Production has begun in Sydney on the romantic comedy Scobie, directed by Claudia Jenny (Friskies) and written by Emma Leonard (800 Words), who stars in the film.
Scobie tells the tumultuous story of an ambitious millennial couple, Maddie (Emma Leonard) and Leo (Ryan O’Kane), who must decide between their children and their jobs. While doing so, he unknowingly becomes a sentient custodian of the kombucha stock.
Screenwriter and star Emma Leonard calls Scobie a “daring comedy that transcends genres from the heart,” and said she developed the project with director Claudia Gieny over a decade, finding its comedic voice, and said Scobie’s “Sassy Package” has reached its climax. .
“As friends, we often found solace and humor in the enormous challenges presented at this stage of life,” Leonard said. “The balance between our pre-parent and new parent perspectives brought real nuance to the story throughout our growing up process.
Director Claudia Jenny is also known as Claudia Pickering, a comedic actor and hilarious creator. She said: “Emma Leonard’s script humorously tackles the career and family conundrums that plagued me as a new mom.
“Mostly it’s the fear of missing out and ending up in a complete mess on both ends. Am I that bad? I’m going to lose the independence that I’ve built my career and identity on.” Who will I become? My sense of self is inherently tied to my children and my partner. It’s scary but exciting and something I’ve always wanted to do in my life as a mother. We’ve learned that the only way forward is together. Perhaps if we let go of some of our inner lone wolves and give ourselves a chance to lean a little towards symbiosis, we’ll be happier in unexpected ways. You can become one.”
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Leonard and O’Kane co-star Brigid Zengeni (The Prosper), Shakira Clanton (Summer Love), Australian acting icon Gary Sweet (The Clearing), and Jackie Van. Beak (Breaker Uppers), Johnny Nassar (Thor: Love and Thunder), Michelle Langstone (Power Rangers: SPD), Stephen Madsen (Heathers: The Musical) , Danny Adcock (The Tourist), Stephen Hunter (Children of the Corn), Joe Turner (The Doctor Blake Mysteries), Duncan Fellowes (Deadlock) .
Scoby’s key creators include cinematographer Calum Riddell and production designer Emily Jansz.
Jeannie and Leonard are also producing through their companies Booby Trap Entertainment and Contra Stories, along with Daniel Redford.
Maslow Entertainment will distribute in Australia and New Zealand. Executive producers include Maslow’s Mark Wooldridge, Spectrum Entertainment’s Josh Pomerantz, Folklore Sound’s Sam Gaine-Emery and Tom Keller, and Bevan Daly. Scoby is funded with assistance from Mind the Gap, Spectrum Films, and Folklore Sound.
Maslow Entertainment’s other Australian films currently in the spotlight include Cliff Stender’s The Correspondent (premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival and released on Boxing Day) and John Bell’s Moogai (Released on October 31st) etc.
Scobie is scheduled for release in 2025.
