Perth Revelation International Film Festival, July 2006 (World Premiere)
Melbourne International Film Festival, July 2006 (rated 8/10 audience poll)
Byron Bay Film Festival, February 2007
Bridgetown Film Festival (17-20 January 2008), Western Australia, 3pm Saturday January 19, indoor cinema with HEATHENS.
Wisconsin Film Festival, Madison, WI, USA, April 3 - 6, 2008, www.wifilmfest.org
THEATRICAL
Darwin - Deckchair Cinema, July 9th 2008
Sydney - Bondi Openair Cinema, February 20 2008.
Sydney - Chauvel Cinema, April 5-19, 2007
Melbourne - Cinema Nova, April 19 - May 3, 2007
Brisbane - Blue Room Cinebar, April 19 - 30, 2007
Perth - FTI (Film & Television Institute), July 26, 2007
Adelaide - MRC @ Mercury Cinema, August 31, 2007
DVD
Released October 10 Australia and New Zealand, out through Accent Entertainment ~ http://www.accentfilm.com/catalogue.cfm?cat=NA%3D%3D&startindex=MQ%3D%3D
Television
Wrestling TV shows
Books
Wrestler biographies...
Heroes
Jerry 'The King' Lawler, Mick 'Mankind' Foley, Rick 'Nature Kid' Flair, Shawn Heartbreak Kid' Michaels and more...
Lovestruck is inspired by the following filmmakers and their documentaries:
LECH KOWALSKI (D.O.A., On Hitler’s Highway, The Boot Factory), JOE BERLINGER & BRUCE SINOFSKY (Paradise Lost, Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster, Brother’s Keeper), AGNES VARDA (The Gleaners & I, cinevardaphoto), PENELOPE SPHEERIS (The Decline of Western Civilization Parts I-III), DAVID & ALBERT MAYSLES (Grey Gardens, Salesman, Gimme Shelter), FRED WISEMAN (Primate, Welfare), JEM COHEN (Benjamin Smoke, Instrument, Chain), CHRIS MARKER (Sans Soleil), SARAH PRICE & CHRIS SMITH (American Movie), ANDREW JARECKI (Capturing The Friedmans), KIRBY DICK (Sick: The Life & Death Of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist), NICK BROOMFIELD (Aileen Wuornos: The Selling Of A Serial Killer, Chicken Ranch, Soldier Girls, Tattoo Tears, Fetishes), JEFF FEUERZEIG (The Devil & Daniel Johnston) and stacks more...
LOVESTRUCK: WRESTLING'S NO. 1 FAN is a no-holds-barred, intimate and entertaining documentary about Australia's most dedicated wrestling fan, Sue Chuter. Directed by filmmaker and film critic Megan Spencer (triple j, The Movie Show, Project Greenlight Australia).
“.. A documentary with a punch to the heart as skilfully executed as anything The Rock might deliver.” – Metro, Sydney Morning Herald
"This is the surprise package of 2007!" - Oscar Hillerstom, FHM
.."Really beautiful." - Clayton Jacobson, director Kenny
What the critics say:
FOUR STARS " A compelling blend of humour, heartache... and headlocks... Filled to the brim with larger-than-life characters."
- Oscar Hillerstrom, FHM
"... it's both affectionate and intriguing, an intimate documentary that tells its real story between the lines." - Tom Ryan, Sunday Age
.."Raw, funny and deceptively moving". - Leigh Paatsch, Herald-Sun
"A classy, insightful doco." - George Palathingal, Sydney Morning Herald
"..moments[s] of unexpected, random lyricism.." - Philippa Hawker, The Age
" ..[A] warm, involved and engaging story of a woman obsessed." - Vicky Roach, Daily Telegraph
"An absolutley amazing story.. Rivetting" - Today Show, Nine Network
"..widely accessible and unexpectedly moving... a character study with insights into its subject that have the power of an all-seeing light.. this transporting look at obsession and family has a curative effect that might knock you for a loop..”
