2

Charlie & Boots

CharlieandGraceMcFarlandarealoving,salt‐of‐the‐earthcoupleintheirlate60s,andtonight,istheirfortyfifthweddinganniversary.Familyandfriendspackthecelebrationsandthedanceflooriscrowded.CharlieandGracedancehappilyinamongstthecrowdwhensuddenlyGraceappearsunsteadyonherfeet.Shecollapses,tragicallystruckdownbyafatalstroke.Ashe’slosthisbestfriendandsoulmate,Charlieisdevastatedandwithdrawsintohisgrief. Charlie’syoungestson,“Boots”‐whohasbecomelargelyestrangedfromhisfatherinrecentyears‐isdeeplyconcernedbyhisfather’sdecline.Aftervisitinghimonemorninghedecidessomethingneedstobedoneanditisuptohimtodoit. Bootsconvinceshisreluctantfathertotakeafishingtripwithhim,butitisnotuntiltheyarewellontheirwaydoesheconfessthattheyarenotactuallygoingtofishattheirfavoritelocalspot,butoffthetopofAustraliaatCapeYork‐3,000milesaway!Thefeistyoldcurmudgeonwantsnopartofhisson’scrazyideaanddoeshisbesttoescape,butBootsisontohimandtheresultingtriptakesthetwoacrosssomeofthemostbeautifullocationsandlandscapesinAustralia.Asthejourneyproceeds,CharliebecomesdistractedfromhisgriefandhisnaturalmischievousnessstartstoreturnwithBootsastheobjectofhisjokesandpranks.IsitplayfulmischieforarealdesiretohurthissonashetriesgettingthebestofBootsbytryingtosethimupwithanuninterestedwomanandconfessingsomeofhisson’sadolescentmisadventurestoaradiotalkshow?Itsfunnystuff,butnotwhenthejokeisonyou. Butwhenayoungbeautifulhitchhiker,Jess,joinsthem,hernaturalcharmandupbeatoutlookonlifehelpsthemtounderstandhowimportanttheyreallyaretoeachotherandCharlieandBootslaunchintotherestoftheirjourneyandsomehilariousadventuresincludinganencounterwithJess’sexmadboyfriend,barelysurvivinganexplosivefuelledrodeobullride,afullbodymassageandaruninwithsomeofthetoughestgrandmothersevertoswingabowlingball. Astheygetclosertotheirdestinationandthequalitytimetogetherincreases,oldwoundsarereopenedandfamilysecretsexposedbutforthefirsttimeintheirlivesrehashingtheiroldproblemsandfearshelpsthemtoovercometheriftintheirrelationship.Bootsstartstocometotermswithhisfailedmarriage,andthey begintoaccepttheirgrief. Shortoftheirdestination,theyrunoutofroadandfindthemselvespassengers inaricketyoldplanewithapossiblysuicidalpilotdipping,loopingandstallingoverancientrainforestandcoralreefs,eventuallytouchingdownonthesandsofCapeYork.CharlieandBootsarefinallywheretheyneedtobe–aplacewherewhatisn’tsaidisasimportantaswhatisandwherefamilyties,nomatterhowimperfect,arethetiesthattrulybind.

3

PAULHOGAN

HoganwasworkingontheSydneyHarbourBridgebeforerisingtofameintheearly1970swithhisowncomedysketchprogramme,ThePaulHoganShow,whichheproduced,co‐wrote,andinwhichheplayedapanoplyofcharacters.Theseries,whichranfor60episodesbetween1973and1984,waspopularbothinhisnativecountryandaroundtheworld.In1985,HoganwasawardedAustralianoftheYearandwasalsoinductedintotheOrderofAustralia.

Duringtheearly1980s,HoganfilmedaseriesoftelevisionadspromotingtheAustraliantourismindustry,whichairedintheUnitedStates.Inparticulartheadvertisementfeaturingthephrase“ShrimpontheBarbie”whichairedfrom1984,wasparticularlysuccessful.Laterinthedecade,he

appearedonBritishtelevisioninalong‐runningseriesofadvertisementsforFoster’sLarger,inwhichheplayedanearthyAustralianabroadinLondon.Thecharacter'smostnotableline(spokenincredulouslyataballetperformance)"Strewth,mate,there'sablokedowntherewithnostrideson!"followedHoganforyears,andthepopularityofits"fishoutofwater"humourwasrepeatedwithhisnextendeavour.

