The Flip Side

This was the first leading role in a feature film for Australian actress, singer and comedian Emily Taheny.

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The film is largely a South Australian film, and the capital city, Adelaide, is a main character. It is a place where life is easier and simpler than in Australia's more cosmopolitan east coast cities such as Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. In Adelaide, location and landscape are an inseparable part of city life. Writer-director Marion Pilowsky, after living in London for more than twenty years, saw Adelaide as the perfect setting for a clash between personalities and cultures; she believes it will move audiences to tenderness one moment and reduce them to laughter the next.

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It is one of two Australian film comedies released in 2018 that star actress and comedian Emily Taheny. The films are 'The Flip Side' (2018) and 'That's Not My Dog!' (2018).

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The 20th Century Fox logo at the start of the film appears not with the usual orchestral fanfare but with a lighter, more melodic version of the same piece of music.

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Writer-producer-director Marion Pilowsky said of this film production: "After working in London for many years, I returned to my hometown of Adelaide to focus on writing and directing. Initially, I was really struck by how foreign I felt after being away for so long. As I readjusted to the big differences in culture and mindset between Europe and Australia, it gave me an idea for a story I thought many people could relate to — visitors from hell. It's a film about finding your real situation. It's a personal homage to Australia, as well as to home, love, sex, food and bloody good Shiraz."

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In the promotion for this picture, the film was described as a "dramedy".

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The promotion for this picture states that it is based on an original idea.

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This Australian film opened on roughly one hundred and twenty screens when it was released in Australia in late August 2018.

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Writer-director Marion Pilowsky brought actress Emily Taheny into the cast after seeing her in the 2017 episode of the Australian series 'True Story with Hamish & Andy', in which Taheny played the lead character in "Rachel", the first episode of its first season.

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The clash of human dynamics and cultural backgrounds inspired writer-director Marion Pilowsky as she developed her screenplay with her co-writer and life partner Lee Sellars, which in turn drew the superb production team of Sue Murray and David Willing and an international cast led by renowned British comedian and actor Eddie Izzard and Australian comedian Emily Taheny.

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The film is a collective effort in every possible respect; cast and crew, location and community came together in a unity that shines off the screen in this production.

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The film examines subjects many women grapple with, such as contemplating the road not taken. Writer-director Marion Pilowsky said: "What happens if your first love comes back and you think you might have a second chance at a different life? It looks at the decisions modern women have to make and the pressure they feel to succeed on every level. I also wanted it to be modern, fresh and bright in tone for an audience that loves romantic comedies but wants something they can relate to in their own lives in a unique way."

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The screenplay was developed over several years, during which writer-director Marion Pilowsky and co-writer Lee Sellars received a writing grant from the South Australian Film Corporation. Los Angeles-based script editor Dylan Wilcox, with an eye to targeting not only a local but also an international audience, was brought on board to work on the draft with them. Pilowsky said: "This was a turning point in the development of 'The Flip Side'. Dylan pushed us to find the heart and soul of our female protagonist while preserving the comedy and strengthening the poignancy of the dramatic spine, particularly the relationship between mother and daughter."

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Sue Murray, who had served as a creative consultant on the film since the first draft of the screenplay, came on board as producer alongside David Willing, writer-director Marion Pilowsky's regular production partner from London, England, who now lives in Los Angeles, California, USA. Writer-director Marion Pilowsky said: "I have no doubt that Sue and David's unwavering belief in me as a writer and director made this possible. Both had produced my short film work in the UK and Australia and had collaborated with me creatively. Our history and friendship gave us a foundation of trust and confidence, as well as a shorthand that made this adventure truly enjoyable."

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Producer Sue Murray explained that her role on this film evolved from script consultant to executive producer and hands-on producer. As interest grew, so did her involvement in the project. She said: "I could see this would be a film that could be both entertaining and raise women's issues. After working on a great many serious, socio-political films, I thought making a relationship comedy with a female director and a largely female story would be a refreshing change."

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Eddie Izzard was drawn to the idea of shooting in Adelaide, South Australia. He said: "I've toured Australia four or five times in all the major cities. Doing something in Australia or New Zealand is like gigs at home, like home turf."

