Curious Film’s newest directing duo Guy Edmonds and Matt Zeremes – collectively known as “Boomshaka” – are premiering their first Australian feature film at the Inside Out Toronto Film Festival on 29th May just weeks after directing their first campaign for IKEA Australia and DDB.
Edmonds and Zeremes are familiar faces on Australian stage and screen working as actors in shows from Underbelly, Moody Xmas to Home and Away. They were auditioning in LA during pilot season when they had the idea of writing and producing a film together. This led to the launch of Boomshaka Film, which is now represented by Curious.
“We had to play boyfriends in a play (Holding the Man) for almost four years. We had a great working relationship as actors and we sensed that this was going to be the case behind the camera too,” says Zeremes.
“These guys have unlocked the secret to making content entertaining through casting and performance, because as actors it’s something they know about first hand,” says Peter Grasse, executive producer at Curious.
“They both have an incredible eye for talent and they can communicate how they want their cast to perform, and because they are so well connected to the Australian film and theatre industry, they can access unknown but amazing actors they’ve encountered over the years.”
After SUPER AWESOME! was selected to premiere in Toronto, Edmonds and Zeroes decided to extend their talents to commercial projects. They have already directed four spots for IKEA Australia (DDB) as well as campaigns for Tattsbet and Madd Finance.
“Making ads is fun! We’ve loved our experiences so far. It’s a fresh, new medium but one we are intrinsically across from our extensive experience in front of and behind the camera,” Edmonds says.
‘Plus, it means we don't have to do the catering,” adds Zeremes.
They have also written and directed over a dozen short films, three feature films, corporate videos, viral video and television. Their work has been screened in over 40 festivals around the world including Robert De Niro’s Tribeca Film Festival and won numerous awards.
SUPER AWESOME! has a cracking Aussie cast including Patrick Brammall (The Moody's, Ruben Guthrie), Simon Burke (Return to Devils Playground), Rob Carlton (Packer Wars), Annie Maynard (A Moody Christmas, Upper Middle Bogan) as well as New York actor, Vinnie Vella (Casino, The Sopranos, Coffee and Cigarettes).
“Making an indie film is a risky move because there’s no guarantee anyone will see it. To have secured a world premiere makes us both pretty proud. The idea is that if a couple of straight dudes care enough to make a film about marriage equality, then hopefully we can get a larger buy in to the ideas and themes within the movie,” they say.
“Ultimately, with our work, we want to say important things through comedy.”
“Yeah, and also sell important things…”
They quip…
Check out their fun new trailer for SuperAwesome!