THE BIG KITTY - Australian Premiere

 

Pictured above: A pre-screening toast to Tom, Lisa and THE BIG KITTY 

at Classic Cinema’s serendipitously named Copycat restaurant.

Photo credit: Shane Jones.

Last Thursday evening, April 7, saw the Australian Premiere of the Tom Alberts and Lisa Barmby debut feature, THE BIG KITTY. What a memorable night it was. I sincerely hope that all those who were keen to attend heeded the warning of fortune teller, Madame F (my role in the film - see Blog Post Saturday, April 2 - and got in early to purchase tickets, because the event was sold out.

It was a thrill to see THE BIG KITTY in a real cinema with a live, hugely enthusiastic audience, and more exciting still to experience it in the company of its makers and the vast majority of its cast and crew.

Shane Jones and our dear friend Bev Murray, who is visiting from London 

Above: Directly after the screening there was an informative and 

enlightening Q&A with Lewis Miller (actor and various technical support)

and Co-Directors Lisa Barmby and Tom Alberts.

Above: The cast and crew take a bow. Photo credit: Mick Murray.

Above L-R: Tom Alberts, Lisa Barmby and Jasmine Mahon.

Above L-R: supporting cast members Steve Cox, myself, Terry Matassoni 

and Shane Jones. Photo credit: Bev Murray.

At the lively after-screening party, which doubled as a celebration for Tom’s 60th birthday, we had the opportunity to catch up with cast members and congratulate them on their terrific performances.

Above: Paul McCluskey, who plays a shady chauffeur.

Above and following two photos: the post screening party.

Regaled by the dulcet vibes of the Jasmine Mahon Trio (of which I’m an unabashed fan) we stayed on far longer than originally planned. Jasmine, incidentally, plays nightclub singer Jane Blonde in the film, sashaying through her scenes with all the aplomb of the late, great Mae West. 

Pictured above: The Jasmine Mahon Trio

Above: Singing Happy Birthday and toasting Tom (far left). Lisa is on the far right.

If other opportunities to see the THE BIG KITTY arise - and hopefully they will - make sure you don’t miss it.

Australian Premiere of THE BIG KITTY

 

What on earth does notorious fortune teller Madame F see in her crystal ball? 🔮

She foresees the eagerly anticipated Australian premiere of THE BIG KITTY, coming to you direct from the 74th Cannes Film Festival. No wonder she’s acting more demented than ever!

THE BIG KITTY is a loving (and hilarious) pastiche of Film Noir, directed by and starring Tom Alberts and Lisa Barmby. Supporting roles are played by an assortment of shady characters plucked from the underbelly of the Melbourne Art world (including me as Madame F).

Pictured above: Tom Alberts and Lisa Barmby in 2021 at 

the 74th Cannes Film Festival 

THE BIG KITTY 🐈‍⬛ 📽🎞
A One Night Only Event
Classic Cinema

9 Gordon Street 

Elsternwick Vic
Thursday 7 April at 6.30 pm

📽The screening will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmakers and painter/thespian Lewis Miller, who plays a corrupt DA. 

🔮The all-seeing Madame F says tickets are selling fast, so make sure you don’t miss out. 

🎟 View THE BIG KITTY trailer and get your tickets HERE. 

Photos courtesy Tom Alberts and Lisa Barmby. Click on images to enlarge. 

THE BIG KITTY screens at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival

It’s been awhile since I’ve reported on Tom Alberts and Lisa Barmby’s debut indie feature, THE BIG KITTY. Along with other Melbourne artists, Shane Jones and I play supporting roles in the film. Well, here is an update worth waiting for.

THE BIG KITTY will be screened at the 74th Cannes Film Festival, as part of Seléction Cinéma des Antipodes, Cannes Cinéphiles, running from 6 - 17 July. Lisa and Tom, who are currently based in France, will be in attendance.

The screening dates and cinemas are:

Vendredi  9  jul  19.30 Le Raimu

Samedi  10 jul  18.30 Alexandre III

Dimanche  11 jul  12.00 Studio 13

Additionally, in late June, THE BIG KITTY was included in the official programme of Australia now, a cultural celebration organised by the Embassy of Australia, Paris.

Sadly, Monsieur Baptiste, THE BIG KITTY himself, recently passed away. What a wonderful tribute to him this film is, as it continues its amazing run.

For more about THE BIG KITTY, click HERE.

Pictured from top:

THE BIG KITTY at the 74th Festival de Cannes poster. (Pictured L-R: Jasmine Mahon, Paul McCluskey, Mariella DelConte, Tom Alberts, Lisa Barmby, Lewis Miller, myself, Shane Jones, Angela Cavalieri and Steven Kafkarisos)

Australia now poster

Tom Alberts as Private Detective Guy Boyman and Lisa Barmby as Princess Yukova Illinaditch 

Shane Jones as Police Commissioner Shadrack 

Deborah Klein as fortune teller, Madame F

Monsieur Baptiste as THE BIG KITTY, with Lisa Barmby as the Princess 

THE BIG KITTY

Official poster for THE BIG KITTY
Top right-hand corner, L-R: Lewis Miller, Deborah Klein and Gavin Brown
Far right: stars of THE BIG KITTY, Tom Alberts and Lisa Barmby

My Blog Post of August 25, Through the Eyes of Film, focused on several older works that were partly inspired by Film Noir.

It never occurred to me that soon afterwards I would again be raising the subject, but in an entirely different context. This post is about a noir-inspired film in which I actually appear.

THE BIG KITTY, an affectionate, tongue-in-cheek pastiche of Film Noir, was jointly conceived, written, designed and directed by Melbourne artist Tom Alberts with his wife and co-star, fellow artist, Lisa Barmby.

The film has yet to be released, and up until now, few, if any of us, have seen it. My own life partner, Shane Jones (under the stage name of Sean O’Connery) appears as an Irish cop, Shadrack, and in my cameo appearance, I play a bogus fortune teller, Madame F. 

At this stage, most of us have only the vaguest idea of the plot as a whole, except that it involves a kidnapped cat, played by Tom and Lisa's beloved feline, Monsieur Baptiste, and a colourful cast of supporting characters portrayed by shady inhabitants of the Melbourne art world. 

The film has had a long period of gestation - it was begun in 2008 - but if the following trailer and short promotional film are any indication, it will be well worth the wait. Both clips are gems in their own right, but for all their sense of fun, it's clear that Tom and Lisa are positively steeped in every facet of this singular period of film history.

THE BIG KITTY - TRAILER

https://vimeo.com/352624847

THE BIG KITTY - IT’S A WRAP! - PROMOTIONAL FILM

https://vimeo.com/351565274

For some background into the making of the film, visit Raymond Gill's article below:

DAILY REVIEW by RAYMOND GILL 

Published 31 July 2019

https://dailyreview.com.au/eleven-years-70-friends-60000-later-screwball-meet-noir-meets-art-world-feature-big-kitty-wraps/84803/

The good news is that we won't be kept in suspense for too much longer. On Sunday, September 20, direct from Paris where they're currently based, Tom and Lisa are streaming an official cast and crew screening, followed by an after-party via Zoom. Hopefully further screenings won't be too far behind.

I for one foresee an instant classic. They don't call me Madame F for nothing.