Throwback (2014) - US DVD Release Announced

Fresh from successful film festival screenings worldwide, Australian Bigfoot horror feature Throwback will be released on DVD in the US and Canada by MVD Entertainment on June 23rd. A third and final trailer for the film has been unveiled to support the DVD launch: http://youtu.be/irRi0CZSSQo

Throwback follows two treasure hunters, a female park ranger and an unhinged ex-cop as they encounter a Yowie, the Australian version of Bigfoot, in the remote jungles of North Queensland. The film stars Shawn Brack, Anthony Ring, Melanie Serafin, and Vernon Wells from Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior and Commando.

Described by writer/director Travis Bain as “a cross between The Legend of Boggy Creek and Predator”, Throwback has screened at eleven international film festivals and won awards including Best Feature (Tri-Cities International Fantastic Film Festival), Best Foreign Feature (Famous Monsters Film Festival) and Best Supporting Actor for Vernon Wells (Scare-a-Con Film Festival). The DVD will present Throwback in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio plus bonus materials including a commentary, deleted scenes, an alternative ending, behind-the-scenes featurettes and more.

Writer/director Bain says he is thrilled that Throwback will finally be available to North American genre fans who have been unable to see it until now.

“Not everyone lives near a film festival,” Bain says, “so it’s great that Throwback can now reach an even wider audience through home video.”

Bain is currently running a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign for his next feature, Starspawn, a sci-fi/horror thriller inspired by the works of cult horror author H.P. Lovecraft. Starspawn is about a TV current affairs journalist who uncovers evidence of an imminent alien invasion whilst on assignment to interview some Outback survivalists. Starspawn is aimed at a 2017 release and will star Vernon Wells and other actors yet to be announced. The campaign link is:http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/starspawn/starspawn-an-hp-lovecraft-inspired-sci-fi-horror-f

Aussie Horror Feature "Throwback" Gets New Poster

A new poster has been released for the upcoming Australian horror feature "Throwback."

Designed by Brazilian artist Juarez Ricci, the retro-style poster evokes the '60s/'70s creature features and pulp adventure movies that inspired the film itself.

Writer/Director Travis Bain says he wanted to avoid the clichés of contemporary movie posters.

"From the get-go I knew I wanted an illustrated poster rather than your typical modern 'floating heads' Photoshop design," Bain says. "Juarez's work reminds me of the old Drew Struzan and Richard Amsel posters I grew up with, so he was a natural choice to create this artwork."

"Throwback" follows two modern-day treasure hunters, a female park ranger and an unhinged ex-cop as they tangle with a Bigfoot-type monster known as a Yowie in the remote jungles of northern Australia. The film stars Shawn Brack, Anthony Ring, Melanie Serafin, and Vernon Wells of "The Road Warrior" and "Commando" fame. The new one-sheet poster is available for collectors to purchase at: www.zazzle.com/throwback_one_sheet_movie_poster-228922243441439784

"Throwback" recently premiered at the Bram Stoker International Film Festival in England, and Australian and North American premieres are expected to be announced over the coming months. Already the film has received strong interest from the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival in New York, which recently invited Bain to submit "Throwback" for consideration for their 2014 programme.

"It's not an official acceptance, but it's a step towards one," Bain says. "They're very keen to see the film, so we're crossing our fingers they'll select it for their Midnight Section."

Additionally, the trailer for "Throwback" has been selected for the International Movie Trailer Festival, an online festival in which the public can vote for their favourite trailers. Viewers can vote for the "Throwback" trailer at: www.internationalmovietrailerfestival.com/all-trailers/throwback/

"Throwback" is expected to be released on DVD, Blu-ray and VOD in 2014. For film festival or distributor enquiries, visit www.travisbain.com.au or www.facebook.com/throwbackmovie.

Throwback (2013) - New Trailer HD

From the press release:

A new trailer has debuted for the upcoming Australian horror feature Throwback. It is the second trailer to be released for the film, following on from a teaser trailer released in April 2012. 