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Along with making use of the urban landscape of Adelaide in South Australia, scenes were shot in small towns, a quarry, a winery and even a bowling alley. The film shifts from a local foundation to a road movie. "It was hard not to be captivated by the beauty of some of our locations, like the stunning Horseshoe Bay at Port Elliot or the wine country of the Barossa Valley," said director Marion Pilowsky. "My job was to make sure that while the film looked great, we didn't forget the characters. What they did within the frame was always the greatest priority. In comedy everything is about action and reaction, and we had to catch every beat."

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According to cinematographer Steve Arnold, the film's challenge was photographing a script-based film full of dialogue. The locations therefore had to be open but not intrusive. He said: "So the look of the film is about realistic, motivated sources, slightly heightened from the real world. But we're also concerned with the actors' faces, we know their faces and we light them, and then we develop the scene so that it isn't all in close-ups. So there's a kind of dynamic between four people, because it's a comedy and there's a tempo between each of the characters in terms of their actions and reactions. The balance of these drives the thinking about how we approach the film."

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Director Marion Pilowsky had a very specific vision for costume, hair and makeup. She said: "Henry [Eddie Izzard] and Sophie [Vanessa Guide] were easy. I lived and worked in London's Soho for many years. There were plenty of Henrys and Sophies around!. Effortlessly stylish, cool, sophisticated Europeans. Jeff [Luke McKenzie] and Ronnie [Emily Taheny], on the other hand, had to be ordinary Australians. Ronnie in particular wasn't someone in debt and short of time. She rushed out shopping at every spare minute, so her look seemed to have been gathered over the years and put together to express a practical working life. The actors collaborated wonderfully on the costume design. They had done their homework and their character backstory research and had strong ideas about the direction they wanted to go. Eddie and Vanessa brought along some favourite pieces they wanted to include in the film; that was really great because it added a real European sensibility to the wardrobe."

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Make-up artist Jen Rossiter gave a full briefing on the film. Director Marion Pilowsky said: "I wanted the women to look as natural as possible. It sounds easy, but it's actually much harder to do. Jen did a beautiful job of making a 'difference' between the women while keeping it completely real. As a female filmmaker, I'm really sensitive about how women 'look' on screen, so this was very, very important to me."

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Producer Sue Murray had previously served as a producer on director Marion Pilowsky's earlier short film 'What We Know' (2015), and then went on to produce 'The Flip Side' (2018).

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The film's main poster features directional signs for both "Adelaide" in South Australia and "Hollywood" in Los Angeles (L.A.), California. The film's co-writer, Lee Sellars, had previously often been credited as "L. A. Sellars."

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The film was made with the assistance of Screen Australia and was developed and produced with the assistance of the South Australian Film Corporation.

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The debut marked the first time the film's writers, Lee Sellars and Marion Pilowsky, had written the screenplay for a feature film.

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Writer-producer-director Marion Pilowsky spent more than three years making this film.

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Actress Emily Taheny reportedly got "pash rash" from kissing British actor Eddie Izzard several times for this film.

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Thirty locations were used over a twenty-five-day shoot for the film, which writer-director Marion Pilowsky said was no easy feat in terms of planning.

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This was the first feature film of Australian actress, writer and comedian Susie Youssef.

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This was French actress Vanessa Guide's first fully English-language feature film.

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On the film's poster, the names of its two most prominently billed stars, actor Eddie Izzard and actress Emily Taheny, are both five letters long and begin with the same letter 'e'.

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French actress Vanessa Guide, who plays Sophie in this film, had previously played a character of the same name in the film 'Machotaildrop' (2009).

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Actor Mark Saturno played three roles in the film: boat guide, DIY Mike and Nathan from the bank.

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This was the first Australian feature film for British actor Eddie Izzard and French actress Vanessa Guide.

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The (fictional) Australian film Henry (Eddie Izzard) had previously appeared in was titled "Totem."

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The film's world premiere was held on Monday, 27 August 2018 at Palace Nova Cinemas in Adelaide, South Australia, the Australian state where the film was shot. The gala event was attended by former Australian Prime Minister Hon. Julia Gillard, the film's director Marion Pilowksy, local television personality and host Anne 'Willsy' Wills, and the film's two stars, Emily Taheny and Luke McKenzie.

