Simon Rex,Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi to star in Alex Liu’s Debut Feature “God Bless You,Mr Kopu”
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A dark comedic thriller exploring Tongan immigrant experiences is set to begin production next week in New Zealand,boasting a cast led by Simon Rex and Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi. The film, titled “God Bless You, Mr kopu,” marks the highly anticipated feature film debut of Tongan-New Zealand filmmaker Alex Liu.
Rising Filmmaker Secures Major Deal
Liu’s screenplay for “God Bless You, Mr Kopu” gained significant industry recognition after winning the MGM/Black List open script deal in 2022. principal photography is scheduled to commence in Auckland, New Zealand, and the project will be presented to potential buyers at the upcoming American Film Market (AFM).Radiant Films International will manage worldwide sales, while AC Autonomous will handle distribution rights for North America. Umbrella Entertainment has secured distribution in Australia and New Zealand.
A Story of Mentorship and Deception
The film centers on Mafu (Schuster-Koloamatangi), a Tongan immigrant struggling to find his footing, who falls under the wing of Marco Cass (Rex), a charismatic American salesman. The narrative unfolds as what initially appears to be a promising chance descends into a complex and unsettling situation, forcing Mafu to question the ethics of his mentor’s methods. According to Liu, “‘God Bless You, Mr kopu’ is a twisted ride with a Tongan protagonist that wears its genre influence on its sleeve.”
Expanding Depiction in Film
Liu, whose short film “The Red Room” premiered at SXSW Sydney, has stated his overarching goal is to bring Tongan stories to a wider audience in innovative ways. “His aim as a filmmaker has always been to expose audiences to Tongan stories in ways we haven’t seen before,” Liu explained. Rex echoed this sentiment,praising Liu’s talent and expressing enthusiasm for the project,stating,”Alex is a talented filmmaker,I love the script,and I can’t wait for global audiences to experience his genius. It’s gonna be crispy.”
Extensive Production Team and Financing
“god Bless You, Mr Kopu” is being produced by Roxi Bull for velvet Moss and tania Chambers for Feisty Dame Productions. A robust team of executive producers includes Emma Slade (Velvet Moss), Ant Timpson (Timpson Films), Rex himself through his newly launched Crispy Productions, Toby Nalbandian and Gregory Schmidt (Truant Pictures), Mimi Steinbauer and A.C. Neel (Radiant), Ari harrison and Jasmin McSweeney (Umbrella), Grady Habib (sandbox), and beatriz Martins.
The film’s financing is a collaborative effort, drawing support from Hinterland, Sandbox, the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, and the Western Australian Post-Production, Digital and Visual Effects Incentive. Production is a joint venture between Velvet Moss and Feisty Dame Productions, in association with the New Zealand Film Commission, Screenwest, Lotterywest, and Truant Pictures.
