Crooked Mick of the Speewah 
| Directed by: | Philip Smith |
|---|---|
| Written by: | Philip Smith |
| Starring: | Alan Cinis, Matt Potter, Bruce Spence |
| Country: | Australia |
| Created: | 2005 |
| Runtime: | 11 min. |
| Member: | MadDawg |
Average rating: 5 by 8 users
Film Description:
Synopsis
Our tale begins in 1890 Australia, at a dusty fairground. Crowds bustle to see 'Edgar the Emu Man’, or 'The Woop-Woop Wombat Woman’, only one stand gets no interest. Strong-Arm Sam -Strongest Man in Australia. You see, every time Sam does a trick, someone in the crowd calls out ; 'Crooked Mick of the Speewah can lift 100 times that!'. Crooked Mick is a giant, who lives in the outback, at a place called 'the Speewah'. The Speewah is west of the sunset, where the crows fly backwards, to keep the dust out of their eyes! Everything you’ll see at the Speewah is larger than life. Sheep are twice as big, Kangaroos are several times bigger. But nothing is bigger, or tougher than Crooked Mick! Tired of hearing about how much stronger Crooked Mick is, Sam and his promoter Gus decide to find the Speewah and challenge Crooked Mick. Crooked Mick is a big hearted journey film. It is a film about finding your place in the world. Crooked Mick is, based on traditional Australian folklore and myth, told in a heightened, exaggerated way utilizing the latest digital technology. Made by students at the Australian Film Television and Radio School. Crooked Mick uses a mix of live action and computer animation. The human characters were captured on a blue screen and placed in a world which is entirely computer generated, and populated by absurd animated Australian wildlife. Crooked Mick is certainly the BIGGEST short film you’ll ever see!!
Forms: Animation, Narrative Fiction, Short
Animation Techniques: 2D Computer
Genres: Family, Comedy, Sci-Fi Fantasy, Children Live Action, Musical, Fantasy, Independent, Magical Realism, Road Trip, Surreal, Children Animation, Period/Historical, Dramedy, Action/Adventure
Niches: Student, Youth/Teen, Children, Mature/Adult
Screenings & Events
AFTRS Screening Tour
Film Festival
Awards: Best Creative Use of Technology
National Tour, Australia
June 2005
Sydney Film Festival - Oz Digital Shorts
Film Festival
Sydney, Australia
June 2005
Festival of Short Films and Short Film Market
Film Festival
Palm Springs, U S A
September 2005
The Australian Effects & Animation Festival Awards (AEAF Awards)
OTHER
Awards: Finalist
Sydney, Australia
December 2005
KidsFirst! Film Festival
Video/DVD
Various, U S A
January 2006
Flickerfest
Film Festival
Sydney, Australia
January 2006
The Byron Bay Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: GreenHouse FX Best Animation Award
Byron Bay, Australia
February 2006
Bradford Film Festival
Film Festival
Bradford, United Kingdom
March 2006
The Bermuda International Film Festival
Film Festival
Bermuda, Bermuda
March 2006
The Realm of the Senses Film Festival
Film Festival
Melbourne, Australia
March 2006
The 53rd Motion Picture Sound Editors (MPSE) Golden Reel Awards
OTHER
Awards: Verna Fields Award
Beverly Hills, U S A
March 2006
Delray Beach Film Festival
Film Festival
Florida, U S A
March 2006
Vision Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Best Film College Animation
Blue Ridge - Southwest Virginia, U S A
April 2006
Newport Beach Film Festival
Film Festival
Newport Beach, U S A
April 2006
Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival
Film Festival
Amsterdam, Netherlands
April 2006
The Danville International Children's Film Festival
Film Festival
Danville, U S A
May 2006
Over the Fence Comedy Film Festival
Film Festival
Various, Australia
May 2006
St. Kilda Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: The Best of Australia's Top 100 Films National Tour
St. Kilda, Australia
May 2006
Winnipeg International Film Festival
Film Festival
Winnipeg, Canada
June 2006
DarkLight Festival
Film Festival
Dublin, Ireland
June 2006
Little Big Shots - The Melbourne International Children's Film Festival
Film Festival
Melbourne/Sydney, Australia
June 2006
Film Fest @ Falls
Film Festival
Falls Creek, Australia
June 2006
The Solstice Film Festival
Film Festival
St. Paul, Minnesota, U S A
June 2006
Embassy Roadshow International Tour
Film Festival
International Touring Festival, Australia
June 2006
SNOWYfest International Film Festival
Film Festival
Thredbo, Australia
June 2006
Warburton Film Festival
Film Festival
Warburton, Australia
June 2006
Revelation International Film Festival
Film Festival
Perth, Australia
July 2006
The Victoria Festival of Motion Image
Film Festival
Ballarat/Shepparton/Bendigo, Australia
July 2006
The Rhode Island International Film Festival
Film Festival
Newport, U S A
August 2006
Gloria Film Festival
