The Bodgy Creek Roosters, a [fictional] Australian Rules Football Club somewhere in rural NSW is in trouble as numbers are dwindling and a decision has to be made – merge or fold.
Former fringe AFL player, Troy Carrington, has come back to coach his old club and save them and he has an idea . . . an idea that is met with hostility, ridicule and disbelief from the town’s people.
Troy reckons Bodgy Creek can get funding to employ refugees to rebuild the recently condemned clubhouse and, in the process, encourage them to pull on the footy boots and bring the club back to life.
The Merger is a feature film taking a comic look at refugees settling in Australia and joining the holy grail of Aussie male sanctity, the footy club.
- Damian Callinan, author of The Merger
The stage play known as “The Merger”, written and performed by comedian Damian Callinan, is now becoming a full-length film, seeking new talent from regional NSW.
Callinan was one of the main characters in the hit movie “Backyard Ashes”, shot in Wagga Wagga with the same director, Mark Grentell.
Specific roles for “The Merger” include Neil, a 10-year old; speaking parts for players Boof, Weetbix, Ponko, Ruffy and Hibbert, plus many male extras with all body types, aged between 18 and 40. Auditions are on July 8 and 9 in Wagga.
As the film centres on refugees, males from ages nine to 90 are sought with specific roles for – Navina (early 30s from Sri Lanka), Tou Pou (late 20s, ethnic Hmong), Ashok (mid 20s, Sudanese), Salman (late 20s, early 30s, Syrian), Fazela Ali shah (late 20s, Afghan) and Sima (nine years old, Afghan). Many other refugees are sought as extras.
The coach of the Bodgy Creek Roosters is not your average back-blocks bloke.Troy is a listener and opportunist who listens to world affairs and applies his own take on global issues, including refugees and asylum seekers, the president of the United States pulling out of the Paris agreement, book week and how the Roosters can be carbon neutral.
Applications to audition are to be emailed to castingthemerger@gmail.com by Saturday. Include name, age, a recent photo, acting experience (if any) specific role and contact details. Applications from people interested in being film crew also are sought.
Pennie Scott
I am an independent scholar with interests and expertise in regenerative agriculture, equity and justice for farmers, functioning healthy landscapes and the culture in agri-culture. My aim is to inform holistically and honestly to ensure readers have access to what they need, now.
I am an independent scholar with interests and expertise in regenerative agriculture, equity and justice for farmers, functioning healthy landscapes and the culture in agri-culture. My aim is to inform holistically and honestly to ensure readers have access to what they need, now.
