The latest film from Kiwi director Toa Fraser has premiered to a standing ovation at the Toronto Film Festival.
The film is called Dean Spanley and is a whimsical tale of fathers, sons, and dogs, starring Peter O’Toole, Jeremy Northam, Bryan Brown and Sam Neill.
Film3’s Kate Rodger is in Toronto and was on the red carpet for the gala premiere. “I get pretty nervous doing this red carpet stuff,” Fraser told her.
With 2000 people about to watch Dean Spanley for the first time, even the old hands had a few butterflies.
“I’m frankly in a state of mortal terror,” actor Sam Neill said as he ran the red carpet gauntlet with his co-stars Jeremy Northam and Bryan Brown. The one person missing was Peter O’Toole.
“Mr O’Toole is sick,” Fraser explained. “Very disappointed he couldn’t make it over, our thoughts are with him. I use the same barber, who reliably informs me he hasn’t been in for 6 weeks - so I think it’s a true story.”
Fraser’s new film is an intriguing story of reincarnation and reconciliation. At its heart is the relationship between Peter O’Toole’s rather grumpy old man, and his son.
They encounter a local clergyman, Dean Spanley, who after a few special glasses of his favourite wine is prone to flights of fancy of a canine nature.
It is not your usual kind of story. The standing ovation from a rapt Toronto audience was music to the ears of the filmmakers.
“I feel terrific,” said Neill the day after the screening. “It was really fun to see the film with a big audience who loved it. Good on you matey, good on you mate”
This is only Fraser’s second film and his international cast had nothing but praise for him.
“He was so well prepared,” said Jeremy Northam of Fraser. “I don’t think I have ever worked with a young director so well prepared. “
The film is set in Victorian England, and was shot both in the UK and NZ.
“Jeremy plays piano,” said Bryan Brown. “He was always over in the corner doing a few numbers, driving the crew mad.”
With the premiere now over, it is time for the marketing machine to crank into gear. The New Zealand film commission is in Toronto, which is the perfect springboard to sell the film to the lucrative North American market. It has already secured Canadian distribution.
Reaction and reviews for the premiere are crucial to the process, and with not a dry eye in the house when the final credits rolled, they are off to a good start.
3 News