Press release from Icon Film Distribution Australia
Icon Entertainment International is proud to announce the romantic comedy “Love Birds” began principal photography on Sunday March 28, 2010 on location in Auckland, New Zealand.
"Love Birds” is a feature film starring acclaimed comedian and actor Rhys Darby and Golden Globe Award winning British actress Sally Hawkins, is a charming, bitter-sweet romantic comedy about what it is to have friends and find true love.
The project is financed by Silver Reel, Icon, the New Zealand Film Commission, New Zealand on Air, TVNZ, DigiFilm and Eyeworks. International sales and distribution will be handled by Icon Entertainment. Icon Distribution will distribute “Love Birds” in the UK, Australia and New Zealand in 2011.
Icon Entertainment International (IEI) has established itself as one of the leading suppliers of theatrical feature films to the independent film market establishing strong relationships with the best distributors in each territory. Forthcoming productions include “How I Spent My Summer Vacation” by Adrian Grunberg, starring and co-written by Mel Gibson, “4.3.2.1.” by multi award winning British actor/director Noel Clarke, “The Way” from the director of Bobby Emilio Estevez and starring Martin Sheen, "West is West" from the makers of East Is East, Julie Taymor’s “The Tempest” starring Helen Mirren and Ralph Fiennes’ directorial debut “Coriolanus” in which he will play the title role alongside Gerard Butler and Vanessa Redgrave.
In "Love Birds" Rhys Darby (“Yes Man”, “Flight of the Conchords”) stars as Doug, an ordinary bloke who finds himself suddenly single and lost, and Golden Globe Award-winning-actress Sally Hawkins (“Happy go Lucky”, “An Education”, "Made in Dagenham") stars as Holly, the sassy animal specialist.
Doug (Rhys Darby) is a man who’s life has fallen apart after Susan (Faye Smythe) his long-term girlfriend leaves him. Pierre, an injured “shelduck’ (native to New Zealand) – literally crash lands into his life, igniting a much needed spark and adventure as he’s forced to nurse it back to health. Through Pierre, Doug discovers his own true place in the world and the belief in himself that will allow true love to blossom with Holly (Sally Hawkins) – as she shows him how to care for Pierre and see the errors of his own approach to life.
Rhys Darby, best known as nerdy talent manager Murray Hewitt in the international hit HBO series "Flight of the Concords", is currently fronting a USD $80m rebranding campaign "Let's do Amazing..", for Hewlett Packard in a series of commercials featuring hip hop producer Dr Dre, legendary portrait photographer to the stars Annie Liebovitz , and others – the campaign has quickly become a huge hit on You Tube. Visit www.awesomenesscomedy.com/rhys-darby
Sally Hawkins is a graduate of RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts). She loves to act and write (especially comedy). Her feature film debut was in Mike Leigh's "All or Nothing" in 2002. In 2008 Sally won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy, beating fellow nominees Meryl Streep, Frances McDormand, Rebecca Hall and Emma Thompson for her role as the irrepressibly cheerful Poppy in Mike Leigh's "Happy Go Lucky". Since then Hawkins has gone on to star in several films including the upcoming features "Made in Dagenham" and "Jane Eyre".
Visit www.sally-hawkins.com
"Love Birds" also includes a stellar ensemble cast of 12 actors, includes multi-award winning actor and film producer Bryan Brown ("Dean Spanley", "Town like Alice") as the vet Dr Buster; Emily Barclay as Holly's best friend Brenda (Barclay is a winner of Most Promising Newcomer at the 2005 British Independent Film Awards, NZ Film Award for Best Actress "In My Father's Den" and more recently an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Actress for the black comedy "Suburban Mayhem "; Craig Hall ("World's Fastest Indian", "Outrageous Fortune") and Dave Fane ("Sione's Wedding", "Eagle Vs Shark") as Doug's work-mates.
“Love Birds” brings together again the successful team of Director Paul Murphy and original screenwriter Nick Ward, following their first collaboration “Second Hand Wedding” which is New Zealand’s 7th highest grossing film.
“Having just finished directing writer Nick Ward’s “Second Hand Wedding”, said Director Paul Murphy, “and having the pleasure of watching this small film about family, enjoy not only remarkable NZ box office success but also it’s heart warming affect on the public, I am once again excited to bring another story of Nick’s to the big screen.”
“Love Birds” also reunites the successful producer team Matthew Metcalfe and Alan Harris who last worked together producing the acclaimed feature film “Dean Spanley”, starring Peter O’Toole. "Dean Spanley" swept the Qantas NZ Film and TV Awards in 2009 winning a record 7 awards including Best Picture, Best Director (Toa Fraser), Best Supporting Actor (Peter O'Toole) and Best Screenplay (Alan Sharp).
"Love Birds" talented team of filmmakers also include award-winning : Cinematographer Alun Bollinger (“Heavenly Creatures” “Oyster Farmer”), Production Designer Andrew McAlpine (“The Piano”, “Dean Spanley”), Editor Chris Plummer (“Dean Spanley”, “Black Sheep”), Costume Designer Kirsty Cameron (“In my Father’s Den”). Co-Producer is Karl Zohrab ("Dean Spanley", "The Devil Dared Me To"), Judith Trye ("No. 2" , "Rain") is Line Producer and Make-up Designer is Denise Kum ("The Vintner's Luck", "North Country").
“Love Birds” will film on several locations around Auckland. Production will conclude in mid May 2010.
Icon Distribution is planning a 2011 release for the film in the UK, Australia & New Zealand. International sales and distribution will be handled by Icon Entertainment International.