UK co-production begins shooting in Australia

Australian/UK co-production ‘The Proposition’ commenced principal photography on location in Winton, Queensland, on October 11 2004.
A powerfully gripping story that tells of two brothers in conflict, the film has a truly epic sweep. It has attracted a stellar international cast including Guy Pearce (LA Confidential; Memento); Ray Winstone (Sexy Beast; King Arthur; Ripley's Game); Danny Huston (Birth; Silver City); John Hurt (Love and Death on Long Island; Hellboy); David Wenham (The Lord of The Rings Trilogy; Van Helsing) and Emily Watson (Life and Death of Peter Sellers; Punch Drunk Love; Breaking the Waves).
The original screenplay was written by musician Nick Cave. It will be directed by John Hillcoat (Ghosts of the Civil Dead; To Have and to Hold) and produced by Cat Villiers (No Man's Land; Saving Grace) and Chiara Menage (Love Is The Devil) with Queenslander Chris Brown (Blurred; Under the Radar) and Sydney based Jackie O'Sullivan (Witch Hunt).
Set in the 1880's, the film opens in the middle of a frenzied gunfight between the police and a gang of outlaws. Charlie Burns (Guy Pearce) and his brother Mikey are captured by Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone). Together with their psychopathic brother Arthur (Danny Huston), they are wanted for a brutal crime. Stanley makes Charlie a seemingly impossible proposition in an attempt to bring an end to the cycle of bloody violence.
Emily Watson plays Stanley's wife Martha Stanley; John Hurt plays the bounty hunter Jellon Lamb and David Wenham plays Eden Fletcher, the powerful local landowner.
The Proposition is co-produced by Autonomous (UK) and Jackie O Productions (Australia) in association with Pictures in Paradise for Surefire Films, supported by the UK Film Council's Premiere Fund, Film Consortium, Pacific Film and Television Commission and TV1 General Entertainment Partnership.
Pre-sales have been secured with Columbia TriStar for Australia, Tartan Films Distribution for the UK, Lusomundo for Portugal, and A Film for Benelux. The film will be sold internationally by The Works.
(GB)