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The film's promotional photo shows the four main characters crossing a street, as on the cover of the Beatles' Abbey Road album.

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This was the first feature film directed by writer-producer Marion Pilowsky.

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Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason said of this film project: "We are delighted that 20th Century Fox is involved in a local Australian production. It is especially exciting to see Marion Pilowsky bring this sophisticated comedy to life for her first feature film as a director, surrounded by experienced producer Sue Murray and a strong creative team made up mostly of women."

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Fox International Productions President Tomas Jegeus said of the film: "We see tremendous potential in both Marion Pilowsky and 'The Call Back.' The script made me laugh out loud and was a story with universal themes, so we are very excited to be part of a project we believe will travel the world."

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Andrew Cripps, President of 20th Century Fox International Theatrical Distribution, said of the film: "'The Call Back' is exactly the kind of story we think will cross international borders. It speaks with a genuinely original local voice that translates easily to audiences looking for films that reflect their own lives, particularly through comedy."

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Marc Wooldridge, Managing Director of 20th Century Fox Film Australia, said of the film: "We are excited to have found a female-driven comedy with the potential to reach a broad audience. It is a pleasure to collaborate creatively with Marion Pilowsky, who is preparing to direct a film that will deliver unexpected laughs, surprises and great entertainment."

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Annabelle Sheehan, CEO of the South Australian Film Corporation, said of the production: "Marion Pilowsky is a dynamic, creative South Australian filmmaker who has brought together a wonderful project with significant national and international partners. Supporting a local voice to gain a global platform is at the heart of SAFC's goals and supports our innovative feature film industry."

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The theatrical feature was shot in late 2017 in Adelaide, South Australia, and its surroundings, including the Barossa Valley's famous wine region, and it was released in Australia in late August 2018.

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Although writer-director Marion Pilowsky had many producing credits on feature films, her writing and directing experience had been in short films, and she felt fully ready to tell this story in feature format. Pilowsky wanted to turn this rarer type of Australian film into a sophisticated, contemporary, bittersweet romantic comedy for adults, with character depth, asking questions the audience could connect with, understand and reflect on afterwards. With 'The Flip Side' she created a film that she and the producers believed would resonate deeply while also entertaining enthusiastically.

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According to writer-director Marion Pilowsky, the uniqueness of the Australian experience in this context had to do with the contrasting views of life, both superficial and deeper, that exist between Australians and Europeans as a clash of cultures.

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The complexity and layers of Ronnie (Emily Taheny) were at the heart of writer-director Marion Pilowsky's concept. "I wanted this film to say something about women and how we live our inner lives. They are complex, nuanced, and if their lives internally contradict what they project to the outside world, they can often feel isolated. Ronnie is a conflicted woman with responsibilities that have brought her to the edge of a cliff. But she couldn't share that with Jeff in part because she believes she has to fix everything on her own. Ronnie is a fixer, the one who sorts things out. And since her father 'jumped ship' twenty years ago, looking after her mother has been her sole responsibility; he re-enters her life at the worst possible moment, but it triggers a possible escape plan from this mess and reminds her of the life she could live with Henry in London." She added: "Maintaining this delicate balance between Ronnie's inner and outer worlds was an incredible task for any actor; we have to keep the audience on her side despite Jeff. A lovely man who openly adores her, Ronnie's actions actually stem from fear and insecurity about commitment, but she is frightened of happiness and, worse, of believing she might deserve it, an inheritance passed down through generations, and Ronnie thinks she is unlovable."

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One of the film's major partners, the studio 20th Century Fox, wanted the film's cast to appeal to a broad audience. Finding the right charisma for the role of Henry, a sweet-talking, successful British actor who is quite well known but not a Hollywood superstar, was crucial.

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Writer-director Marion Pilowsky said of casting Henry (Eddie Izzard): "After we found Emily, we were struggling to find the right actor to play Henry. One day I thought out loud, who would be on this list? If Eddie Izzard were on the list, who else would be? And of course the answer was Eddie Izzard! So it was a lightbulb moment. I sent the script to his agent straight away, and he responded to the material and sent it to Eddie, who called me. It was fascinating because his insights opened other doors into Henry's character and I was able to bring that into the script. It was the beginning of a tremendous creative collaboration between us. Eddie was also really taken with the ensemble nature of the film, and he undoubtedly had boundless energy and an extraordinary, laser-focused talent."