Hogan'sfirstfilm,CrocodileDundee(1986),featuredasimilarlydown‐to‐earthhuntertravellingfromtheAustralianOutbacktoNewYorkCity.ThefilmbecamethemostsuccessfulAustralianfilmever,andlaunchedHogan'sinternationalfilmcareer.ItwonhimaGoldenGlobeAwardforBestActorinaComedy,aswellasanAcademyAwardnominationforBestOriginalScreenplay,andaBAFTAAwardnomination.

FollowingthesuccessofCrocodileDundeeHoganstarredinthesequelin1988,andthesetwofilmshavetakenoverhalfabilliondollarsattheworldwideBoxOffice.MostrecentlyHoganstarredinthehighestgrossingAustralianfilmof2004,StrangeBedfellows

SHANEJACOBSON

Betterknownforhiswarmandcharismaticportrayalofthe“fairdinkumAussiebloke”,Kenny,ShaneJacobsonwonthe2006AFIAwardforBestLeadActor,the2006FilmCriticsCircleofAustraliaAwardforBestActorinaLeadRole,the2007FilmInkMagazineAwardsforBestNewComerandrecentlywon2007AustralianStaroftheYearAwardattheAustralianInternationalMovieConvention.“Kenny”wasthehighestgrossingAustralianfilmof2006.

ShaneJacobsonbeganhiscareeronthestageatthetenderageof10withamateurtheatre,performinginAustraliaandoverseas.Atage18Shanebeganhiscomedycareerwithregulartheatrerestaurant,musicaltheatre,stand‐upandMCgigs.Itwasn’tlonguntilthecorporateworldcaughtontohistalentforcharacterizationandaquickquip,hiringhimtoplaytohuge

corporatefunctionsimpersonatingbusinessiconsandluminaries.HissharplyhonedperformanceandcharacterskillswerenoticedbyMelbourne’sGoldFMradiostation,whoin1999gavehimaregularspot.Shane’sfocuseventuallymovedtowardsthecameraandhebeganactinginprominentMusicVideos,ShortFilmsandTVCommercialswhilstcontinuingtoperformaudienceWarm‐UpsforallthemajorTVnetworks.

ShaneandhisBrother/directorClaytonJacobsonsharedthe2006IFAwardsforbothBestFeatureFilmandBestScriptandthe2006FilmCriticsCircleofAustraliaAwardforBestOriginalScreenplay.In2007ShaneactedinthefeaturefilmNEWCASTLE,directedbyDanCastledueforcinematicreleaselaterin2008.Shanerecentlyfinisheda5monthseasonofGuys‘N’DollsatthePrincessTheatreas“NicelyNicely”.ForhisrolehewonaHelpmannAward–BestMaleActorinaSupportingRole.

4

WRITER/DIRECTOR

DeanMurphy isawriter,produceranddirector.Deanwrote,producedanddirectedhisfirstfeatureattheageof16andfollowedthiswithasitcompilotforAustralia'sNineNetwork.In1992Deanwrote,producedanddirectedhissecondfeaturebeforemovingtotheUStowriteanddevelopprojectswithproducerGeorgeFolseyJr(AnAmericanWerewolfinLondon,TradingPlaces,ComingtoAmerica).DeanreturnedtoAustraliain1997todirecthisthirdfeatureandbecameafoundingmemberofInstinctEntertainment,producingbothfeaturesandanaward‐winningshort.In2004,Deanco‐wroteanddirectedthehighlysuccessfulStrangeBedfellowsandhasjustcompletedproducingthethriller,Torn.Deanisnowdevelopingvariousprojectsasbothaproduceranddirectorincludingananimatedfeature.

