FORMER Armidale resident Paul Chappell has recruited actor John Cleese to star in his movie Wedding of the Year, which he hopes to film here in April next year.
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He is about to return to Armidale with the film’s director and producer to drum up support for the project and talk with the city’s businesspeople and leaders.
“We want to shoot the entire film in Armidale,” Chappell, who runs a content agency in Melbourne, said.
“This now looks likely around early autumn 2017 with a recent round of investment. But we’re seeking further local investment and support to keep the entire production based in Armidale.”
Cleese, 76, co-founded Monty Python, the comedy troupe responsible for the BBC sketch show Monty Python’s Flying Circus which included the famous sketch The Ministry of Silly Walks.
WHILE Chappell says there will be no silly walks in Wedding Of The Year, the romcom film does promise plenty of laughs as well as some heartfelt moments in a story that follows a small-town girl Lucy Clarke and her pending wedding to wealthy English lawyer Roger.
The story is set in Australia and Britain, with Cleese playing the part of Roger’s father Lionel.
Colin Friels is set to play Lucy’s freeloading father, Ollie, a hint at the drama that will unfold in the bride’s wedding plans.
It will be the first feature film for Chappell, co-writer Andrew Esk and director Josh Whiteman but they already have scheduled some great Australian talent to feature in the film, including Deborah Mailman, Noni Hazlehurst, Colin Friels and Chris Haywood.
“Wedding of the Year is unashamedly crowd-pleasing, heart-string tugging and uniquely Australian,” Chappell said.
“I always had Armidale in mind when writing the screenplay, which is where I lived for the first 20 years of my life.
“Our plan is to come to Armidale in the next four to six weeks to speak to potential local investors and suppliers.
“We will be seeking the support of the mayor, the local Chamber of Commerce, the University of New England and other key local stakeholders to help us make this a truly locally-produced film.”
Chappell and his crew will also be recruiting local people as extras.
He will return to Armidale next month.