Film Festival
Salt Lake City, U S A
August 2006
Portobello Film Festival
Film Festival
London, United Kingdom
August 2006
Cart-Orts Family Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Best Short Film
Currumbin, Australia
September 2006
Edmonton International Film Festival
Film Festival
Alberta, Canada
September 2006
Fantastic Fest
Film Festival
Austin, U S A
September 2006
Big Bear Lake International Film Festival
Film Festival
Big Bear Lake, U S A
September 2006
Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival
Film Festival
Birmingham, U S A
September 2006
The Hull International Short Film Festival
Film Festival
Hull, United Kingdom
September 2006
Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival
Film Festival
Temecula, U S A
September 2006
The 51st Cork Film Festival
Film Festival
Cork, Ireland
October 2006
Shorts Film Festival
Film Festival
Adelaide, Australia
October 2006
Home Brewed International Film Festival
Film Festival
Canberra/Bowral/Lake Crackenback, Australia
October 2006
Coney Island International Film Festival
Film Festival
Brooklyn, U S A
October 2006
The Australian International Film Festival
Film Festival
Melbourne, Australia
October 2006
The Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival
Film Festival
Kyiv, Ukraine
October 2006
Heart of Gold International Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: BEST ANIMATION
Gympie, Australia
October 2006
Angelus Student Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: BEST ANIMATION
Hollywood, U S A
October 2006
Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival
Film Festival
Los Angeles, U S A
October 2006
8 emes Rencontres Internationales du Cinema des Antipodes
Film Festival
St. Tropez, France
October 2006
Canberra Film Festival
Film Festival
Canberra, Australia
October 2006
The Fantasy Worldwide Film Festival
Film Festival
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
October 2006
High Falls Film Festival
Film Festival
Rochester, New York, U S A
November 2006
Chicago International Children's Film Festival
Film Festival
Chicago, U S A
November 2006
Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival
Film Festival
Berlin, Germany
November 2006
Jameson Show Me Shorts Film Festival
Film Festival
Auckland, New Zealand
November 2006
RiverRun International Film Festival
Film Festival
Salem, U S A
April 2007
Utah Family Film Festival
Film Festival
UTAH, U S A
June 2007
Cast & Crew
Luke Eve (Producer), Philip Smith (Director), Ruth Saunders (Executive Producer)
WritingPat Edwards (Author of Adapted Material), Philip Smith (Writer)
PerformanceAdam Moulds (Supporting Actor), Alan Cinis (Lead Actor), Bruce Spence (Lead Actor), Ian Roberts (Supporting Actor), Matt Potter (Lead Actor)
CameraNicola Daley (Cinematographer/DP)
Art DepartmentJames Croke (Production Designer)
Post ProductionLuke Mynott (Sound Editor), Melanie Annan (Picture Editor)
MusicJonathan Dower (Original Music/Composer)
RepresentationAndrea Hammond (Publicist)
AcademicPeter Giles (Academic Advisor), Ruth Saunders (School Administrator)
www.CrookedMick.com
Above: Strong-Arm Sam breaks free of his chains.
For a look at the more than 50 festivals that have accepted Crooked Mick, click here
Crooked Mick has been accepted to over 50 International Film festivals. Be sure to check out our details page and catch us if we are playing nearby.
www.CrookedMick.com
Above: Bruce Spence (from Mad Max, Matrix and Star Wars fame) as the cheeky drover.
www.CrookedMick.com
www.CrookedMick.com
Above: Ladies and Gentlemen see Crooked Mick @ The Chicago Children's Film Festival this October!
www.CrookedMick.com
Above: Gus tries to cheer up Strong-Arm Sam
Coming up in the next week is the 'Victoria Festival of Motion Image' and 'Revelation IFF' in Perth, Western Australia . Crooked Mick is then scheduled to play at a number of top fests till the end of '06 (but more on that later).
Thanks so much for all the kind words people have sent us regarding the film. Us Aussies don't really get to accompany our films overseas, so it is really lovely when we hear back from those that have enjoyed seeing it. And thanks Momo for the 5 star rating!! !
www.CrookedMick.com
Above: Crooked Mick, thundering to a cinema near you (Fingers crossed!).
www.littlebigshots.com.au/
After winning Gold awards for both 'Crooked Mick' and ‘Debut’ at the NSW ACS Awards held in late 2005, Nicola became eligible to enter the National Awards.
Nicola was congratulated by distinguished judges Andrew Lesnie (Lord of the Rings) and Don McAlpine (The Chronicles of Narnia) and presented her award by Academy Award winning Cinematographer Dion Beebe (Memoirs of a Geisha). Nicola won the Gold Award for short film 'Debut' and a Distinction Award for ‘Crooked Mick’.