5

6

DIRECTOR’SNOTES–BYDEANMURPHY

Charlie&Bootswillcelebratethemanyvariedandwonderfulcharactersandplacesthatmakeupthisgreatcountry,Australia.ThephysicaljourneyCharlieandBootstakefromWarrnambooltoCapeYorktakesthemupthroughVictoria,thecentreofNewSouthWalesandQueenslandshowcasingmuchofthisland.IwanttheaudiencetofeeltheyaretravellingalongsideourtwoheroesonthisjourneyandthattheyverymuchfeelsCharlieandBootsarefamiliartothemandpeopletheyknowandrelateto.CharlieandBootsareinspiredbypeopleIpersonallyknowverywell.IgrewuponadairyfarmatthefootofMountMurramurrangbongincountryVictoria.Myfather,alongwithbeingafarmerisalsoapilotandwasastronginfluenceforthecharacterofCharlie.Dadhasawonderfuldrysenseofhumourandwhilstonthesurfacecansometimesappearserious;heisinfacthilariousandhasafascinatingviewontheworld.Charlieisadry,‘saltoftheearth’typewhohasalwayshadhislifeinorder.Beingafarmer,hekneweverymorningwhenheawokethere’dbe120cowstomilkandthathiswife,Grace,andtwoboys,GraemeandBootswouldbeworkingalongsidehimonthefarmandsharingwithhimcommongoalsanddreams.Charlieknewhisplaceintheworldandcommunityandwasahappy,confidentindividualwhohadlifeincontrol.Thenafterafamilytragedy,thebreakupofamarriage,followedbythesuddendeathofGrace,allthatchanges.Charliesuddenlyloseshisbestfriend,hissoulmate,hisworkmateandloverandnowfindshimselfaloneonafarmandinahomethatsuddenlynolongeroffershimthesupportitoncedid.Charlieisacountryblokeinthetruesenseoftheword,amanthatcaresforothersdeeplybutneverletsitshowandcertainlytriestonotletitshowwhenhe,himselfisstruggling.Bootsalsogrewuphappyandconfident,goingtoalocalTechSchoolandleavingschoolatfifteenknowinghishomewasonthefamilyfarmandknowinghisfutureandcareerwasinhisowncontrol.Beforelonghefindshimselfmarriedtoawomanwhodoesn’tfeelhispassionforthecountryandbeginstofeelguiltythathispartnerhasmovedfromthecitytobecomeafarmer’swife–somethingshehasneversettledwith.Thiscausessomeconflictwithinthefamilyandmarriagewhensuddenlythefamilytragedyhits.BootsandhiswifeTheresestruggledthroughthetragedyandasapartoftryingtomoveon,leavethefarmandshiftintoWarrnambool–Bootstakingajobatalocaltractordealership–butthefamilytragedyistoomuchtoovercomeandthemarriagebreaksdown.Bootssuddenlyfindshimselflivingaloneinaflatinthecityandnolongerfeelingabletoreturntothefamilyfarm–histruehome.Bootstrieshardtoremainupbeatandpositivebuttherealitiesofhislifeandhismovingawayfromthefamilyfarmhascausedmanyconflictsbetweenheandhisfatherandtheyhavegrownsomewhatestranged.

Thisiswherewepickupourstory: Thejourneyfindsourheroestakingtotheroad,bothneedinganewstartandabreakfromoldhurtandpain.Astheboystravelnorth,alongwithmanyfunadventuresandscenariostheystarttoworkthroughandslowlyresolvemanyoftheirissues.Theirjourneyisaboutexploringloss,griefandthepeopleleftbehind.Bootshaslosthissonandmother,Charliehiswifeandgrandsonandtheybefriendahitch‐hikerJess,whoherselfhasneverknownherfatherandhelpstheboysunderstandhowspecialwhattheyhaveis–despitetheirdifferencesandtheheartachetheyhavebothexperienced.TherelationshipbetweenCharlieandBootsisthecoreofthestoryandonewithmuchlightandshadetobeexplored.

7

Unlikemypreviousfilm,StrangeBedfellows,thatwasaheavilyplottedscriptwhere‘ohnotheinspectoristurninguponthesamedayasthefireman’sballandoh,no,mydaughter’sgoingtobetheretoo!’andreliedheavilyonfarce,Charlie&BootsisamuchmorelinearcharacterstudyofthesetwoAustralianmenwherethehumourcomesfromamorerealisticplace.WhilstthishumourishardertoreadandunderstandoffthepagethanStrangeBedfellowstypefarce,IsincerelybelievethatCharlie&Bootswillbeamuchfunnierandrewardingfilmasthehumourcomesfromarealplaceandwillresonatemorestrongly.It’sbeeninterestingdiscussingthiswithPaulHoganandShaneJacobsonastheybothseethisasaveryfunnymovieandabsolutelyunderstanditstoneandwherethehumourcomesfrom.Tonally,thehumourwillsitsomewhereintherealmofSidewaysorLittleMissSunshinebutwithamoremainstreamWildHogsorBucketList(forwantofabetterexample)touch.ThewonderfulmovieHappyGo‐Luckyshowsthataudiencesliketoembraceandcelebratethejoyoflifeandthosewhoriseabovethedailygrindwithatwinkleintheireye.

