All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane (2007)

Director:

Louise Alston

Writer:

Stephen Vagg

Release Date:

October 2007 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

If you're in your twenties, single, and hate your job, you've got to get out of this city.

Plot:

Anthea is undergoing a crisis of confidence: overworked, no boyfriend, struggling to find goals - and all her friends are leaving Brisbane...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Friendship | Coming Of Age | Brisbane Queensland | Place Name In Title

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Charlotte Gregg	...	Anthea
Matt Zeremes	...	Michael
Ryan Johnson	...	Tyson
Cindy Nelson	...	Kath
Gyton Grantley	...	Jake
Romany Lee	...	Simone
Sarah Kennedy	...	Stephanie
Christopher Sommers	...	Kane / Negative Man
Peter Nolan	...	Mr. Ross
Andrew Ryan	...	Ash
Neridah Waters	...	Melanie
Stephen Vagg	...	Greg
Francesca Gasteen	...	Nat
Michael Priest	...	Aram
Sandra Galvin	...	Shayne (as Sandra P. Galvin)
Damien Freeleagus	...	Positive Man
Tom Oakley	...	Yuppie Man
Renae Simpson	...	Cool Auntie
Cliff Wearne	...	Polygamous Husband
Kirra Green	...	Polygamous Wife / Wedding Guest
Sharon Jones	...	Polygamous Wife / Party Guest / Wedding Guest
Karen Millar	...	Polygamous Wife / Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron
Claire Pearson	...	Polygamous Wife / Nightclub Patron / Wedding Guest
Adam Green	...	Party Guy (as Adam Michael Green)
Leata Ross	...	Lawyer
Alana Jessop	...	Receptionist / Nightclub Patron
Josh Gregg	...	Fritz
Tamara Azmar	...	English Slapper
Allen Darveniza	...	Hotel Concierge
Miguel Arroyo	...	Taxi Driver
Glenn Bernauer	...	Royal Exchange Patron
Svetlana Cecil	...	Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron / Wedding Guest
Ben Davidson	...	Royal Exchange Patron
Daisy Edwards	...	Royal Exchange Patron
Diya Eid	...	Royal Exchange Patron
Jeremy Hardman	...	Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron
Janet Horton	...	Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron
Adam McGrogan	...	Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron / Party Guest / Wedding Guest
Nadine Morris	...	Royal Exchange Patron
Julie Preeo	...	Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron
Brad Reilly	...	Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron
Dib Walker	...	Royal Exchange Patron
Stephen Williams	...	Royal Exchange Patron / Nightclub Patron / Party Guest / Wedding Guest
Katie Bennett	...	Nightclub Patron
Jordan Cargill	...	Nightclub Patron
Sophie Carroll	...	Nightclub Patron
Dani Dobson	...	Nightclub Patron
Gavin Edwards	...	Nightclub Patron
Hayley Egan	...	Nightclub Patron
Lisa Howard	...	Nightclub Patron
Ben Kelso	...	Nightclub Patron
Julie Leaver	...	Nightclub Patron / Party Guest
Kelly Low	...	Nightclub Patron
Laju Nanwani	...	Nightclub Patron
Anthony Rose	...	Nightclub Patron
Elizabeth Tyson-Doneley	...	Nightclub Patron (as Liz Tyson-Doneley)
Christine Dickenson	...	Restaurant Patron / Wedding Guest
Russell Ingram	...	Restaurant Patron
Leah Russell	...	Restaurant Patron
Louise Alston	...	Party Guest
Gemma Barlow	...	Party Guest
Gria Barlow	...	Party Guest
Jeremy Borges	...	Party Guest / Wedding Guest
Tom Bunning	...	Party Guest
Adam Burnett	...	Party Guest
Catherine Dibley	...	Party Guest
Daniel Fisher	...	Party Guest
Matt Gaffney	...	Party Guest
Deb Haworth	...	Party Guest
Elizabeth Hayem	...	Party Guest
Josh Helman	...	Party Guest / Wedding Guest
Mark Jeffery	...	Party Guest
Sandra Kafrouni	...	Party Guest
Magdalene Lokic	...	Party Guest
Natalie Martens	...	Party Guest
Paul Newlands	...	Party Guest
Liam Nunan	...	Party Guest
Nina Riddel	...	Party Guest
Tess Walsh	...	Party Guest
Toby Watson	...	Party Guest
Bob Backlund	...	Wedding Guest
Lynn Backlund	...	Wedding Guest
Christopher Batkin	...	Wedding Guest
Thomas Batkin	...	Wedding Guest
Marcel Baum	...	Wedding Guest
Danielle Betteridge	...	Wedding Guest
Natalie Bohenaki	...	Wedding Guest
Elke Bonner	...	Wedding Guest
Fintan Boylan	...	Wedding Guest
Michele-Rose Boylan	...	Wedding Guest
Des Brown	...	Wedding Guest
Krystal Bruce	...	Wedding Guest
Paul Bryant	...	Wedding Guest
Lachlan Buchanan	...	Wedding Guest
Emily Bush	...	Wedding Guest
Haley Bush	...	Wedding Guest
Cassandra Button	...	Wedding Guest
Andrew Carbone	...	Wedding Guest
Kirsty Cash	...	Wedding Guest
Brooke Connell	...	Wedding Guest
Jo-Anne Coupe	...	Wedding Guest
Harrison Crawford	...	Wedding Guest
Catherine Davies	...	Wedding Guest
Taylor Donaldson	...	Wedding Guest
Norman Doyle	...	Wedding Guest
Melinda Ewin	...	Wedding Guest
Mirey Faema	...	Wedding Guest
Paul Fulton	...	Wedding Guest
Elaine Gleig-Scott	...	Wedding Guest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nelle Lee	...	Wedding Guest
Alex McTavish	...	Wedding Guest (as Alexandra McTavish)
Hayley Pearl	...	Party guest