Throwback is about two modern-day treasure hunters, a female park ranger and an embittered ex-cop who encounter a savage Bigfoot-like monster known as a Yowie in the jungles of Australia's Far North. Throwback is the first feature film ever made about Australia's legendary cryptid. The film recently wrapped production in Cairns, Queensland, and is now in post-production. The independent production was privately financed and is expected to premiere on the film festival circuit and secure a distributor later this year. It stars Shawn Brack, Anthony Ring, Melanie Serafin and genre film veteran Vernon Wells ("The Road Warrior", "Commando", "Innerspace"). 

Writer/Director Travis Bain says Throwback pays homage to the bigfoot movies of the ’70s such as The Legend of Boggy Creek and Creature from Black Lake, as well as ’70s cinema in general. 

“I wanted to make the kind of Bigfoot movie William Friedkin or Walter Hill might have made if they’d come to Australia 35 years ago. Throwback is what it might have looked like, a sort of gritty creature-feature/neo-western/action-adventure mashup.” 

Bain says the film owes more to the horror films of Val Lewton (Cat People, I Walked With a Zombie) than those of Rob Zombie or Eli Roth. 

“Throwback isn’t a gorefest. It's bloody in parts, but its main focus is on suspense and chills. I’ve always believed that only seeing fleeting glimpses of a monster—or even just hearing it—is scarier than seeing it outright.” 

Throwback was shot on High Definition video and matted to the 2.35:1 aspect ratio for a more cinematic look. 

"I didn't want the movie to look like your typical indie film. I wanted it to look big and epic, as if Jack Cardiff had shot it in CinemaScope. It's going to be a nail-biting roller-coaster ride and I think the new trailer reflects that." 

Bain hopes Throwback will be a springboard to bigger and more elaborate projects. 

"My team and I have several new projects in development in the action, horror and sci-fi genres, so we'd love to hear from like-minded producers who are keen to help us bring them to the screen." 

Throwback is Bain's second feature film. His first, the comedy-drama Scratched (http://www.travisbain.com.au/scratched.htm), screened at Australian film festivals in 2005. 

Throwback Synopsis: Jack and Kent are two down-on-their-luck pest exterminators, hit hard by the Global Financial Crisis. One hot summer weekend, they venture deep into the jungles of Far North Queensland in search of a big score: the lost gold of legendary outlaw “Thunderclap” Newman, who vanished without a trace in the 1800s. But they find more than they bargained for when they encounter a Yowie, Australia’s answer to Bigfoot, a savage superprimate with a strong territorial streak. Lost in a green hell, Jack and Kent find themselves playing a deadly game of cat and mouse with the Yowie, along with a feisty female park ranger named Rhiannon and an unhinged ex-cop named McNab.

For interviews or sales agent/distributor enquiries, please contact travisbain@hotmail.com 

Official Sites:
http://www.travisbain.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/throwbackmovie

Throwback (2013) - Vernon Wells As McNab

He’s faced off against Mad Max and Arnold Schwarzenegger, but now cult actor Vernon Wells faces his most formidable foe yet: a seven-foot superprimate known as a Yowie, Australia’s answer to Bigfoot. 

The veteran actor of Commando and The Road Warrior fame recently made a special trip to Cairns, Far North Queensland, to film his scenes for Travis Bain’s upcoming creature feature “Throwback.” In the film, due to premiere on the film festival circuit in 2013, Wells plays John McNab, a former homicide detective who has been suspended for insubordination. The story follows two modern-day treasure hunters who run afoul of a Yowie whilst searching for lost gold in the jungles of Far North Queensland. Along the way, they encounter the slightly unhinged McNab, who mistakenly believes that a serial killer is lurking in the forest killing hikers. 

In these stills from the film, McNab is seen wearing a ghillie suit, a full-body camouflage outfit favoured by snipers and hunters. Ironically, Australian soldiers refer to the ghillie suit informally as a “Yowie suit.” 

 Writer/Director Travis Bain says he is delighted to work with Wells. 

“Vernon fits his character like a glove,” says Bain. “He’s the right age, the right look, and very intimidating! I couldn’t have asked for a better actor for this role. Not only that, he’s just a really good bloke. Very down to earth and no bullshit whatsoever, which is what I like. I had to keep pinching myself that I was directing Bennett. I actually had a Commando poster on my bedroom wall back in 1985, so I’ve been geeking out a bit ever since Vernon said yes to the role.” 