- Julian Shaw, Filmink
“Megan Spencer is one of Australia’s best documentary makers.” - Mick Molloy, filmmaker, ‘Tough Love’ Triple M
“..A generous and nuanced portrait that observes and reflects on the
extremes of fandom without losing sight of the individual it portrays…
Her film is an engrossing depiction of the pursuit of an obsession.” - Philippa Hawker, The Age
The Age - feature www.theage.com.au/news/entertainment/lovers-of-the-bump-and-brawl/2007/04/25/1177459778961.html
Sydney Morning Herald - Metro www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/on-the-ropes/2007/04/11/1175971178745.html
Sydney Morning Herald www.smh.com.au/news/film-reviews/lovestruck-wrestlings-no-1-fan/2007/04/05/1175366366449.html
In Film Australia www.infilm.com.au/features/meganspencer.htm
Movie Show On-Line www20.sbs.com.au/movieshow/
AND DON'T FORGET - LOVESTRUCK'S ALSO OUT ON DVD IN AUSTRALIA & NZ
Be the first on your block to own a copy of the greatest fan documentary of them all, packed with almost 3 hours of extra material and 'special features'!!!
Meet "Minnie the Dog", see Sue get a(nother) tattoo, meet more fanatical Australian wrestling fans, see an interview with legendary Australian wrestler Kurt Von Schneider, marvel at more thrills in the ring, discover lost Australian short 'Film Wrestling' directed by Andy Nehl, producer of ABC-TV series 'The Chaser's War On Everything'! Plus extended scenes, deleted scenes, original music, 2 audio commentaries and much, much more!!
Distributed through Accent Entertainment. Order online at www.ezydvd.com or at your local DVD store now!!.
Who I'd like to meet:
WRESTLING FANS & FILM FANATICS!!
PRESS INFORMATION
Log-line
"Little woman. Big obsession".
Short Synopsis
You have never met a fan like Sue Chuter.
You have never met ANY fan like Sue Chuter.
Sue Chuter is: “Lovestruck: Wrestling’s No. 1 Fan”.
Long Synopsis
Ten years in the making LOVESTRUCK: WRESTLING'S NO. 1 FAN is a 52-minute independent documentary about Australia's “No. 1” wrestling fan, Sue Chuter. Sue is in her 50s, lives in Melbourne and for the last 35 years has dedicated her life to following professional wrestling. Sue has taken her love for wrestling to extreme lengths by travelling twice to the USA to attend fan conventions and live stadium matches. She owns 4000 wrestling videos and DVDs from around the world and has wallpapered her house in over 3000 wrestling photos. Starting in the halcyon days of 1960s World Championship Wrestling at Melbourne's Festival Hall, Sue knows - or has met - just about everyone in the business. She really is Wrestling’s No. 1 Fan.
While LOVESTRUCK celebrates wrestling in all of its glory - and explores Sue's devotion to it - there is more to her story than meets the eye. We also accompany Sue on an emotional family reunion. Like the best wrestling matches Sue’s personal story is filled with drama and triumph. ‘Lovestruck’ is a film about one woman’s devotion to the ultimate sport, but it is also a portrait of family, sacrifice and survival. ‘Lovestruck’ is an entertaining, powerful and universal documentary. You have to be there…
About The Director
For the past two decades Megan Spencer has been involved in all aspects
of film culture. Since 1998 she has been the resident film critic at ABC
radio’s youth network triple j, and in 2004 she joined the new
line up of long-running national film culture program, The Movie Show at
SBS-TV. In 2006 she was also a judge on the second series of Project Greenlight Australia alongside actor/director Jeremy Sims (Last Train To Freo) and host Paul McDermott (The Scree, "Good News Week"). In July 2007 she was Guest Artistic Director for the 10th Perth Revelation International Film Festival, and is curator of the upcoming Destination Festival @ Carriageworks, running Nov 24, Dec 1 & Dec 8 in Sydney.. www.destinationfilmfestival.com
Megan is one of Australia's most dedicated independent documentary filmmakers. As a producer, director and DOP her major productions are:
• Heathens (1994), a 30-minute observational film about fanatical AFL football supporters, the "Sainters" of St. Kilda Football Club. Shot over 18 months, it holds the record as the film with the 'most swearing per minute of screen time', and broke box office records at the George Cinema in St. Kilda, Melbourne when it screened to sold out audiences for a week in 1996.
