Johnny and Patrick Flynn shott comedy feature Dick's Clinic.
Melbourne brothers Patrick and Johnny Flynn have used crowdfunding and crowdsourcing to successfully complete and screen their original Australian feature film Dick’s Clinic.
The comedy, starring Justin Rosniak (Animal Kingdom), Ben Geurens (Neighbours), Don Bridges (Romper Stomper) and Nicole Shostak (Exhale), follows the single and newly unemployed Richard “Dick” Warner.
After his psychologist has a mental breakdown, Dick feels cheated and decides if his shrink's crazy enough to land in the nut house, then he's sane enough to counsel other people.
So he opens his own therapy practice out of his garage.
The film screened at Dendy Opera Quays and Lido Cinemas Hawthorne VIC via FanForce in December to positive reviews.
Writer, Johnny Flynn, who came up with the idea for the film while studying at RMIT, told IF the film had been a crowd pleaser so far.
“We are using these screenings through Fan Force as a test run, but we are definitely going to keep going down the screening route,” he said.
“The word of mouth helps numbers to screenings. Hopefully we will get someone who says I love it. I really want to release it.”
“When I was studying screen at RMIT it was one of those things that seemed doable.
“The idea got a good reaction and I could see Tthe potential of involving a whole lot of characters that were interesting and damaged and quirky. It was a matter of finding the right location.
Justin Rozniak stars as Richard 'Dick' Warner in Dick's Clinic.
The self-funded film, directed by Patrick Flynn, was shot in Essendon over three-weeks in a rented house, rather than a studio, and the post production funds ($15,000) were raised via crowdfunding site Pozible.
But it was almost never made. Johnny had nearly given up on filmmaking until his former RMIT teacher, Ian Pringle, called him to work on indie feature, The Legend Maker.
“After that I was inspired again,” he said.
Johnny called in producer, John Fairhurst, and started to assemble the cast over a period of four months.
This included Jeremy Kewley, who in turn helped recruit Australian screen veteran, Don Bridges.
Johhny, who first realised he wanted to become a filmmaker after watching The Full Monty, said he knew the shoot was always going to be tough.
“But it was the most fun we have ever had on set,” he said.
“We had council workers and rain and all these things you have when you are not shooting in a studio. But it’s completed now and it’s something we are all really proud of.
“Our focus now is on getting Dick’s Clinic out there. We will do whatever we can to try and give it a life.”