 Written and Directed by
Gary L. Keady and Produced by James M.Vernon, the Aussie sci fi, fantasy feature film was
distributed for cinema and video release in Australia after premiering in at the Cannes
Film Festival in 1989. During 1990 the film played at Hoyts cinema’s nationally for
10 weeks.
Gary was awarded nominations for ‘Sons of Steel’ at the 1989 Australian Film
Industry Awards (costume design) and the 1989 ARIA Awards (best original Australian
soundtrack album - beaten by 42nd Street - really Australian huh!) The film was also
nominated for best picture at the Festival de Imaginaire, Clermont Ferrand, France and the
Sci Fi/Fantasy Film Festival of Tokyo, Japan in 1990.
‘Sons of Steel’ was licensed for Foreign
rights distribution in 1990 by The Image Organization of Hollywood. As a result is was
only sold to minor territories, Japan being the largest. All rights have now reverted to
Keady and Vernon. Sons of Steel was not sold to the UK, France, North America or Canada,
to name a few. So a lot of people are missing out on the experience.
In Australia the video rights were licensed by Virgin Video
Australia but the company went into liquidation before distributing the film. As a
consequence ‘Sons of Steel’ has had no free to air, pay TV, video, DVD or
internet release in Australia. In 2000 ‘Sons of Steel’ was invited to feature at
the Science Fiction Nebula Awards in Melbourne. The ‘Sons of Steel’ fan
club were in attendance there in full regalia.
As far as exposure is concerned ‘Sons of Steel’
has not to date received the best treatment. The film deserves much better. However, now
that the rights have reverted to the creators of the film and now that the genre is more
acceptable to the industry, the film’s day will undoubtably come.
Along with the film comes the original soundtrack album
with Black Alice performing (all rights available), and the precursor to the film; a 13
minute theatrical short film starring Black Alice entitled ‘Knightmare’.
Take the tour of some of the pictures taken during the
making of and after the completion of the film.
Click here to start the tour... |