• Hooked On Christmas (1997), a 78-minute video feature about a suburban couple devoted to sharing their unique vision of Christmas with their neighbourhood and the world. It was shot over three years.
• Strange Hungers: Mistress Ursula (2001), a 30-minute “educational” video about the world of BDSM with Australia’s finest – and funniest – Professional Dominatrix. Recorded over two-years.
• Lovestruck: Wrestling’s No. 1 Fan (2006), a 52-minute portrait of Australia’s most dedicated fan of professional wrestling. Production began in 1995 with completion in June 2006. Cinema release: Melbourne, Brisbane & Sydney April 2006, DVD release to follow September 2007.
• Non-fiction experimental shorts include: Shoot! (1994), The Crunch! (1995), Vern’s Home Movie (1996), Bump & Grind (1995) and Home Girls (1996).
• Megan has also recorded several ‘behind-the-scenes’ documentaries for Australian feature films: The Band (2006), directed by Anna Brownfield), Streetsweeper (2006), directed by Neil Mansfield, and Elise (2007) ,the feature film adaptation of novel 'Closed For Winter', directed by James Bogle and starring Natalie Imbruglia.
Credits
Starring Sue Chuter ~ director Megan Spencer ~ producers Rosemary Blight, Megan Spencer ~ executive producers Michael Walsh, RB Films ~ camera Megan Spencer ~ video diary Sue Chuter ~ editor Julie-Anne De Ruvo ~ sound design Emma Bortignon ~ composer Philip Brophy ~ sound recordists Emma Bortignon, Glenn Sloggett, Anna Brownfield, Megan Spencer ~ 16mm DOP Vern Sundfors ~ opening titles/graphic designer Marc Fennell ~ stills photographer Eron Sheean ~ additional camera Anna Brownfield, Vern Sundfors ~ consultant Glenn Sloggett ~ music arranger & producer philip Brophy ~ engineer Sam Acres ~ assistant engineer Chris MacKellar ~ musicians Bill McDonald (bass), Dan Luscombe (guitars), Garrett Costigan (pedal steel guitar), Sianna Lee (vocals), Philip Brophy (drums) ~ recorded & mixed at Gelatin ~ image post-production Complete Post ~ sound post-production Music + Effects.
Theatrical Distributor
Level Four Films ~ levelfour@bigpond.com
DVD Distributor
Accent Entertainment ~ www.accentfilm.com ~ info@accentfilm.com
Dedicated to the memory of Vern Sundfors (1941 – 2006), friend, wrestling fan and independent filmmaker.
Lovestruck: Wrestling's #1 Fan's Friend Space (Top 24)
This year send a unique Christmas postcard to someone you love!
Only $1.20 each (aust) (minimum of 3 cards per purchase) $1 postage anywhere in Australia, $5 overseas! You can purchase cards through our MySpace page or at partyforalice.etsy.com.
Also we now have PAYPAL! for more information please visit our blog.
That's cool! Post away, always a pleasure to be a vehicle for the exposure of friends' good work... I'm in Holloywood at the moment! Bizarre but true. I'm desiging a commercial here and shopping a script around.
Hope to see you at our upcoming shows on August 11th or 12th featuring Steve Corino, Masato Tanaka, Billy Kidman and the best of the AWF. Tickets for these events and Pre Show Meet and Greet are on sale now!
The Kids of Elwood High and myself have been fans of Sue Chute for a long time. I have to take it on word since I've yet to see your film, but it seems thanks are inorder, for you have focused on a much loved member of the community. I'm looking forward to the DVD release. I do hope a lot of us get to see it. Anne Kelly
The time & the place is here. We'll make sure you have a cameo in the next Boss Beat film. In the meantime, hope you can make it to Hermann's. Great venue & should be a fun night. DJ Sir Lord Joe will be spinning the sounds till 3am and bands finish around 1am.
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