Thursday, September 20, 2007

Story Collection # 03 "Kenny"



I guess Channel TEN were attempting to stall 'The Chasers War on Everything' ratings boost by putting this great little Aussie movie on a Wednesday night this week!! It's a story because as well as the great story in the film it's matched by the story of getting it to the screen in the first place.

First of all... lets put some punters straight... "Kenny" is a fictitious character who started life as a home movie project following Shane Jacobson in a truck and exploring links with his event management work and these interesting characters they encountered from "Splashdown" toilet hire company!!

They had a meeting with the owner of Splashdown who wanted to fund a feature film despite Clay and Shane's reticence... a call came through from the Manager of Ameri-can wondering if the boss would be attending that years national Convention in the US... suddenly the lights went on and 'bang' you've got a whole film!! They followed 'Kenny' and the rest is history.

The irony was not lost on Shane that one year he is event managing Splashdown, TV networks and the caterers at the Australian Film Industry Awards [AFI's] and 12 months later he is onstage accepting a BEST ACTOR gong!!

The boys were familiar to movie buffs through one or two Tropfest short film finalist efforts and are sure to go on and produce more than the one hit wonder that is 'Kenny'.

The great humour of the film is that Kenny is happy in his work, confused that people are so judgemental and has this understated way of using every 'poo' pun going with a straight face!!

There are also a couple of scenes which serve to define the challenge facing the church in secular aussie culture trying to share 'good news' !!

Kenny's son asks about his dad's beliefs in God and it emerges his ex-wife has suggested he'll be 'going to hell' because he doesn't believe in God! Kenny begs to differ but suggests "If God introduces himself to Kenny personally, he'll give God his full attention.... but until then.....?"

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