Go Nicola!!
www.cinematographer.org.au
www.stkildafilmfestival.com.au
Above: Gus & Sam discover things are pretty BIG on the Speewah!
GiantSheep.jpg
BruceCampsite.jpg
FairGroundBlues
Gus_Barker
SamChainBreak
CM_CrewPhoto
20 Comments about Crooked Mick of the Speewah
Mar 17, 2008 03:34PM
Cape Fear Independent FIlm Festival is looking for some quality family friendly programming, interested in entering?
Oct 31, 2006 06:22PM
Hey congrats on your latest award! Hope it gets to come to Singapore's Film Festival next year as well!
Oct 12, 2006 04:52PM
Hey saskia,
Thanks again for the kind words and support. Yes 11 fests is pretty amazing for such a short period of time. Wish I had the funds to zip all over the world to be at each of them.
Oct 12, 2006 04:15PM
congratulations on the festival screenings... 11 is a lot!
Oct 03, 2006 06:17PM
Thanks Silverlake!
It certainly took a long time to get that 'great' look. The entire film was shot on a blue screen, so every background is built in 3D.
Appreciate your comments :)
Oct 03, 2006 04:25PM
The stills of your film look beautiful...
Sep 25, 2006 09:45PM
Cheers Phillipe, and best of luck with 'cellies'. Looks like a film we can all relate too!
Sep 25, 2006 07:20PM
Hey, good work.
Sep 22, 2006 11:37PM
Oh, it's playing in a lot of festivals over the next couple of months. Let's see, during September it is playing @ Sidewalk, then Hull in the UK, then Edmonton in Canada. In October it will be at Coney Island International Film Festival, Home Brewed in Australia, Cork in Ireland, St Tropez in France, Molodist Kryiv in the Ukraine, Los Angeles International Children's Film Festival, The Australian International Film Festival, possibly playing Angelus in Hollywood where it is a finalist, Fantasy Worldwide in Canada, Heart of Gold in Australia, Chicago International Childrens Film Festival in the States and in November @ Interfilm in Berlin.
There are proper links to the festivals on my festivals page ; Should any of those sound close by please do try to catch it Saskiawb!!!
Sep 22, 2006 05:53PM
Wow it's a shame about the festival slowing down- i want to see the movie!
Sep 21, 2006 03:28PM
Hi saskiawb,
Slowing down with the festivals at this stage. With about 50 acceptances I think Crooked Mick has had a pretty good run. I'm awaiting news on a few more, but sadly time to move on to bigger and better things!
Sep 21, 2006 12:17PM
which festivals are you going for now?
Sep 08, 2006 11:52PM
No, didn't make it to Dragon*Con - would have loved to have been there, but sadly just too expensive for me to attend fests in the states.
Yes, Crooked Mick made a place in the Fantasy category which was great.
Sep 08, 2006 03:24PM
Hi MadDawg. Did you make it to the Dragon Con festival?
I noticed that Crooked Mick made it into the top 3, for fantasy films. Congrats.
Sounds like you have a pretty good film there.
Sep 04, 2006 11:19PM
Hope 'the Urge' had a great screening over the weekend at Dragon*Con Chris - Hopefully someone will get back to both of us to report how it all went!
Aug 24, 2006 10:52AM
Thanks. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend Dragon Con. Hope your film does well there. I would really like to see it sometime, maybe our films will end up screening together at another festival.
It should be a good festival. Dragon Con is a pretty big event.
Aug 24, 2006 02:25AM
Thanks for the support Jason and Chris. Both your films look amazing. Clearly we are in good company screening with you at Heart of Gold and Dragon*Con respectively. Hope to meet you both and see your work soon!
Aug 23, 2006 09:52PM
Hi. Judging from the screenshots your cinematography looks great.
Aug 23, 2006 08:34PM
I've wanted to see this one for a while so I am going to try and get to the Heart of Gold festival at Gympie. Speewah looks great from the frame grabs (great work Nicola and the FX team!), and has a fantastic cast (I love Bruce Spence! He needs to be in more films again!).
Good luck with the festivals, but I don't think you'll need it! Clearly the hard work is already paying off.
May 24, 2006 05:35PM
Crooked Mick is a giant of superhuman strength who lives west of the sunset, where the crows fly backwards to keep the dust out of their eyes. A place where the dust-storms are so thick you can walk over them! A place known as, THE SPEEWAH!
Sick of hearing about how much stronger Crooked Mick is, StrongArm Sam and his promoter Gus embark on a hilarious journey into a surreal world, to prove once and for all who really is the best!
www.CrookedMick.com
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