Opal Dream (2006)

Director:

Peter Cattaneo

Writers:

Peter Cattaneo (screenplay) and
Phil Traill (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

22 November 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Family

Tagline:

. . . a rare gem of an Australian family film

Plot:

A young girl's relationship with her imaginary friends resonates throughout her town in the Australian Outback. |

Plot Keywords:

Girl | Imaginary Friend | Australian Outback | Outback | Town

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Sapphire Boyce	...	Kellyanne Williamson
Christian Byers	...	Ashmol Williamson
Vince Colosimo	...	Rex Williamson
Jacqueline McKenzie	...	Annie Williamson
Robert Morgan	...	Sid
Anna Linarello	...	Betsy
Denise Roberts	...	Vera Dunkley
Peter Callan	...	Dan Dunkley
Stephen Potter	...	Lyndon Dunkley
Sharni Honor	...	Sandra Dunkley
Lisa Flanagan	...	Ms Banamooka
Anthony Braun	...	Lyndon's Gang
Casey Frew	...	Lyndon's Gang
Martin Grava	...	Lyndon's Gang
Roberto Crisa	...	Jes
Alan O'Toole	...	Curtis
David Field	...	Jack the Quack
Michael Allen	...	Ronnie
Eliza Lovell	...	Pat
Adam Morgan	...	Donny
Robert Menzies	...	Humph
Peter Douglas	...	Pete
Andy McPhee	...	Harris
Robert Hamblyn	...	Heavy Miner
John Clark	...	Neville
James Edwards	...	Court Clerk
Kerry Ann Reid	...	Stenographer (as Kerry Reid)
Nicholas Bell	...	Judge McNulty
Andy Anderson	...	Nichols
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hayley Staveley	...	(voice)

Directed by
Peter Cattaneo

Writing credits
Peter Cattaneo		(screenplay) and
Phil Traill		(screenplay) &
Ben Rice		(screenplay)
Ben Rice		(novella "Pobby and Dingan")

Produced by
Elisa Argenzio	....	line producer
Finola Dwyer	....	executive producer
Angus Finney	....	executive producer
Lizie Gower	....	producer
Robert Jones	....	executive producer
Nick Morris	....	producer
Kate Myers	....	associate producer
Ben Rice	....	executive producer
Emile Sherman	....	producer
Michael Solinger	....	associate producer (as Mike Solinger)
Karen Sproul	....	producer: opal shoot
David Thompson	....	executive producer (as David M. Thompson)

Original Music by
Dario Marianelli

Cinematography by
Robert Humphreys

Film Editing by
Jim Clark
Nicolas Gaster

Casting by
Nikki Barrett

Production Design by
Elizabeth Mary Moore

Art Direction by
Nell Hanson

Set Decoration by
Robert Webb

Costume Design by
Ruth De la Lande

Makeup Department
Anna Gray	....	hair stylist
Anna Gray	....	makeup artist
Jennifer Lamphee	....	hair stylist (as Jen Lamphee)
Jennifer Lamphee	....	makeup artist (as Jen Lamphee)
Fiona Rees-Jones	....	hair stylist supervisor (as Fiona Rees Jones)
Fiona Rees-Jones	....	makeup supervisor (as Fiona Rees Jones)
Sue Taylor	....	hair stylist
Sue Taylor	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Andrew Marshall	....	unit manager
Bianca Martino	....	production manager: opal shoot

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Brendan Campbell	....	first assistant director
Mark Knight	....	additional assistant director: second unit
Brad Lanyon	....	third assistant director
Kara Masters	....	assistant director: second unit
Luke Mclean	....	additional assistant director: second unit (as Luke McLean)
Toni Raynes	....	second assistant director
Annie Maver	....	additional first assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Graeme Bambridge	....	scenic backdrops
Shane Bennett	....	stand-by props
Coverley Brown	....	construction manager
Sally Clarke	....	art department coordinator
Steve Craig	....	carpenter
Beth Garswood	....	graphic designer
Simon S. Ingerson	....	model maker (as Simon Ingerson)
Xan Lamphee	....	props buyer
Xan Lamphee	....	set dresser
Chris Landreth	....	additional carpenter
Matt Landreth	....	additional carpenter
Kylie Lawson	....	scenic painter
Jeni Lee	....	art department assistant
John Moore	....	construction manager
Nick Moore	....	carpenter
Steve Murrell	....	carpenter
Sam Noack	....	painter
Obie O'Brien	....	stand-by props: second unit (as Alex 'Obie' O'Brien)
Yuri Poetzl	....	assistant stand-by props
Paul Spence	....	carpenter
Andy Stephens	....	art department runner
David Swanson	....	props buyer
David Swanson	....	set dresser
Fiona Taylor	....	brush hand
Jocelyn Thomas	....	art department coordinator

