Prey

PRIVATELY FUNDED AUSTRALIAN FEATURE FILM HITS SCREENS DESPITE GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN

Robert L Galinsky, co-producer of feature film Prey calls for support from Australian audiences

Prey, the Australian candy horror film starring Natalie Bassingthwaighte and US star-on-the-rise Jesse Johnson, will premiere for a limited theatrical release in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in early May.

At a time when private investment is on a steep decline, the producers of Prey wish to draw attention to a commercially-minded group of film-makers who are emerging in the local industry.

According to Galinsky and co-producer Elizabeth Howatt-Jackman, film-making does not have to be a risky business. Given a commercially viable vehicle, private investors are willing to engage and invest to support Australia's film industry.

"Often local audiences have not supported Aussie films with bleak, underdog-type storylines, given the choice of a US film with uplifting universal stories" said Howatt-Jackman.

"We want Australians to support a locally produced film which is pure entertainment and escapism - it's what Hollywood has supplied its audiences for years. Hot guys and hot chicks in peril with only their wiles, wits, and a chainsaw at hand... What else could you want? So look out for the local (limited) release of Prey and get your butts to a cinema," said Galinsky.

"In the last ten years Australian film-makers have excelled in making good-looking actors as unattractive as possible and placed them in depressing scenarios. The average person just wants to escape with a box of popcorn for 90 minutes and have some fun," said Galinsky.

"Prey was fully underwritten by private funding of nearly $4 million. Having to make it commercial and to appeal to Australian and international audiences, we cast Australia's hottest star in Natalie Bassingthwaighte, sought out a marketable foreign star, in this case Don Johnson's son, Jesse, and employed a good looking, up-and-coming cast, knowing full well it would ensure the film was saleable here and in the US."

Prey has secured a US theatrical release, and will be premiered in Las Vegas in June at the Brenden Cinemas in the Palms Hotel and Casino. International sales are being handled by Australia's Damage Releasing in conjunction with ITN of North America.

Prey

CAST: Natalie Bassingthwaighte, Jesse Johnson, Christian Clark, Natalie Walker, Ben Kermode, Kristin Sargent

Prey tells the story of six friends who head to the outback on a four-wheel drive adventure and come face-to-face with an ancient supernatural evil. The three couples drive into a sacred site where they unknowingly awaken a 5000 year-old curse. Inspired by true unsolved events, Prey follows the group of 20-something's into a vortex of serpentine fear; afterlife and psychological confrontations that make them question what is real and what is imagined.

Prey (M) premieres in Sydney on May 5 and Melbourne in May 7 at invitation-only events. The movie will run for a strictly limited season at selected cinemas throughout Australia ahead of the film's DVD release.

www.prey-thefilm.com

NATALIE BASSINGTHWAIGHTE is 'Kate'

- an ambitious, young surgeon working in the emergency department of a major city hospital. Kate seems to be in control of her life but is haunted by disturbing nightmares from her childhood. When Gus invites her on the fateful trip to the surf, Kate won't go unless her cousin Annika comes too. She unwittingly is inviting Annika into her nightmare.

Bassingthwaighte just released her solo debut album '1000 stars' and is the host of the Australian version of Network Ten's So You Think You Can Dance

JESSE JOHNSON is 'Gus'

- a risk taker who believes life is a gamble. He loves the fast life, girls and money. Gus makes decisions on the roll of the dice and when he is fired from his job, rather than being depressed, he turns it in to a positive and heads to the surf.

He convinces his girlfriend Kate and his mate, Jason to join him. Johnson is the son of Miami Vice's Don Johnson and Patti D'Arbanville. Johnson's credits include the television series Nash Bridges starring his father, the US telemovie Word of Honour and the US feature film, Redline.

CHRISTIAN CLARK is 'Jason'

- an easy going guy who finds himself on the wrong side of the law. Nothing fazes Jason and he is sure everything will be fine. It is this laid back attitude that takes him on a surfing break with his mate, Gus.

Clark travelled the world for five years modelling and working in commercials. He knew that if he put his mind to it he could achieve anything. Christian moved to New York and spent a year at the Williams Esper Studios studying the Meisner Technique. Clark has appeared in Network Ten's Neighbours and is currently living in LA.

NATALIE WALKER is 'Ling'

- an ambitious barrister who wants nothing more in life than to win, to be the best. But that drive changes when she goes on a four-wheel drive holiday with Jason, her lover, also the client she is defending. Ling's survival instinct will help her endure the horrors of the desert.

Walker lives in Los Angeles with her husband and Prey co-star Ben Kermode. The Australian born couple left their homeland two years ago work in LA. She has appeared in numerous independent films including 3 Blinks and had a regular role in the television series, Wicked Science.

BEN KERMODE is 'Matt'

- Annika's friend who comes along on the surf trip to keep her company. For Matt and Annika, life is filled with laughs but what happens to them in the desert is far from a laughing matter.

In 2007 Kermode filmed his first US feature film, David and Fatima, a love story set in the Middle-East starring Martin Landau. Kermode is married to co-star Natalie Walker, Prey sees Kermode killing his wife on screen. Kermode and Walker did not advise casting directors that they were married whilst auditioning in fear it may jeopardised their chances of the roles.

KRISTIN SARGENT is 'Annika'

- An aromatherapist and Doctor of Reflexology who takes her work very seriously.

Bubbly and fun-loving, Annika is Kate's cousin and takes her friend, Matt along on the surf trip to keep her company. Prey is Kristin Sargent's first feature film role, having previously appeared in the Australian television series Neighbours and North to South.