Given that the likes of omnibus romance films Paris, je t’aime and New York, I love You have done decent business, it’s not surprising that other cities and producers would be looking to adapt the model themselves. The latest looks to be set in one of Australia’s most iconic locales, with filmmakers John Polson and Gary Hamilton pitching an Oz-set version called Sydney, I Love You.
While things are still at an early stage, the pair has been developing this since the Cannes Film Festival, with a rough plan for 12 short films of 8-10 minutes each that would chronicle a story during a different month of the year. No one is committed to shoot or act in any of the mini-movies yet, but the producers have already been starting talks.
“Our hopes are that we’ll attract the highest level of talent, although nothing is confirmed yet,” Polson tells The Hollywood Reporter. “But from some initial conversations we’ve had, I know there are some directors who’ve have stories that they’ve always wanted to make as short films.”
“In terms of talent,” Hamilton says. “Australia has an embarrassment of riches and so the challenge is going to be narrowing it down.”
And don’t go in expecting a simple, picture-postcard approach to the city, either: “This is not going to be a movie about just the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, but will take place in all the neighbourhoods around city. It will be about people living in a very cosmopolitan city.”
Next week, James Cameron announces that Avatar 3 will in fact be called Pandora, I Love You. Or should that be Pandora, I See You?