Simon Baker as Sando with Samsom Coulter (Pikelet) and Ben Spence (Loonie) in Breath.
Filming has started in Denmark, Western Australia, on Simon Baker’s feature film directorial debut, Breath.
The film is based on Tim Winton’s award winning and international best-selling novel and stars Elizabeth Debicki (The Great Gatsby, The Night Manager, upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2), Richard Roxburgh (Moulin Rouge, The Turning, Mission: Impossible II) and Rachael Blake (Sleeping Beauty, Rake, Truth) and Baker (The Mentalist, Devil Wears Prada, Margin Call) as cast.
Newcomers Samson Coulter and Ben Spence will play Pikelet and Loonie respectively, while Roxburgh and Blake are Mr and Mrs Pike.
Debicki is Eva and as previously announced, Baker will play Sando.
Set in mid-70s coastal Australia, Breath follows two teenage boys, hungry for discovery, that form an unlikely friendship with a mysterious older adventurer.
Sando, a a former professional surfer pushes them to take risks that will have a lasting and profound impact on their lives.
Baker said Winton's book viscerally captures the restless curiosity and yearning for identity that often defines our coming of age.
“I am thrilled with the cast and crew we have assembled to bring this story to life."
Producers are Gran Via Productions’ Mark Johnson (Breaking Bad, The Notebook, Rain Man, Chronicles of Narnia), Simon Baker and See Pictures’ Jamie Hilton (Little Death, Backtrack).
Johnson said he believed it was a story that was both uniquely Australian and thematically universal.
"All of us are very excited to bring this movie to a worldwide audience."
Of the location, author Tim Winton said “The Great Southern region has had an enormous impact on my life and work, so I’m very pleased this film is being shot on the beaches and streets and forests that inspired the book.”
The film is financed by ScreenAustralia, ScreenWest, Great Southern Development Commission and Autumn Productions.
Executive Producers are Tom Williams, Johnny MacDonald, David Hansen and Laura Rister.
The novel has been adapted for the screen by Winton (The Turning), Peter Duncan (Rake), Gerard Lee (Top of the Lake) and Simon Baker.
Production Designer is Steven Jones-Evans (The Railway Man, The Daughter), Marden Dean (The Infinite Man, Fell) cinematographer; Costume Designer is Terri Lamera (Son of A Gun, Looking For Grace), Editor is Dany Cooper (Candy, The Sapphires) and Make Up & Hair is Shane Thomas (The Dressmaker, upcoming Hacksaw Ridge).
Embankment Films are selling international rights, CAA and Untitled are representing North America and Palace Films are distributing the film in Australia and New Zealand.