‘Birthright’ kicks off production in Western Australia today with an impressive ensemble cast
Screenwest and Screen Australia are pleased to announce Zoe Pepper’s debut feature film, Birthright, kicks off production in Western Australia today with an impressive ensemble cast.
The dark comedy stars Travis Jeffery (Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, Unbroken, Gallipoli) and Maria Angelico (The Newsreader, Strife, Sisters) as Cory and Jasmine, a professional couple in their 30s who are eight months pregnant. When Cory loses his job, they are forced to move back in with his retiree parents played by Linda Cropper (Offspring, Upgrade) and Michael Hurst (Hercules, Spartacus), until they get back on their feet. As their stay extends, Cory fixates on his parents’ wealth and decides the only way to achieve the success he always imagined, is to do something unimaginable.
Set in a single location, filming will take place in the Perth Hills over the next five weeks.
The film is written and directed by Zoe Pepper (Lift, The Big Spaghetti) with producer Cody Greenwood (Under The Volcano, Girl Like You), co-producer Kate Neylon (Hotel Coolgardie, Below), executive producer John Maynard (Romulus, My Father, The Boys) and editor Luca Cappelli (You Won’t Be Alone, Acute Misfortune), as well as an all-star lineup of Western Australian crew including director of photography Michael McDermott ACS (Hounds of Love), production designer Ocea Sellar (Mystic Pines) and costume designer Texx Montana (He Ain’t Heavy).
Director, Zoe Pepper said “I’m incredibly grateful to have such a talented team backing my vision and working so hard to bring this story to life. The cast and crew are doing an amazing job. It’s quite surreal to see this world I’ve concocted come to life. I’m equal parts terrified and excited to kick off filming.”
Birthright was the 2022 recipient of Screenwest’s highly coveted West Coast Visions initiative, which is designed to uncover, inspire and develop talented and motivated WA filmmakers with distinctive visions to produce their debut feature film in WA. Through this initiative, Birthright secured $750,000 production funding from Screenwest and went on to secure Screen Australia production funding and Madman Entertainment as ANZ distributor.
Screenwest CEO, Rikki Lea Bestall said, “Kicking off 2024 with a West Coast Visions film heading into production is a great start to what is already shaping up to be a bumper year! Seeing Birthright come to life is very exciting and Screenwest is so pleased to be supporting Zoe in her debut. A quintessentially Australian story about boomers versus millennials – I can’t wait!”
Screen Australia Director of Content, Grainne Brunsdon said, “Screen Australia is delighted that Birthright has now moved into production, filming in the Perth Hills. We’re incredibly proud to be supporting the talented cast and crew, who will no doubt bring this smart story to life – taking audiences on a cinematic journey like no other!”
Madman Entertainment Co-Founder & CEO, Paul Wiegard said, “Birthright has the ingredients to become a buzzy festival film mixing social satire and thriller elements. Zoe Pepper’s writing has attracted a talented ensemble cast and we have full confidence in the cast, crew and producing team to deliver a tense, thought-provoking tragicomedy.”
Filming is scheduled to wrap on 1 March 2024.
Applications for West Coast Visions 2024 are currently open. Read the announcement here.
Production credit: Birthright is a Rush Films production. Major production investment from Screen Australia in association with Screenwest and Lotterywest. Local distribution by Madman Entertainment. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Sandbox Productions. Developed with the assistance of Screenwest and Lotterywest.
Contact Screenwest
T: +61 8 6169 2100
E: info@screenwest.com.au
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with Screenwest.