Charlie&Bootsistobeabig,mainstreamfilmthatishilariousbutwithastrongheartandrelationshipatitscorethatmanyAustralianswillidentifyandfallinlovewith.Ifeelthatthemoresubtle,authenticandunderstatedthesecountrycharactersare,thefunnierandmoreentertainingthefilmwillplay.Basically,thefilmhastoringtrue.

8

Casting:ThecastingofCharlie&BootshasbeenadreamwithPaulHoganandShaneJacobsonquicklyattachingthemselvestotheprojectandtheyhavebothrelatedstronglytotherelationshipofCharlieandBoots.ShanehasaverystrongrelationshipwithhisfatherasdoesPaulwithhismanychildrenandtheybothquicklybegantorecounttheirpersonalexperiencesanddetailsoftheirownfamilyrelationships.BothPaulandShaneunderstandthatitiscrucialthatwefeeltheirrelationshipisgenuineandhasatruehistory–scatteredwithbothhappyandsadmemoriesandcomplicationsthatpasteventshaveimposedontheirrelationship.TheroleofCharlieresonatesstronglywithPaulandheisexcitedbythechallengesCharliepresentsforhimandthescriptwasverymuchwrittentoplaytoPaul’sstrengthswhilstatthesametimetakinghimintosomeun‐charteredterritoriesfortheaudience.IknowPaulverywellandwehavealreadydiscussedatsomelengththecharacterofCharlieandPaul’sportrayalandIthinkit’sgoingtobesomethingquitespecialandsurprising.ShaneisalsoveryexcitedbythechallengestheroleBootspresentsandseesthisasanexcitingnextstepinhiscareerandtheperfectfollowuptoKenny.Shanetoldmehisgreatconcernhasbeenthathewouldn’tbeabletofindarolethatwouldallowhimtotop‘Kenny’butfeelshehasfounditandwillbeworkingveryhardtobringthesamelevelofrealism,understandingandhumouraswithhisportrayalof‘Kenny’–butwithoutinanywayrepeatingwhathedidinthatfilm.ThecastingofPaulandShaneasfatherandsonhascertainlyintriguedmanyandIthinktherewillbemanydelightfulsurprisestocome.Forthesupportingroleswehavebeendiscussingmanyexcitingpossibilities.ThereareawonderfularrayofAustraliancharacteractorswearekeentohavepopulatethemanycolourfulrolesandcameosonoffer.PeoplesuchasRoyBillingsasRoly,thepilot,AnnePhelanasthetruckdriverandValLehmanastheangrybowlsladygiveanindicationofthefunwecanhave.

9

Cinematography:ShootingthefilmwillbeRogerLanserACS.RogerhasshotseveralfilmsforusincludingTillHumanVoicesWakeUsandStrangeBedfellows.IhavechosentoagainworkwithRogerforhissubtleuseoflight,colour,overallcraftsmanshipandimportantlyhisstrongunderstandingandloveforwhatwewanttoachievewiththisfilm.WeareplanningonshootingSuper35mminthe2.40ratio.WewanttoshowcaseAustraliaanditslandscapeinitseverchangingglory.FromthelushfarminglandsofWarrnamboolthroughtheharshenvironmentofcentralNSWthroughtotheamazingRainForestsandmagicalcoloursoftheGreatBarrierReef.Whilstalotofthefilmsjourneytakesplaceintheherocar,wehavestarteddiscussionswithKeyGrip,RichardAllardiceaboutwaysoffreeingupthecameraonthetravelingscenesusingacombinationoftechniquesincludinganA‐Frametowingsystemandjib‐armetc,alongwithaspeciallyriggedvehicleforover‐the‐shouldershootingetc.Iwantthefilmtohavealargeclassicstylelook,withrichcoloursandclassicframing.Iwanttousethe2.40frametosometimesshowthebeautyandmajestyoftheAustraliancountrysidewhilstatothertimesshowthelonelinessandsolitudeonecanfeelintheworld,especiallythevastAustralianwilderness.

