THEY’RE hoping it’ll become the next The Castle or Crocodile Dundee.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Upcoming Australian film The BBQ is set to be filmed in Albury, Wodonga and Mitta from February 6.
A strong cast, featuring the likes of Magda Szubanksi, Shane Jacobson, Julia Zemiro and Manu Fieldel is set to star in what director and producer Stephen Amis hopes will be the next Australian classic.
“A good friend of mine lives in Albury, and a while ago he was lamenting that he couldn’t take his kids to the movies and see something they would all enjoy,” he said.
“I thought about making a broad-based comedy that would appeal to young and old.
“I had an association with Working Dog through some work I did for one of their TV series, and decided that I wanted to make something that was a bit of a cross between The Castle and some of those other films in that genre.
“Eventually we arrived at the concept of The BBQ.”
In the film, Darren ‘Dazza’ Cook, played by Jacobson, is a family man whose passion for barbecuing is thrown into the air when he accidentally gives his neighbours food poisoning at his regular Saturday barbecue.
To restore his dignity and reputation, Dazza enlists the help of a tyrannical Scottish chef known only as ‘The Butcher’, played by Szubanski, and enters an international barbecue competition.
“It’s a classic underdog story,” Mr Amis said.
“I’ve been up and back to Albury plenty of times over the years and have some good friends here.
“It’s a sensational area, a great place to be.
“The whole region is really gorgeous.
“The Aussie BBQ is the iconic watering hole that brings all people together.
“We’re thrilled to have attracted such an incredible cast to bring our story to the screen.
“The BBQ speaks to middle Australia in all its ragged glory – it’s a comedy that celebrates cultural diversity, slow-cooked on the barbie over millenia.
“The film covers all demographics and all cultures. People have been barbecuing for 50,000 years – it’s all about community.”
Border businessman Scott Giltrap is acting as an executive producer, while director of two other locally produced films Cliffy and Strange Bedfellows Dean Murphy is also assisting. Albury Council has also thrown its support behind the film.