Sound Department
Mike Bakaloff	....	boom operator
Helen Brown	....	foley artist
Nicholas Byrnes	....	foley artist
Jason Canovas	....	dialogue editor
Roberto Cappannelli	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jason Cole	....	adr recordist
Wendy Czajkowsky	....	adr mixer
Robert Farr	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Goodes	....	adr recordist
Matthew Gough	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tim Hands	....	dialogue editor
Alex Hudd	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Paul Huntingford	....	foley artist
Toivo Lember	....	sound recordist
Duncan McAllister	....	foley recordist
Mark Paterson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mike Prestwood Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jamie Roden	....	adr recordist
Steve Schwalbe	....	foley editor
Nigel Stone	....	supervising sound editor
Tony Vaccher	....	foley recordist
Mike Wood	....	sound effects editor
Andy Wright	....	adr recordist
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Phil Freudenfeld	....	sound studio technician (uncredited)
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Tim O'Brien	....	special effects technician
Peter Stubbs	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Lucy Ainsworth-Taylor	....	visual effects producer: Moving Picture Company
Bruce Curnow	....	matte painter: Moving Picture Company
Douglas Larmour	....	visual effects supervisor: Moving Picture Company
Ben Stallard	....	visual effects producer: Moving Picture Company
Ziggy Zigouras	....	Inferno artist: MPC

Stunts
Lance Anderson	....	stunt performer
Zev Eleftheriou	....	stunt coordinator
Graham Jahne	....	stunt double: Rex
Siros Niaros	....	stunt performer

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Blobel	....	grip assistant: second unit
Mal Booth	....	grip: second unit
Chris Dewhurst	....	electrician
David Foreman	....	camera operator: second unit
David Foreman	....	cinematographer: second unit
John Foster	....	focus puller: second unit
Paul Hamlyn	....	additional grip
Robertto Karas	....	additional electrician (as Roberto Karas)
Brendan Madden	....	best boy
Robbie Morgan	....	key grip
Matt Nettheim	....	still photographer (as Matthew Nettheim)
Shane O'Dwyer	....	electrician
Corey Piper	....	cinematographer: opal shoot
Richard Rees-Jones	....	gaffer (as Richard Rees Jones)
Mark Rogers	....	still photographer
Kevin Scott	....	focus puller
Trent Skipper	....	video assist operator
Justin Sykes	....	additional grip
Lisa Tomasetti	....	still photographer
Nigel Tomkinson	....	clapper loader
Vonnie Van Gyen	....	additional grip

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	voice casting
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting
Angela Heesom	....	additional casting: Angela Heesom Casting
Danny Long	....	casting assistant
Lorraine Sternberg	....	extras casting
Antonia Halse	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nunya Glazbrook	....	costume assistant
Marriott Kerr	....	costume supervisor (as Mariot Kerr)
Anita Seiler	....	costume buyer
Heather Wallace	....	costume stand-by
Verity Webb	....	costume assistant

Editorial Department
Gavin Buckley	....	associate editor
Ray Daley	....	assistant rushes supervisor
Paul Ensby	....	digital colorist: Technicolor Creative Services
Kim Gaster	....	assistant editor
Jolyon Haverson	....	post-production coordinator
Gareth Maynard	....	digital intermediate project manager: Technicolor Creative Services
Silvana Milat	....	post-production coordinator: Australia
Dave Rees	....	color timer
Dominic Thomson	....	on-line editor: Technicolor Creative Services (as Dom Thomson)
Claus Wehlisch	....	assistant editor
Samantha Welland	....	post-production coordinator
Neil Wood	....	colorist: dailies
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter (uncredited)

