When “Blinder” premieres at a black tie affair at Crown Casino on the night of Tuesday, February 19, walking the red carpet will be the Carlton board member and 1987 Premiership rover Adrian Gleeson.
Preceding him will be the film’s director Richard Gray and Producer/Writer Scott Didier, who penned the first lines of the script more than 14 years ago.
Didier also happens to be the CEO of commercial construction organization JohnsLyng Group, which famously delivered on the $19.5million Visy Park redevelopment.
So what’s harder – getting Visy up or making a movie?
“Making a movie,” came the reply “It’s ten times harder”.
“I always wanted to deliver a football film, but everywhere I went everybody people where telling me why it wouldn't work" Didier said. “There were a couple of moments where I thought it might not happen but I had to complete it.
For Didier, the urge to make a film came half a lifetime ago, and football served as the inspiration.
“Like everyone growing up in Melbourne I played in a footy environment,” Didier explained, “When I turned 30 I went to Sydney and although I still played up there the culture was different and I realized how lucky I’d been.
“Basically I started to write a script as a bit of a hobby, and over the years I picked it up and put it down a lot. I bought a couple of businesses in between and my focus had to be directed towards them, but in the end I spent too much time and energy not to finish it.”
A further spur was the former Northern Blues coach Robert Hyde, Didier’s former coach at Diamond Valley club Greensborough. “I was a bit wild and woolly back then, but it was ‘Hydey’ who pulled me aside and said ‘What ever you do in life, be it footy,business,relationships ,whatever,just make sure you give it 100%"
“Blinder”, which features Oliver Ackland, Rose McIver and the quintessential Australian actor Jack Thompson (who famously played Laurie Holden in the film adaptation of David Williamson’s “The Club”), is, according to Gleeson, “a ‘feel-good’ film with a good story to it””.
“It’s about four guys with footy as the backdrop,” he said. “It’s also about friendships and of being your best and not giving up.”
The film, shot in Torquay from February through to April last year, came at a cost of $5million funded by a number of businesses and investors, Gleeson included. He got involved four years ago, primarily on the strength of his own friendship and professional relationship with Didier, and is listed as one of three executive producers, together with the high-profile former North Melbourne footballers Sam Kekovich and Glenn Archer.
Gleeson deems it a privilege to have been involved with Didier’s project. As he said: “it’s been an amazing experience to have been part of a feature film, and to have understood the time, money and effort that goes into it”.
As for Didier, there’s a script for a potential sitcom in the works. But first thing’s first and he looks forward to attending the much-anticipated premiere, which for him “will be like a footballer’s release after a Grand Final”.
“Blinder” is due for general release on March 7, and will screen in 130 cinemas nationwide. Click here to watch the official trailer.
