The first diverse indie romantic drama, Get a Life, Alright, led by women, will be released through Dendy & Wallis Cinemas Australia-wide starting 19th MAY 2022.
Helmed by award-winning director/producer Joy Hopwood who co-wrote the film with Shamini Singhal, Get a Life, Alright had its world premiere, theatrical opening at The Australian High Commission International Film Festival (Singapore) & won Hong Kong’s International Indie Film Festival’s best drama feature.
“Co-writing and producing Get a Life, Alright with Joy, allowed me to relay my experiences within a creative screen space. Joy has very pure motivations to depict diverse realities and does her best to authentically create story realms and characters. She has managed to do so by rounding up a talented cast and crew who are motivated by the same ideals. I’m happy to have collaborated with Joy as she understands that authentic representations are central to meaningful on-screen diversity,” says Singhal.
Get a Life, Alright is a film about a struggling Indian – Australian actor, Nick Singh (Satish Kala) who falls for the leading actress, Tessa Wise (Abril Tolnay) of a music T.V. show after delivering flowers on set. Her best friend, also on the show, Sarah Chen (Aileen Huynh) sets them up for a first date at his father’s Indian restaurant, Ballu’s Bollyfood, played by Here out West’s Sukhraj Deepak. Little do they know that Nick’s jealous brother, Adarsh (Dilshan Rain) tips off journalist, Patrick Pappas (Danny Barton) to run a story about the celebrities in order to gain more publicity for their struggling restaurant. A story about jealousy all thanks to fame and the film highlights the importance of female relationships.
Leading actress, Abril Tonay says, “People should see Get a Life, Alright because it has everything people want in a romantic drama. It has the added bonus of a few musical numbers that will stay in your head for days. It’s the first Australian Indie film of its kind, led by an incredible team of talented women.”
Leading actor, Satish Kala agrees and says, “Get a life Alight is a movie, which has all the flavour of a Rom-Com/ Family Drama. The film brings together families, friends, and lost romance. It is definitely one of a kind for Australian cinema, which champions diversity and inclusiveness.”
“Get A Life Alright is a quirky, fun time that has everything from song, dance, and some delicious lamb chops! But most importantly it celebrates love, family, and strength in the face of adversity. It’s a film that brings joy and warms the heart,” says actress Aileen Huynh.
Starring Abril Tolnay, Satish Kala & Aileen Huynh, Dilshan Rain & Here Out West’s Sukhraj Deepak as the main cast. The film’s creative team behind the film includes cinematographer & editor Linda Ung, sound recordist & mixer Lara Cross, set designer Valentina Iastrebova and four female associate producers; Shamini Singhal, Meret Hassanen, Kat Dibley & Katrina Olsen. This modern love story is a celebration of love, and the importance of female friendships and dreams – themes that everyone can relate to. It has a touch of Bollywood in the mix of pop-music culture, as the film is set around a popular music video show.
“Get a Life, Alright is different from all my other films due to the pop-music video sequences and is probably my best work to date. It was made with the support and collaboration of passionate, creative women in a positive, fun spirit and in celebration of independent filmmaking. Being the first diverse romantic drama, musicial – due to the music videos, it’s led by a team of women who were all positive, on the same page, and who were intuitively in sync with one another which was a very special experience to have all these elements combined. It’s a film for everyone, especially those who love chick flicks, romance, pop music & who appreciate indie filmmakers. I’m proud of what my team has achieved with 1% of the budget that you normally see of Hollywood blockbusters.” says Hopwood. The music was produced by Paul Wiltshire whose credits include: Back Street Boys, Human Nature, Delta Goodrem & Vanessa Amorosi, and co-written by Roy Nicolson & Joy Hopwood herself.
Joy was a former Play School presenter who continues to make waves in the film industry as a champion for independent cinema and diversity. Her past films include the first Asian Australian Rom-Com, Rhapsody of Love, The Script of Life as Writer/ Director/ Producer.
For further information, press kit, and interviews please contact:
Joy Hopwood | 0408 1969 50 | joyhouseproductions@gmail.com
Reviews
“A great story with a lot of heart!” 4 out of 5 – Andy Trieu (SBS)
“This is a cute and easy to watch rom-com, with the added important elements of representation, diversity, and visibility. In a time when the world is getting sick and tired of white beachgoers and surfies, “Get a Life, Alright”, ticks all the boxes of being well balanced on the social issue side with a love of emotion and lovey-dovey meet-cute moments.
The premise of the film is also easy to understand, it’s simple and adds to the depth of the film. The lead is an Indian Australian man – Nick Singh, whose ultimate goal is to be a successful actor, and works odd jobs at a florist and his father’s restaurants to make ends meet. He later falls in love with the lead Tessa Wise, of a TV series he passed an audition for in a guest role, and it’s entertaining to see the character development, but also the romance, which is simple, cute, and pure.
The film was well written and the scenes flowed fluidly without any plot holes. Back to the issues of representation, diversity, and visibility for the on-screen – we are able to witness a darker-skinned South Asian man (which we rarely see in Australian film and TV) trying to pursue a career that is traditionally not seen as lucrative in Asian families. THIS is probably one of the most significant milestones for the film.
Great film, easy romance and meet cute situations and enjoyable to watch!”
4.5 out of 5 – Erin Chew, Freelance Writer (HuffPost / AsAmNews / FlixAsia and Being Asian Australian)
“If you’re in the mood for a light-hearted rom-com that is set in Australia but doesn’t star any beaches or blondes, you’re in luck. ‘Get a Life, Alright’ is that rare breed of Australian independent film that is culturally diverse without being dark. And the diversity here isn’t just about having a token non-white character who is the funny or nerdy sidekick to the gorgeous male/female protagonists. Diversity is at the very heart of the story as it centres on Nick Singh, a young Indian-Australian man who works part-time as a florist and at his dad’s restaurants while harbouring aspirations for an acting career. He falls for Tessa Wise, one of the female leads in a hit TV series where he also later lands a guest role. Their love story is marred by classic obstacles like envious siblings and miscommunication, but there is a lot of fun and some fabulous musicals on the way to happily ever after.
When exploring non-white cultures in Australian cinema, it is easy to fall into the trap of going for the easily identifiable stereotypes instead of representing diverse characters as full-fledged individuals. The script-writers of ‘Get a Life…’ negotiate this by including some features associated with India, such as Bollywood and curry, but by also being playful with these inclusions. Nick’s dad’s restaurant, for instance, is called ‘Bolly-food’ and Nick’s stint in India sees him starring in a beer commercial.
Overall it’s a great effort at representation and good humour!”
4 out of 5 – Sukhmani Khorana, Writer / Author / Academic
“Joy Hopwood has a penchant for making diverse romantic comedies. Unlike Crazy Rich Asians, where the notch is cranked up to full technicolour decadence, Joy’s films are quiet, charming bubblers filled with rather recognisable, relatable (and Australian) characters. However, this is Joy’s most glamour-set film – a musical drama featuring striking Bollywood numbers. Her main leads Nick (Satish Kala) and Tessa (Abril Tolnay) have a lovely chemistry, and to see the diverse cast was a delight. Without giving too much away, this film highlights the importance of female friendships and of course, the power of love in all its forms. Shamini Singhal and Hopwood paired up as a team to write this comedy, and the viewer can see what a lovely working relationship they had through the sheer joy infused in this production.”
Five stars – Alice Pung, Writer / Author / Screenwriter / Academic