After a sold-out Melbourne run and success at the LA Comedy Festival where it won the best ensemble award comes the Sydney premiere of body-swap film The Heckler.
It marks the feature film debuts of local talents Kate Jenkinson ('Hiding', Offspring', 'Super Fun Night'), Emily Taheny ('Mad as Hell', 'It's a Date', 'Comedy Inc') and Simon Mallory ('Comedy Inc') and also stars CJ Fortuna ('Kinne'), Scott Harrison ('Charlie & Boots', 'The Hollowmen') and Dave Lawson ('Utopia') along with a host of comedy performers including Tony Martin and Jeff Green.
Shot on location in Melbourne, it's about a stand-up comedian who has his body hijacked by the spirit of a jealous heckler and must find a way to reclaim it before his career is ruined now that an idiot is in charge.
It's the feature debut of director Ben Plazzer, after a string of shorts (including Noddy, winner of the 2015 Peninsula Film Festival), and writer Steve Mitchell (The Unusual Suspects, Tropfest 2012).
Described by Hollywood comedy guru Steve Kaplan (author of 'The Hidden Tools of Comedy') as “A delightfully charming comedy… wonderfully witty! For once an LOL that is really an LOL!” – The LA Comedy Festival is the largest comedy festival in the United States and the filmmakers decided to follow-up the win in LA by hosting event screenings with live stand-up at the main Australian Comedy Festivals: Adelaide, Melbourne and now Sydney.
Co-producer Katrina Fleming (Canopy) said, “Launching the film through comedy festivals, instead of film festivals, will not only appeal to its target audience, but adds to the experience of watching a film about stand-up comedians.”
The Adelaide and Melbourne screenings sold out and received four-star reviews. “A mix between King Of Comedy and Freaky Friday, The Heckler is an entertaining film… full of laughs.” – Elizabeth Harnett, The Clothesline.
Venue: Dendy Newtown
Date: Wednesday May 6
Tickets: $19.50 ($17 Conc)
Time: 7:00pm
Bookings: www.thehecklermovie.com
or www.sydneycomedyfest.com.au/single-event?show_id=1025