In the isolated city of Perth, Western Australia, in the middle of the intense lockdown of early 2020, two filmmakers’ vowed that they weren’t going to let a global pandemic stop them from producing and directing their first feature film project.
Director Nick Petkov and Producer Morgan Munro are no strangers to film production having worked on short films, documentaries and music videos and longed to take their careers to the next level by making a feature film.
Written by Petkov, “Painkiller” became the story they wanted to tell and using their networks from years in the industry they were able to raise funds from private investors. When covid happened, everything locked down in Australia very quickly. The local government forbade people from going outside in groups which made it near impossible to organise a film shoot with a large crew and cast. Restrictions luckily were lifted for a short time which gave the determined duo the chance to get their production underway.
“We weren’t going to let covid stop us after coming this far,” says Munro, “We saw an opportunity and we took it.”
Scheduling 3 months for the shoot, the experienced crew and amazingly talented cast that they had put together worked long hours to complete principal photography and braved many challenges like locations and actors falling through due to covid case increases and even fire warnings for scene’s that needed to be shot during the dreaded bushfire season.
“Painkiller” explores the gripping story of Steven Sullivan, an office worker desperate to escape his mundane existence. Seeking thrills, he embarks on a dangerous journey that leads him down a path of violence, tragedy, and murder, delving into themes of isolation, emotional longing, and the desperate actions people with mental illnesses resort to when they feel trapped and abandoned by society.
“The film portrays a person who believes that society is against him and acts accordingly despite that not necessarily being the case,” says Petkov, who’s body of work comprises of short films exploring similarly important themes.
Petkov and Munro met in the middle of 2016 at a networking event and became friends ever since, appreciating each other’s style and love for film. Their first collaboration was a short film Aerial which was shot in 2017 and saw success when it was accepted into the Melbourne Underground Film Festival in 2018.
Despite the challenges faced, ‘Painkiller’ made its premiere at the WA Made Film Festival in February 2023 and has since garnered attention at ten international film festivals. The exceptional cinematography by Michael Thomas earned him the Australian Cinematographers Society – Bronze Award, celebrated for its stark and evocative style.
In addition to its festival success, ‘Painkiller’ secured an international distribution deal with Bounty Films and has been sold to a major nationwide network. This achievement attests to the film’s appeal and its potential to reach a broader audience.
Petkov and Munro are continuing their creative partnership and are currently engaged in developing their next feature film project.
To find out more about Painkiller and the film makers, visit the Left Of Centre Films website here: https://leftofcentrefilms.com.au/