Music Department
Niall Acott	....	music recordist
James Bellamy	....	music editor
Matt Biffa	....	music research and clearance
Hugh Burns	....	musician: guitar
Ruth Chan	....	assistant to composer
Ruth Chan	....	score preparation
Peter Clarke	....	music editor
Mark Cox	....	musician: guitar
Christian Henson	....	composer: additional music
Christian Henson	....	music producer
Christian Henson	....	musician: keyboards, percussion and programming
Matthew Hunt	....	musician: clarinet and saxophone
David Juritz	....	orchestra leader
Dario Marianelli	....	conductor
Dario Marianelli	....	music producer
Steve Orchard	....	music mixer
Brendan Power	....	musician: harmonica
Steven Price	....	music mixer (as Steve Price)
Maggie Rodford	....	music supervisor: Air-Edel
Hilary Skewes	....	musician contractor
James Stone	....	assistant music engineer
Nick Taylor	....	assistant music engineer
Dominic Thomas	....	music researcher (as Dom Thomas)
Benjamin Wallfisch	....	orchestrator (as Ben Wallfisch)
Alison Wright	....	music supervisor: Air-Edel
Joe Henson	....	musician: bass guitar (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Rudi Tuisk	....	vehicle coordinator

Other crew
Chris Allies	....	title designer
Rebecca Anderson	....	accounting assistant
Liz Armstrong	....	unit assistant
Yani Aslamatzis	....	security: Silverline Security
Mechele Axford	....	assistant to producer
Elspeth Baird	....	production accountant
Amelia Bensley-Nettheim	....	stand-in
Sarah Best	....	production and finance coordinator: BBC Films
Jenny Bichard	....	safety assistant (as Jen Bichard)
Jenny Bichard	....	unit nurse (as Jen Bichard)
Peta Bradford	....	production runner
Lee Breasley	....	business development manager (as Lee Beasley)
Jessica Brentnall	....	assistant to director
Pauline Burt	....	risk manager: Mansfield Associates
Sally Caplan	....	head of premiere fund: UK Film Council (as Sally Caplin)
Helen Clarke	....	caterer: Hel's Kitchen
Robyn Coombs	....	caterer: Hel's Kitchen
Daniel Cotter	....	stand-in
Mason Curtis	....	location manager
Rene Deru	....	additional accountant
Anna Didonna	....	stand-in
Victoria Eagger	....	drama coach: children
Zev Eleftheriou	....	safety supervisor
Will Evans	....	head of business affairs: UK Film Council
Ruth Fallon	....	stand-in
Benjamin Garland	....	unit runner
Wayne Gilmour	....	unit assistant
Claire Hall	....	production coordinator
Claire Hall	....	travel coordinator
Tarn Harper	....	post-production accountant
Kym Hartley	....	stand-in
John Hedley	....	travel consultant
Vince Holden	....	head of production finance: UK Film Council
Kerri Hudson	....	production secretary
Christine Hutchins	....	production coordinator
Steve Joberns	....	auditor: AGN Shipleys
Mark 'Sharky' Johnson	....	unit assistant
Tim Johnson	....	legal services: UK, S.J. Berwin
Sophie Johnstone	....	assistant to producer
Nick Likouresis	....	stand-in
Victor Meertens	....	caterer: Hel's Kitchen
Bryce Menzies	....	legal services: Australia, Marshall & Dent
Fiona Morham	....	head of physical production: UK Film Council
Richard Nicholas	....	additional accountant
Clive Noakes	....	laboratory contact
Brock Norman Brock	....	production executive: UK Film Council
Viron Papadopoulos	....	accounting assistant
Angelika Papamanos	....	stand-in
Asterios Papamanos	....	stand-in
Andrew Pollock	....	unit assistant
Mona Qureshi	....	development executive: BBC Films
Charlie Reid	....	legal services: UK, S.J. Berwin
Bruce Ross	....	unit assistant
Livy Sandler	....	legal & business affairs manager: BBC Films
Fiona Searson	....	unit publicist
Michael Simmons	....	tutor/chaperone
Katrina Stagner	....	legal services: Davenport Lyons
Dieter Sternberg	....	location liaison
Peter Touche	....	sale and leaseback finance: Ingenious Films Ltd.
Scott Warwick	....	armorer
Simon Wilkinson	....	contact: Technicolor Creative Services
Kristin Witcombe	....	script supervisor
Michael Wood	....	production executive: BBC Films
Jane Wright	....	head of rights & commercial affairs: BBC Films

