Renewed interest in Australian film after its chilling COVID-19 prediction
A film, starring Ray Hadley and a string of Home And Away stars, produced four years ago has stirred up viewers following a “bizarre” plot line. Now, director Kane Guglielmi has had the final word.
Confidential
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NEARLY four years after being told his film was “a bit bizarre”, director Kane Guglielmi has the final word.
The storyline to Guglielmi’s feature film, Cooped Up, mirrors what is going on in the world right now with coronavirus pandemic and he has found a renewed interest in the film.
“It blows my mind how similar it is to the situation right now,” filmmaker Guglielmi told Confidential.
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“It is about a guy who comes into contact with a form of coronavirus and like everyone on earth right now, is as a result forced into self isolation in his own home for 21 days.”
Cooped Up starred Home And Away actor Charles Cottier as wrestler Jake who is forced into quarantine in his childhood home after coming into contact with the fatal virus.
Cottier’s former Home And Away castmate Steve Peacocke is also in the film, as is Kathryn Beck, Tim Ross and Adam Demos. Radio shock jock Ray Hadley makes a cameo in the film.
The current crisis has seen renewed interest in the film with online viewing up and the movie also available to watch through Foxtel.
“Engagement through social media has been far greater than when we first released the movie,” Guglielmi said. “The amount of people watching the trailer and the amount of people inquiring as to how to watch the film has been unprecedented. Rentals have increased too.”
Ironically, Guglielmi, his wife and children moved from Australia to Tuscany in Italy earlier this year. Italy is of course one of the worst impacted countries from COVID-19.
“We are not allowed to go even for a walk and you need a legal document to go and buy food,” he said. “Gloves and masks are mandatory if you leave the house. We are just bunkered down doing our best.”
Watch the Cooped Up trailer here
