MIFF 2010… It’s a matter of taste.

View “Choctop Vs Popcorn” here

Let’s face it. When it comes to attending the movies these days, we’re blessed with a myriad of choices. But making a decision? That’s the hard bit. Will it be comedy or drama? 2D or 3D? The front row or the back row? Or, the biggest dilemma of all: do I want a choctop or popcorn?

Charged with producing the Melbourne International Film Festival Trailer, director Damien Kelly, producer Josh Butt, and the team at Badjar Ogilvy faced this predicament head on by getting a box of popcorn and a choctop to fight it out in the backstreets of Melbourne, 70’s Kung-Fu style!

Despite the city’s relentless attempts to slow the shoot down, the crew never wavered from their task. Neither rain, beer deliveries, belligerent builders, random acts of God, or those pesky kids could stop them from a fantastic day’s shooting.

Stuntmen Sirios Niaros (Choctop) and Paul Rochford (Popcorn) did a hilarious job in the suits and they were well controlled by fight co-ordinator Brett Anderson. Glen Maynard’s beard scratching might not have won him any awards, but it did win him the love and respect from the MIFF marketing team (seen behind him in the queue at the Candy Bar).

All in all, it was a lot of work to do in one day, but it went pretty smoothly in a back alleyway in Chinatown. Everything that needed to be filmed was — all on the brand spanking new RED Mysterium, thanks to Inspiration Studios mastered by DOP Gary Richards.

Once shot, Editor Owen Norling worked his magic to cut the TVCs and cinema trailer, as well as doing the Lightsaber effect. Online editor Eugene Richards added in the ice cream splashes, titles, effects and bomb fuse. Colourist Martin Greer did a wonderful job with the grade and from there, it all went to Stevo Williams — where the sounds brought Chocky and Poppy (and their duel) to life.

Mixed together with music by composer Michael Allen and a voiceover by Lee Perry it was a great experience for all.

Big thanks to Digital Pictures and Flagstaff Studios for all their work in Post, Deluxe for printing the trailer to film and Soundfirm for the Dolby 5.1 master.

Click PLAY to view a slideshow of the behind the scenes.

Client: Melbourne International Film Festival
Production Company: The Guild of Commercial Filmmakers
Director: Damien Kelly
Producer: Josh Butt
DOP: Garry Richards
Agency: Badjar Ogilvy
Executive Creative Director: Michael Knox
Writer: Darren Winter
Art Director: Joe Hill
Agency Producer: Tim Marxsen

• View "Choctop Vs Popcorn" here