[from Inside Film Magazine]
Monday, January 15
Principal photography commences on the new Australian feature The Black Balloon in Sydney this week.
Starring Rhys Wakefield (Home & Away) Gemma Ward and Luke Ford (Kokoda), Erik Thomson (Somersault) and Toni Collette (Sixth Sense, Little Miss Sunshine), directed by first time feature director Elissa Down and produced by Tristram Miall (Strictly Ballroom) The Black Balloon is a coming of age story about fitting in, discovering teenage love and accepting your family.
When Thomas (Wakefield) and his family move to a new home and he has to start at a new school, all he wants is to fit in. When his pregnant mother (Collette) has to take things easy, he is put in charge of his autistic older brother Charlie (Ford). Thomas, with the help of his new girlfriend Jackie (Ward), faces his biggest challenge yet. Charlie’s unusual antics take Thomas on an emotional journey that causes his pent-up frustrations about his brother to pour out, in a story that’s funny, shocking, and ultimately heart-warming.
In making the announcement producer Tristram Miall said ‘rarely does an unsolicited script capture one’s imagination so strongly, with such passion and insight invested in it.’
Selected for the 2004 Aurora Development Scheme through the NSW Film & Television Office The Black Balloon was written by Elissa Down and Jimmy Jack (Five Guys Named Moe).
‘The Black Balloon is a beautiful coming of age story with universal appeal — it’s warm, funny and moving and we’re proud to be involved with Elissa’s first feature. There is something very real about the script she has written and we can’t wait to see her unique vision up on the big screen,’ said Mark Gooder CEO Icon Film Distribution & President, Acquisitions & Development, Icon Productions.
The Black Balloon is made with the assistance of the Film Finance Corporation Australia and the New South Wales Film & Television Office with international sales by Icon Entertainment International and theatrical distribution in Australia by Icon Film Distribution.
[release from CLPR]