The Killer Elite v Redeemed

When I wrote the script for Redeemed last year, one of the biggest concerns for me was after completing it and getting looked at was the announcement that an International SAS film was gearing up to be filmed in 2010. That film is 'The Killer Elite' based off Ranulph Fiennes' bestseller "The Feathermen", and currently has Jason Statham and Clive Owen attached. There is talk of Robert De Niro joining the film, as well as Aussies Lachy Hulme, Ben Mendelsohn, and Dominic Purcell.





I've never read "The Feathermen" and when news of this film started getting around that it was co-financed by an Australian company, that were involved in Statham's 'Bank Job' film, I started to feel depressed about it. How can I compete with a line up like that? Is the story involving Aussie SAS? It's partly being shot in Melbourne and rural New South Wales, so maybe. It's a crushing feeling for an independent film maker, like the David and Goliath story.

But then it occured to me, I am no worse off than I was before, there are huge films out there already, I'm an indie film maker, the industry is already against me and if anything, this film will bring SAS content to the front of the public's view.

I must look at it like the 'Blackwater' film vs 'Rogue', both crocodile films, vastly different budgets, with different box office results.






Blackwater was more successful than Rogue and it was the David of the two.

Looking at what little info is online about The Killer Elite, my film's story is completely different too, which is reassuring. You have to look for the positives, and if anyone wants to spread it around that Australia has its own answer to 'The Killer Elite' by all means do so.

I'm readying my sling. I'm booking a HD camera to shoot part of my concept trailer at the Aboriginal Dreaming Festival. More on that soon