User:Grifftheinvisible

Griff the Invisible is a 2010 Australian romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Leon Ford. The story is about Griff (Ryan Kwanten) a socially awkward office worker who spends his days being bullied by his workmates. At night he roams the streets and his nights protecting the innocent as a superhero. Griff has his world turned upside down when he meets Melody (Maeve Dermody) a beautiful young scientist who shares his passion for the impossible.

Griff the Invisible had its world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it was well-received by audiences “who seemed charmed by this offbeat tale”. The film will also screen at the 2011 Berlin International Film Festival in February 2011 in the “generation” sidebar.

Filmed on location in Sydney, Australia, Griff the Invisible will be released in Australian cinemas on March 17 2011.

Plot
By day Griff (Ryan Kwanten) masquerades as a customer liaison officer in an open plan office, where he is regularly bullied by his co-workers, especially Tony (Toby Schmitz). By night Griff assumes his other identity, roaming the dark streets protecting the innocent and the vulnerable from the dangers that lurk in the shadows - he is the hero, Griff the Invisible.

Increasingly concerned by Griff's eccentric behaviour, his brother (Patrick Brammall) attempts to draw him back into the 'real world'. In doing so he introduces Griff to Melody (Maeve Dermody) an equally eccentric and charming girl.

Fascinated by Griff's idiosyncrasies, which are equal only to her own, Melody begins to fall for Griff. As Griff is forced to face up to realities of a mundane world, it is up to Melody to rescue him.

Cast
Ryan Kwanten as	Griff Maeve Dermody as Melody Toby Schmitz as	Tony Patrick Brammall as Tim Napier Marshall as Benson Heather Mitchell as Bronwyn Anthony Phelan as Detective Stone Kelly Paterniti	as Gina David Webb as Gary Kate Mulvany as Cecilia Chan Griffin as Top Hat

Production
The film is directed by Leon Ford and produced by Nicole O'Donohue. Executive producers are Jan Chapman (The Piano, Lantana, Bright Star) and Scott Meek (Velvet Goldmine).

The idea was conceived by Ford while sitting in a café watching a child playing by himself. “He was in this whole other exciting world and it looked much more exciting than the one we were in. I thought isn’t it a shame that I’m not allowed to do that anymore. So I just thought what if you did have a guy who chose not to lose that side of his childhood?”

From a draft originally written in 2005, Ford and O’Donohue (Green Park Pictures) took the project to Screen Australia’s Indivision Script Lab in 2008. The agency invested in Griff through its IndiVision Production Fund, and it was then up to the filmmakers to raise the rest of the $2.7 million budget.

Executive Producer Scott Meek became involved after Leon Ford asked him to read the script, which he loved. Jan Chapman became involved in March 2009 and has said in an interview that “there’s something incredibly exciting and refreshing and challenging about getting a new young team just to do their first feature. When I went onto the set of Griff, it just felt alive and every single person was there wanting to their job and do their best…It’s a really charming script and Leon Ford’s a very talented young man.”

Casting
Casting began even before financing was complete.

On casting Ryan Kwanten, best known for his role as Jason Stackhouse in True Blood [link], producer Nicole O'Donohue said, “I think we had a pretty good idea on Ryan’s first test. It was amazing. He brought a real sensitivity to the role of Griff. He just kind of was Griff, there is no other way to say it. Ryan just brought so many layers to it straight away...the first test he did was quite a short little piece but there was a sneakiness, there was this real belief in the character. He just was Griff.”

Filming
Griff the Invisible was filmed on location in Sydney, Australia, over five weeks. It was shot in and around Sydney’s inner west, with Surry Hills as Griff’s territory. Ford wrote it with that specific suburb in mind. Locations include Central Station, Haymarket, Hyde Park, Pyrmont and Surry Hills.

Griff the Invisible was shot using 16mm rather than digital, an aesthetic choice.