Crawlspace writer-director- producer Justin Dix aims to set up a screening of the action-thriller in each capital city following its premiere last Sunday night at Melbourne’s Astor Theatre.
Dix was heartened by the turnout in Melbourne, where he hosted a Q&A session, and is talking to independent exhibitors about staging similar events around the country.
He figures there will be an appetite among audiences to see his film on the big screen although the title is being released by Greenlight Releasing on DVD and Blu-ray on July 22, and simultaneously on Big Pond Movies.
Dix’s debut film, the saga follows a special forces unit sent to infiltrate the top secret underground military compound Pine Group and is attacked by unknown forces, featuring Ditch Davey, Fletcher Humphrys, Eddie Baroo, Peta Sergeant and Samuel Johnson.
It had its Australian premiere at the Cockatoo Island Film Festival in Sydney, was sold to numerous territories by Gary Hamilton’s Darclight and was released in the US by IFC Midnight .
Dix is developing several projects including a US-financed, Australian-based film which he’s not allowed to discuss; High Noon, which he likens to a Pirates of the Caribbean set in the Wild West; and a modern re-imagining of the Grimm brothers’ fairytale Little Red Riding Hood.
"Technically I have enough projects to last me for the next 10 years, even if I make one every couple of years," he said.
When he pitches US producers, he says his tactic is to present detailed storybooks he’s designed and to “always go in with three projects, all varied in the genre spectrum, at different budget levels.” He finds, “Your stock goes up because you are bringing in not only an original script but also the visuals.”
His US agents have sent him a bunch of scripts which he would potentially direct. He has no qualms about directing someone else’s material but was quick to reject an offer to make Dragonheart 3 on a $3 million budget. He saw the trailer for Dragonheart 2 and that was enough to decide it wasn’t for him.