Directed by
Louise Alston

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Stephen Vagg

Produced by
Louise Alston	....	producer
Jade Van Der Lei	....	producer

Original Music by
Caitlin Yeo

Cinematography by
Judd Overton

Film Editing by
Nicola Scarrott

Production Design by
Hayley Egan

Art Direction by
Lisa Howard
Julie Leaver

Costume Design by
Traci Booker
Barbara Schatz

Makeup Department
Dani Dobson	....	makeup artist
Tristan Harris	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Dorian Ribeiro	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mark Alston	....	second unit director
Adam Green	....	second assistant director
Alana Jessop	....	first assistant director
Julie Preeo	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Iain Anderson	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
Adrian Bilinsky	....	sound effects editor
Scott Bruce	....	sound
John Dennison	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Dennison	....	sound supervisor
Les Fiddess	....	foley artist
Tim Matyear	....	sound
Marianne Mettes	....	assistant sound
Ian Thomson	....	sound recordist
Tess Walsh	....	sound

Stunts
Justin Nehring	....	stunt driver

Camera and Electrical Department
Rocky Amaranto	....	video split operator
Luke Barlow	....	video split/loader
Luis Antonio Bran	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Adam Burnett	....	best boy
Andrew Conder	....	camera operator
Matthew Floyd	....	camera operator
Nic Gribben	....	focus puller
Erin Houselander	....	video split operator
Sam Hussey	....	crane operator
Ben Kelso	....	best boy grip
Tammy Law	....	still photographer
Steven Magrath	....	first assistant camera
James Mather	....	best boy
Margie McClymont	....	camera operator
Roddy McKinnon	....	still photographer
Laju Nanwani	....	still photographer
Quinn Pfitzner	....	video split/loader
Geoff Schatzel	....	video split operator
Paul Seipel	....	Steadicam operator
Mick Smith	....	crane operator
Brie Walsh	....	focus puller
Toby Watson	....	focus puller
Boris Zoulek	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nicki Booker	....	stand-by wardrobe

Editorial Department
Trish Cahill	....	digital intermediate colorist
Bill Collis	....	assistant editor
Cameron D'Arcy	....	assistant digital intermediate technician: Sydney
Wade Odlum	....	dailies colorist

Music Department
Laura Bishop	....	orchestrator
Kim Green	....	music supervisor
Bryce Jacobs	....	orchestrator
Bree Nevin	....	music supervisor
Tyrone Noonan	....	music advisor

Other crew
Glenn Bernauer	....	unit assistant
Peter Bolam	....	legal services
Nicole Bourke	....	continuity
Sophie Carroll	....	production assistant
Daisy Edwards	....	production assistant
Erin Hansen	....	production assistant
Jeremy Hardman	....	unit assistant
Melissa Hines	....	production assistant
Janet Horton	....	production assistant
Natalie Martens	....	production assistant
Zoe McLachlan	....	production assistant
Kayleen Mientjes	....	production assistant
Nina Riddel	....	production assistant
Leata Ross	....	unit assistant
Chris Sullivan	....	unit assistant
Elizabeth Tyson-Doneley	....	production assistant
Stephen Vagg	....	legal services
Christos Vrazofski	....	safety officer
Dib Walker	....	continuity assistant

Production Companies

• Australian Film Commission, The (developed and produced with the assistance of)
• Bunker Productions International Pty.

Distributors

• Bunker Productions International Pty. (2006) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Accent Film Entertainment (2007-2017) (Australia) (all media)
• HBO Hungary (2009) (Hungary) (TV) (original airing)
• Movie Network Channels, The (2009) (Australia) (TV)

Other Companies

• Audioloc Sound Design  sound post-production
• Bundaleer Rainforest Gardens  special thanks (wedding location)
• Cameraquip Australia  camera equipment (as Cameraquip Brisbane)
• Cutting Edge  post-production (DI)
• Cutting Edge  post-production (Dailies)
• Cutting Edge, The  post-production facilities
• Eske  titles
• Inertia Music  soundtrack release

Runtime:

Australia:76 min

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Company:

Australian Film Commission, The

Trivia:

"Fritz" - the model in the girl's poster is Charlotte Gregg's brother, Josh

Quotes:

Anthea:All my friends are leaving Brisbane.
Michael:Get new friends.

