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 A low-key gem of a film recently hit cinemas in the form of DEAN SPANLEY – an adaptation of Irish author Lord Dunsany’s short novel by Fijian-New Zealand director Toa Fraser. The film’s producer MATTHEW METCALFE talks to LAURA HEGARTY about the film’s and his own somewhat unexpected success.
"It was hard for a long time. Years without getting paid and a lot of people thought I was flushing my life down the toilet but then it started to come right. Now, I wouldn’t give it up for anything," says Dean Spanley producer Matthew Metcalfe.
With the release of the new light-hearted and agreeable film, New Zealander Metcalfe is turning heads worldwide, but the success has surprised many, including Metcalfe himself. "We have had the most amazing response all over the world," said Metcalfe at the Australian premiere of the film at the Sanctuary Cove Village Theatre last Friday night.
A drama with a dry comedic twist, there was not a dry eye in the audience as the first grade cast – including eight times Oscar nominee Peter O’Toole – recreated Edwardian England, touching on issues of death, family, dogs, and oddly enough, reincarnation.
Working also with Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill and Byran Brown, Metcalfe can barely believe that this 15 million dollar project has been his life for the past five years. "I never thought that at 35 I would be producing a film and working with some of the greatest artists of our time."
Metcalfe’s career as a producer had very chaotic beginnings. It was only after he served in both the Australia and New Zealand armed forces and studied management and applied mathematics at the University of Auckland that Metcalfe embraced his artistic fate. "I picked a degree that I thought was hard and not because I was into it. So I finished university and I went to work for a big firm like everybody else does … and I hated it so much. A desk job was killer, I couldn’t do it."
It was working at an advertising agency that sparked his natural creativity. "It showed me that there were jobs out there that were not just lawyers and doctors and accountants."
Metcalfe admits that he has made many mistakes but insists that all the clichés are true, "fortune really does favour the brave".
Dean Spanley has since received a gala premiere at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, the London Film Festival and the Pusan International Film Festival. The film also appeared on BAFTA voting paper for Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actor for Peter O’Toole.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Metcalfe’s next projects are already underway: another film with Spanley’s screenwriter Alan Sharp based on a classic English novel, and also a feature film in New Zealand featuring the music of Queen.
"Don’t be afraid of failure," he says as advice to prospective filmmakers. "Not even Steven Spielberg can make a five out of five blockbuster every time … you have to allow yourself to fail and you have to be ok with the fact that you will not come out of the gate straight up and be George Lucas."
He may not be Lucas or Spielberg, but Metcalfe is certainly making a name for himself. We’ll certainly be seeing his name on the credits of more films in the future.
DEAN SPANLEY is in selected cinemas now, rated [G]. Check out www.deanspanleymovie.com for more information.
1. Written by Katie, on 10-03-2009 10:28
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