Actor Paul Ireland is set to make his feature directing debut on Pawno, a dramedy set in a seedy pawn shop in Melbourne's western suburbs.
Scripted by actor-turned-writer Damian Hill, the film will follow one day in the lives of 14 characters as they attempt to survive, thrive or maintain their way of life in an often cruel world.
“It is a unique and unapologetic journey into the underbelly of our society,” said Hill, who is producing with Ireland through their company Toothless Pictures.
Due to start shooting in Footscray on November 23, the film’s ensemble cast includes John Brumpton, Hill, Maeve Dermody, Malcolm Kennard, Mark Coles Smith and Tony Rickards.
Hill and Ireland, who formed Toothless Pictures last year, raised $12,500 via crowd-funding site Pozible and the balance of the budget from philanthropic investors after two years of toil.
“Our focus is to tell a compelling, poignant and layered story that will move and entertain, to transport our audience into another world and make them laugh and cry,” they say.
“Pawno is a character-driven film about change, hope and identity. Within a day, an eclectic ensemble intersect as lives are examined and motives explored. At its heart lies a simple love story, yet love is rarely simple.”
Ireland’s credits include Sean McNamara’s Melbourne-shot fantasy The Moon and the Sun, Tim Winton’s The Turning, Never Tear Us Apart: The Untold Story of INXS and Blinder.
Ian Kirk is the EP and post production will be co-ordinated through Roar Digital. Shelley Farthing-Dawe is the DoP and Karen Mahood (Charlie's Country, Schapelle, Ten Canoes) is the first AD.
Thea McLeod is the casting director. Brumpton (Wentworth, Fell, Fat Tony & Co) plays Les Underwood, the tough-as-nails owner of the pawn shop. Hill (Fell, The Broken Shore) is Les’ lackey Danny, who yearns to break free. Dermody (Serangoon Road, Beautiful Kate, Bikie Wars) is Kate, an assured, confident woman who works at a nearby bookstore.
Kennard (Backtrack, My Mistress, Devil’s Playground) is lovable nuisance Carlo, Coles Smith (Last Cab to Darwin, Around the Block, Beneath Hill 60) is Carlo's best mate and partner in crime, and Rickards (Wentworth, The Menkoff Method, Summer Coda) is Les’ long-time pal Harry.
Ireland and Hill plan to meet with Australian distributors next month.
.