The film, Your Best Foot Forward, is set in the premiership season of ’87 and based on a true story.
According to first-time producer, director and writer Melinda Kalac, the film is “an inspiring Aussie comedy about friendship, footy and looking your best for a potential date”.
“I personally love the 80s because Australian football, music, fashion and culture was so rich,” Melinda said, “and today, just as much as it was then, footy remains a galvanizing force.”
To be shot in and around the Melbourne inner city suburbs of Fitzroy and Thornbury from January 28-30, the film, starring local comedians Ash Williams and Tony Mason, in part revolves around two hapless Hawthorn supporters gutted by the Blues’ Grand Final triumph in 30+ degree heat on that one day in September a quarter of a century ago.
“This film is miraculously coming together due to the hard work and determination of a lot of people. I am funding it all myself and trying to ask friends and family to pitch in on crowd funding website Pozible,” Melinda said.
“Making a short film is very expensive and there is minimal return on investment, but it is very important for Australian cultural history and for inspiring people through the arts.”
Melinda Kalac with the 1987 Premiership cup.
When contacted earlier today about the possibility of making a cinematic appearance, Rhys-Jones, whose finest hour came when he humbled Hawthorn’s Dermott Brereton on football’s greatest stage, replied: “I’d love to be involved”.
But he warned that he had not previously appeared in a dramatic role other than in a segment for The Footy Show entitled “The blokes I whacked”.
“They dressed me up for that one and I performed pretty well,” Rhys-Jones recalled. “I also considered myself an above average performer at the occasional Monday night Tribunal hearing.”
Rhys-Jones added that while he was no Martin Scorsese, Melinda could do no worse than cutting footage of Stephen Kernahan’s immortal post-Grand final rendition of Tammy Wynette’s signature song “Stand By Your Man” into the film.
Adrian Gleeson, David Rhys-Jones and Richard Dennis with the spoils.
While Your Best foot Forward has not earned funding from either Film Victoria or Screen Australia, the short is now accredited with the Australian Cultural Fund, meaning any donations are tax deductable.
Melinda says she’s enlisted the support of a “fabulously talented cast and crew” and also hopes to access film footage of the 1987 Grand Final for use in the short.
In the interests of authenticity, Melinda hopes to borrow pre-1987 Carlton football items such as guernseys, tops, scarves and badges for use as props in the film.
Those Carlton Members and supporters who may be able to assist are urged to contact Melinda via melindakalac@gmail.com.
