something from the PFTC but they'd rather send their money elsewhere.

“$70 million of taxpayers' money went into (Baz Luhrmann's) Australia - we can't even get 500 bucks.”

The Ryans are running out of options for venues to host the premiere as well, with the town hall booked out for the month of May and not many other venues suitable to host a big audience.

“At the end of the day no one was holding a gun to our heads telling us to make a movie, but when you're seeing money flying about it'd be nice if we could get some assistance.”

Daughter Cassie has her fingers crossed she will have the opportunity to watch her first feature film appearance with her friends in her home town.

“A lot of my friends helped with the film and it would be good if they could all enjoy watching it with me,” Cassie said.

Mr Ryan said Shadows of the Past“just screams Warwick”.

“There are a lot of locations the town knows so well - Leslie Dam, Connolly Dam and Mount Colliery all look so different and amazing on the big screen.

“Even the town hall looks amazing as the bus drives into town in the opening scene of the movie and the 'Welcome to Warwick' sign looks almost fake it's so glossy.”

Frank Biddle, who supplied many of the bulls in the film and appears in a few scenes, said the community should support the premiere.

“It'll be great to see the final product - (the premiere) should be really important to everyone because it's been shot around here and it's the first-ever movie of Warwick,” Mr Biddle said. “It could put our little town on the map.”

The official cinema release will start in Nowra, NSW on May 14, but it is hoped the Warwick premiere will be held on May 10 featuring Gallipoli actor and singer Mark Lee performing at an after-party.

“We are not looking to make any money off the premiere in Warwick, but we simply have no further available funds to hold it here without assistance,” Mr Ryan said.

Originally published as Fighting for a local premiere