Described as the most ambitious sci-fi film ever produced in Australia, Occupation: Rainfall gets its home entertainment release this Wednesday, June 16, via Umbrella Entertainment in association with Monster Pictures.
Ahead of the release, we caught up with the man behind the epic project, writer and director Luke Sparke.
What’s the response to the film been like so far?
It’s been fantastic. Everywhere I went with an audience, everyone seemed to have a good time. Which a film like this is all about. The American reaction has seemed to be even better so far, and it’s where Occupation went the best as well.
Looking back on the experience now that it’s approaching its home entertainment release, what are you proudest of?
I’m proud of the small team that got it done when there were so many factors working against us. A lot of people saying something this big, as an indie film in Australia, would never be finished.
I’m proud of the characters we created and the cast that came to bring them to life.
What I’m most proud of is learning a lot about the VFX world and how it can be used as a tool to not only help the look of the film but also the making of the film. We used every trick in the book to create the world of Rainfall and strive to make it look bigger than what it was.
What did you learn from the making of Occupation: Rainfall?
I learnt to trust my gut more than I ever have. And make sure to have the absolute right team surrounding you.
What do you hope audiences take away from Occupation: Rainfall?
I hope they are taken along the rollercoaster ride that it is. But I hope they find a character they can relate to, either side of the fence of the Alien war. It’s been interesting reading reactions of which character people like the most or which point of view they think is right. It’s always best to have something to talk about after a film (otherwise it must have been boring) and this has a lot that can be dissected.
What are you working on at the moment?
Happy to say that I’m in active development of Rainfall Chapter 2. I’m currently in pre-production on a TV pilot for an awesome series based off a series of books. I’m very excited about it and look forward to hopefully bring the show to Supanova in the future!
Anything else you’d like to add?
For those film buffs out there, the Blu-ray has an audio commentary track from me about the making of Rainfall, plus deleted scenes – also with my commentary. I hope you check it out!
For more details on Occupation: Rainfall’s home entertainment release, head to the Umbrella Entertainment website.