Thanks
Iain Canning	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Academy Features
• BBC Films
• Sherman Pictures
• South Australian Film Corporation, The
• UK Film Council

Distributors

• Haut et Court (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Lucky Red (2006) (Italy) (all media)
• Icon Film Distribution (2006) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Azeta Film (2006) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Azteca Films (2006) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Strand Releasing (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• CMV Laservision (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• Renaissance Films (2005) (worldwide) (all media) (sales)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Denmark) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Norway) (DVD)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (visual effects)

Other Companies

• AGN Shipleys  auditor
• Air-Edel Associates  music services
• Air-Edel Recording Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Air-Edel Studios)
• Airryde  freight
• Angel Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Angela Heesom Casting  additional casting
• Audioloc Sound Design  foley recording
• Cinevex Film Laboratories  film processing
• Cooper Film Lighting  lighting equipment
• Cutting Edge  negative cutting
• Davenport Lyons  legal services: Germany
• De Lane Lea  sound post-production
• DeLuxe Laboratories  film processing
• Digital Pictures  rushes telecine
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  additional ProTools systems supplied by
• Goldcrest Post Production London  adr facilities (as Goldcrest Post)
• Goldcrest Post Production London  sound post-production (as Goldcrest Post)
• HW Wood Australia  insurance (as H.W. Wood Australia)
• Hel's Kitchen  catering
• Hirecom Australia  motorolas
• Ingenious Film Partners  sale and leaseback finance by (as Ingenious Films)
• Marshalls & Dent  legal services: Australia (as Marshall & Dent)
• Mason Films  make-up facility
• Moneypenny Services  accounting
• Panavision Australia  camera equipment (as Panavision)
• Pinewood Sound  adr facilities
• Robin Morgan Grip Services  grip equipment
• Royal Bank of Scotland  financing provided by
• SJ Berwin  legal services: UK (as S.J. Berwin)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script
• Silverline Security  security
• Soundfirm  adr facilities
• South Australian Film Corporation, The  production facilities
• Stage & Screen Travel  travel
• Starbus Film Services  unit facilities
• Technicolor Creative Services  digital intermediate

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements, language and some violence

Runtime:

Australia:85 min | USA:86 min

Country:

Australia | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Netherlands:MG6 | Australia:PG | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Hong Kong:IIA | Finland:K-7 | South Korea:All | Italy:T | Portugal:M/6

Filming Locations:

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

Company:

Academy Features

Soundtrack:

Lovefool

a quieter and deeper Full Monty

This is quite a good film about a sun-scorched prospector town and family members whose dreams and imaginary worlds drive each other nuts. It's deeper than the director's best-known film, The Full Monty, though the topic is similar: the struggles of working-class folks to stay closer to their dreams than they are to their failures. The depiction of the town dynamics seemed to me as flawless as the individual performances, and as someone who comes from a family with shall we say a non-standard member, I was impressed with the film's ability to produce a familiar emotional mix of exasperation, devotion, and desire for a truly imaginative cure for the main problem. The movie delivers on this last point. It would be wrong to see this as a chick flick, because as in The Full Monty the cast and crew are interested in men who try to figure out how to resolve conflicts and fix disasters without using anger and force, and who pretty much succeed. British and Commonwealth film is generally better than American at avoiding stereotypes of blue-collar masculinity and this is a particularly good and heart- warming example. The boy in the picture, who has to figure out what to do about his dad and his sister, is one of the great kids of recent film history.