The Apprentice, opportunity to join big leagues

Producer Steven Kearney says the Australian-made short The Apprentice will be the only one with third party (Screen Australia, Film Victoria) investment in the upcoming Peter Farrelly comedy.

“We’re in a unique position, because we’re bringing money to the table and we’re making it all happen here; we should have our names alongside Farrelly and Charles B. Wessler,” Kearney told Encore.

The Apprentice is directed by Steve Baker and Damon Escott, and it will be one of a number of comedy shorts that will be released as a feature film by the creators of There’s Something About Mary.

Baker won Tropfest in 2007 with the short An Imaginary Life. Through Tropfest founder and director John Polson, Baker met American director Peter Farrelly and his producing partner Charles B. Wessler, who mentioned they were making a movie featuring shorts and he should submit an idea for one. He did, and Farrelly and Wessler invited him to be part of the project.