bob ellis says it took him five years to get the film made and that it was turned down by gillian armstrong, stephen wallace, tony buckley, donald crombie, ken hannam, david stevens and brian bell. he then re-wrote it and managed to persuade the new south wales film corporation to back it, although the nswfc were the ones who picked the producer and director. they also insisted that the lead be played by judy morris, helen morse or wendy hughes.