10

Design:

ForProductionandCostumedesignIwillbeagainworkingwithRalphMoserandJeannieCameron.Ralphproduction‐designedTillHumanVoicesWakeUsandStrangeBedfellowsforusandiswonderfulatenhancingnaturalenvironments,whichiscrucialonCharlie&Boots.Iwanttoprimarilyusereallocationsandhotelrooms,museumsanddinersetc…usingonlyminimalenhancementstothesealreadyfascinatinglocales.Thejourneyourheroestakeisalreadydottedwithstunninglocationsandlandmarksandmanyofthesewillbeusedonthejourney.

11

12

Withcostumedesign,realismisthekey.WeneedtoabsolutelybelievethatCharlieandBootsarebothmenofthelandandtheirno‐fusswardrobeneedstoexpressthis.Fromgrowinguponafarm,Iknowfarmershaveaveryspecificlook.Veryrarelydotheyactuallygooutandbuy‘farmclothing’butwhattheywearonthefarmisgenerallytheir‘good’clothesoncetheygetold.Theclothesmovefromthe‘good’cupboardtothe‘work’cupboard.Thismightsoundlikeatrivialdetailbutgiveagroundingandunderstandingwherethemindsetforthecostumedesign(orlackthereof)needstostart.Obviouslyasourheroesheadnorththewardrobechangesasthepropertiesgetbiggerandtheenvironmentharsherbutweneedthisrealitythroughout.

Music/SoundDesign:Asalwayssounddesignandmusiciscriticalinhelpingsetthetoneandatmosphereofthefilm.Musically,I’mplanningonworkingwithDaleCorneliuswhomweworkedwithonStrangeBedfellows,TillHumanVoicesWakeUsandTorn.Daleiswonderfulatunderstandingafilm’smeaningandtone.HeisverystrongthematicallywhichIfeelwillworkverywellwiththelarge,openlandscapesandvistasbutalsoiseffectiveatgentlyestablishinganemotionalbackbonetothecharacters’journeysandgettinginsidetheiremotionalstate.ItisalsointendedthattherewillbequiteaheavysoundtrackofclassicAustralianmusicplayingonthecar’sstereo.Itwouldbeniceiftheradio’smusicchangesslightlyastheirtripheadsnorthanddependingonwhatthelocalradiostationislikelytobeinto.Forexample,IknowwheneverIamheadinghometomyparentsplaceupnearAlbury,IonlyhavetobeonthelocalstationforacoupleofminutesbeforesomeColdChiselisheard.

13

IfyouheadnorththroughcentralNSWthemusicgenerallytakesonamorecountryflavouretc…OverallIseequitearichmusicalsoundtrackmadeupofclassicAussiemusicandalargemusicalscore.OnsounddesignwewillonceagainbeworkingwithMikeSlaterandScottFindlaywhowehaveworkedwithusonallourpreviousfilms.TheeverchanginglocationofCharlie&Bootsallowsustoexploreareallyatmosphericsoundtrackandcreatearich,densesoundtrackfeaturingmanyofthesoundsofthecountryandwildlifethatmakethiscountryunique.

14

15

Summary:Ultimately,Charlie&Bootsistobeacelebrationofafatherandson’srelationshipandtheirmemoriesoflostlovedones‐andtwoestrangedmen’sloveandsupportthroughthemanychallengeslifeoffers.IhaveaverystrongrelationshipwithmyownfatherandmuchoftherelationshipbeingexploredbyCharlieandBootscomesfromaveryrealplaceforme.WhileCharlieandBootsaretypicallydryandauthenticAussieblokeswhostruggletoexpresstheiremotions,theyhaveanincrediblystrongloveandbondbetweenthemandultimatelywouldgototheendoftheworldforeachother.Thestory,whilsttoldgently,willringtruetomanyandreflectonfatherandsonrelationshipsworldwideandthestrugglestheserelationshipscanendure.IthinkCharlieandBootswillmakeawonderful,memorableteamandtheaudiencewillempathizeheavilywiththemthroughboththeircomedicmisadventuresandemotionaljourneyandawakening.Charlie&Bootsistobeabig,mainsteamyetheartfeltcomedy.ItwillcelebratethehumanspiritwhilstshowcasingthebestofAustraliawithtwoofourmostpopularcomedicactors.DeanMurphy.

TheEnd

David Redman Instinct Entertainment david@instinctentertainment.com Mobile - +61 418 546 005

©2008InstinctEntertainmentPty.Ltd.AllRightsReserved