Bain and his crew filmed Wells’ scenes at a remote location named Surprise Creek, just inland from where parts of HBO’s The Pacific were filmed. Bain says the location was so secluded that they only saw one hiker the whole time. 

“The location was very physically challenging. It was hot, there were a thousand bugs and the terrain was very rugged, but it was worth it because it looks spectacular on screen. Thankfully Vernon was a good sport. In fact, he was a machine. He worked tirelessly and performed like the pro that he is.” 

 For the first time on the production, a second camera was used to capture the action, a Canon XHA1, the “big brother” of the Canon HV20 used to shoot the film on so far. 

“Shooting on two cameras not only allowed us to get through Vernon’s scenes faster, it was also our a backup in case anything went wrong with the main camera. When you’re working with an actor who’s only in Australia for a limited time, reshoots aren’t an option, so the second camera gave us peace of mind.” 

The film’s first vintage-style teaser poster was recently unveiled, and is now available in various sizes for collectors to order from Zazzle (http://www.zazzle.com/sapphirepictures/gifts). More behind-the-scenes videos are coming soon on the official website (www.travisbain.com.au/throwback.htm) and a full trailer is due by Christmas. 

Official synopsis: Two modern-day treasure hunters venture deep into the jungles of Far North Queensland looking for the lost gold of a legendary outlaw. But instead of riches, they find a different kind of legend: a savage monster known as a Yowie, and a battle for survival ensues. Thrown into the mix are a park ranger named Rhiannon and an ex-homicide detective named McNab. “Throwback” stars Shawn Brack, Anthony Ring, Melanie Serafin, Andy Bramble and Vernon Wells. The movie is currently in post-production.

Throwback (2013) - The Teaser Poster Is Here

Just as Travis promised me, the poster is now available! Feast your eyes on the following:

Throwback (2013) - Behind The Scenes Production Diary Part 33

For more on the film, visit the Throwback website here. Travis has promised to have a full trailer as well as posters for us by the end of the year!

The third behind-the-scenes video for the upcoming Australian horror thriller "Throwback", coming in 2013. In this episode, we meet one of the actors behind the Yowie, learn all about director/cinematographer Travis Bain's camera equipment, and watch lead actor Shawn Brack plunge into a freezing cold creek in winter for his art.

Bigfoot County (2012) - North American Distribution

Words coming in on a new found footage film named "Bigfoot County".

Grindstone Entertainment Group has acquired all North American rights for the feature film BIGFOOT COUNTY, a found footage thriller about a group of filmmakers who ventured into Siskiyou County in Northern California, an area widely known for its Bigfoot sightings, and disappeared. Their footage was found a year later. Grindstone will release the film this winter through Lionsgate Home Entertainment. 

“I went up to shoot a movie on Bigfoot; then a local I met with presented me with evidence that blew my mind,” says BIGFOOT COUNTY director Stephon Stewart. “After seeing this film, you will begin to believe what many have doubted since the 1967 Patterson/Gimlin Bigfoot footage was released.” 

Grindstone’s Ryan Black adds, “The film puts a scary twist on a classic legend. Bigfoot enthusiasts and horror fans alike will really enjoy what Stewart has created.” 

In addition to his directing duties, Stewart also produced the film with Richard Halpern along with executive producers Johnnie Colter and Joey Napoli. Angelique De Luca is associate producer.

Throwback (2012) - Stills

Here are some stills from Travis Bain's "Throwback". You can check out the behind the scenes video posted previously here or visit the Facebook page.

Throwback (2013) - Behind The Scenes Part 1

Travis Bain sent us a link to the following behind the scenes footage for his next film, "Throwback". For more information on the film you visit the Facebook page.

This video shows writer/director Travis Bain directing a scene featuring actors Shawn Brack (Jack) and Emma Glennon (Rhiannon - body double). The camera being used to film the movie is a Canon HV20, recording HDV at 25psf. It might look small and insignificant, but trust us, it produces incredibly sharp, cinematic 1080p video.