Alex Liu (“The Red Room”).
Liu penned the screenplay for “God Bless You, Mr Kopu” which won the MGM/Black List open script deal in 2022. The project begins principal photography next week in Auckland, New Zealand, and will be introduced to buyers at the AFM. Radiant Films International has boarded the project for worldwide sales, while AC Independent represents North American rights. Umbrella Entertainment will handle distribution in Australia and New Zealand.
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The high-concept dark comedic thriller follows Mafu (Schuster-Koloamatangi), a struggling Tongan immigrant who becomes the protégé of charismatic American salesman Marco Cass (Rex). What begins as a dream job quickly unravels into a nightmare as Mafu starts to question his mentor’s methods.
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Liu, whose latest short “The Red Room” premiered at SXSW Sydney, said “his aim as a filmmaker has always been to expose audiences to Tongan stories in ways we haven’t seen before.”
“‘God Bless You, Mr Kopu’ is a twisted ride with a Tongan protagonist that wears its genre influence on its sleeve,” Liu continued.
Rex, meanwhile, said “Alex is a talented filmmaker, I love the script, and I can’t wait for global audiences to experience his genius. It’s gonna be crispy.”
“God Bless You, Mr Kopu” is produced by Roxi Bull for Velvet Moss and Tania Chambers for Feisty Dame Productions. Executive producers are Velvet Moss’ Emma Slade and Timpson Films’ Ant Timpson, alongside Rex, who produces under his recently launched Crispy Productions banner. Truant Pictures’ Toby Nalbandian and Gregory Schmidt, Radiant’s Mimi Steinbauer and A.C. Neel, Umbrella’s Ari Harrison and Jasmin McSweeney, Sandbox’s Grady Habib, and Beatriz Martins also serve as executive producers.
The film is produced by Velvet Moss and Feisty Dame Productions in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, Screenwest and Lotterywest, and Truant Pictures. Financing comes from Hinterland, Sandbox, the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, and the Western Australian Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects Incentive.