Movie Connections:

References He Died with a Felafel in His Hand (2001)

Soundtrack:

Are you still watching

One wedding, no funerals and fabulous

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

Louise Alston, 76 mins, Australia, 2007, 35mm. Source: Accent Film. Courtesy: Bunker Productions

All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane Is the grass greener on the other side? 25-year-old Brisbanite Anthea (Charlotte Gregg) thinks it might be. She's single and hates her job. And as more and more of her friends drift off to bigger cities, there's little to keep her in Brisbane except the imminent return of former boyfriend Jake (Gyton Grantley).

This new romantic comedy is followed by a Q&A with director Louise Alston and writer Stephen Vagg.

Louise Alston writes: "Australia is the Brisbane of the world" Barry Humphries

All My Friends are Leaving Brisbane was written by Stephen Vagg, based on his own quarter life crisis. Although we got great responses to the script, no one was ready to back us. So we backed ourselves! We shot it in our house with our own money with a keen cast and crew on deferrals before getting post production funding from the AFC (Australin Film Commission). We were confident that the story would resonate with Australians. In the characters, we see the anxiety of being twenty-something. The choices aren't as obvious as you might think and there's the fear that work might always suck, you might never meet the right person and it might not all work out right in the end. Mix that with the anxiety of the tyranny of distance and you have a familiar premise.

In the end, this film is about having the strength to get off your arse and do something for the right reasons and not because of anxiety. This film is an indie romantic comedy. It's success has surprised nearly everyone. Rock bottom production budget, no bankable stars, set in a not very glamorous city. we started to doubt ourselves...until we saw the film showing for 7 weeks on multiplex screens around Brisbane. In many ways, this is an exploitation film. We wanted to get as much Brisbaness on screen as possible and in a world of cinematic globalism, the specific and the local stands out.

COMMENTS It was my extreme fortune to catch a special screening of this new Aussie movie at the ACMI (Australian Centre for Moving Images) in Melbourne, Australia one Sat late Feb 2008. The movie has had a commercial release in Brisbane where it's set. The Melbourne screening saw the movie with a question and answer afterwards comprising a panel with Stephen Vagg the writer, Louise Alston the director and Charlotte Gregg the lead actress (a little bit of trivia - her brother who is the male torso on the photo on the wall in the girls apartment in the movie was also in the audience.

Who out there has not had a quarter life crisis? I admit to being attracted to the blurb and also to the image of the lead actress in the promo. This movie is similar in type to Four Weddings and a Funeral except without so much foul language. The characters are believable, the locations great and what man could not warm to Anthea who has a good job and is drop dead gorgeous? The male co-stars did a great job. Gyton Grantley who Aussies will come to know as Carl Williams in the TV mini-series "Underbelly" about the Melbourne 1994 to 2004 gangland wars has a minor part here as Anthea's ex. Quite a hairy chest Gyton!

Matt Zeremes is world class as Michael whose been friends with Anthea for 7 yrs but is scared to risk damaging a very good friendship by making a romantic move. Other supporting actors like Ryan Johnston as Tyson the uncomplicated male are great. What man including myself would not like Tyson's uncomplicated charm and Ryan's looks.

Charlotte, who also has a minor role in Underbelly Episode 1 as Jason Moran's g/f, is luminous here. She embodies the sort of low mileage, middle 20's girl most men would hope to meet. She does have the look of being the one apart from the ex b/f whose on another trip. Nice looking, well educated,friendly. Despite a low budget the film doesn't look that way..... the locations are perfect. The only change or addition I could suggest here would be adding Skyhooks song "All My Friends are getting married" to the soundtrack. That was a huge 70s anthem/ballad in Australia with the fabulous vocals of the late great Shirl (Mr Shirley Strahan) who was sadly prematurely killed a few years ago in a helicopter accident in his early 50s. A very well loved Australian singer.

This film is doing the rounds of film festivals like the Stockholm FF and also a festival of Australian films in England. In Aussie it could be coming out on DVD. As a romantic comedy or serious study of the quarter life this is a small gem. It deserves a wide audience. Stephen Vagg has other screenplays and plays under his belt. Let's hope this is the first of many.

I think the 3 people present on the panel were quite surprised as how well the film was received. Perhaps for many (not all) of the cast this was their first movie although many have TV and theatre if not movie experience. Keep your eyes out for big things from this cast in future years.

"Four Weddings and a Funeral", "Italian for Beginners"... "All my friends are leaving Brisbane is definitely in this class. Well done to all!