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Producer Sue Murray said of the casting of Henry (Eddie Izzard): "The person playing Henry had the capacity to do drama as well as comedy. We knew Eddie would absolutely convey the feel of a British thespian, and especially after watching 'Victoria & Abdul' (2017) we were sure he could really play drama. I knew he would be a fascinating person, and on the drive from the airport to his hotel, his questions, his curiosity, his intelligence and his knowledge.. How wonderful!. His humour is very surreal. Going out to dinner or sitting between takes, the stream of consciousness is really great."

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For actress Vanessa Guide, who plays Sophie, Henry's business and love partner, Australia was a new adventure. Although the Barossa Valley's famous South Australian wine region reminded her of the French vineyards in France, she loved the scenery in the many places from the city to the coast. She also enjoyed playing, purely for 'fun,' the dazzling, manipulative Parisian outsider who gradually seduces Ronnie's (Emily Taheny) boyfriend Jeff (Luke McKenzie). At the same time, since Sophie's character is an extremely intelligent lawyer who always gets what she wants, the role had an unusual depth.

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Luke McKenzie was the only actor writer-director Marion Pilowsky already knew well. She said: "I love working with Luke. We had made two short films together before 'The Flip Side' and I had talked to him about the role of Jeff. He had even read a very early draft of the script. I wanted to find Ronnie's [Emily Taheny] 'anchor,' a man who loves her but also can't see that she's in trouble. Partly because of his own flaws but also because Ronnie keeps secrets, Luke found it. Every man's genetics, which is critical to Jeff's character, is a bit of a joker but not stupid. Jeff wants the best for Ronnie and, without realizing it, creates a perfect storm in their lives by inviting Henry to stay at their home. Luke is an incredibly hardworking actor who always collaborates generously with everyone."

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Actor Luke McKenzie explained his character: "Jeff is really your loyal, lovable everyman. And over time we learn that Jeff actually has quite a deep reserve of strength; that becomes fun to play when we peel back the layers and his foolishness subsides; underneath it all he's actually quite solid. Jeff is naive and perhaps a little complacent in his relationship because that's his blind spot. And a lot of the comedy comes from that."

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The film's script captivated actor Luke McKenzie from the start. He said: "It's so tight and the rhythms of the script move like an engine, there isn't a lot of unnecessary air in there. The comedy comes from clearly drawn characters; they are also four archetypal characters with a lot of depth and multidimensionality. The way they all play off each other and each has such a clearly defined line was what really excited me. There's a very beautiful balance between heart and comedy."

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Completing the cast with much-loved Australian actors, writer-director Marion Pilowsky found the ideal Iris, Ronnie's (Emily Taheny) mother, in the famous Australian veteran actress Tina Bursill. Pilowsky said: "She brought such sweetness and innocence to the role, while still being able to draw on the harsh parent from decades ago. She achieved that and her relationship with Ronnie forms the emotional backbone of the film."

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Adelaide actor Hugh Sheridan played Nigel, the bad nursing home account manager who argues with Ronnie (Emily Taheny) over unpaid fees.

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Comedian Susie Youssef played Sam, Ronnie's (Emily Taheny) closest friend. Writer-director Marion Pilowsky said: "Once Emily Taheny was secured, I was looking for someone I felt would have an original chemistry with her as her best friend Sam. Sam is the only one who knows the real story of Ronnie's wild, doomed past love affair with Henry and acts as the voice of the audience, amazed that Ronnie is risking having him around again. I had heard of Susie Youssef and seen her magnificent comedy work. Instinct told me she would be an actor. She was very suited to Emily and to the role. She didn't disappoint and exceeded all my expectations."

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The character played by actor Emily Taheny has two names: Veronica, but she is known as Ronnie.

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The film drew inspiration from major cinema releases such as Sideways (2004) and Notting Hill (1999); both Sideways (2004) and The Flip Side (2018) come from the 20. Century Fox film studio.

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