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Choir of Hard Knocks…. the movie

The've had a hit series, sellout concerts, ARIA Awards, Logie Awards -so why not a feature film?

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Widely-adored television series The Choir of Hard Knocks is now the basis of a feature film drama project, in development under Producer Marian MacGowan (The Rage in Placid Lake, Two Hands, Blessed, Death Defying Acts) and Executive Producer Jason Stephens (The Choir of Hard Knocks, The King, Killing Time).

With a script underway with writer Pip Karmel, the plan is to turn the story into a feelgood feature with actors taking the roles of the choir members. The pitch for the project is the story of a homeless choir from Melbourne who made it all the way to the Sydney Opera House.

It will be directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (Spirited, Better than Sex, Burning Man, Gettin’ Square).

So far the choir has had a hit series, sellout concerts, ARIA Awards, Logie Awards -so why not a feature film?

41 Responses

  1. I cant believe someone would be so greedy as to exploit (yes – that word again) the members of this choir whose story this is. To make this movie would be profiteering at it’s worst (unless the choir were the beneficiaries of the profits – something I strongly doubt). Grow some ethics and either fully involve the choir in this movie (and the profits) or can the movie. Disgraceful!

  2. Please listen to the pleas of Jonathon and the choir members. They need a voice in this decision to turn it into movie. It is their story and journey, not a producer’s. Please acknowledge them as the owners of this uplifting journey.

  3. The blurb says “So far the choir has had a hit series, sellout concerts, ARIA Awards, Logie Awards -so why not a feature film?” That’s all well and good, except that the choir does Not have this feature film, and receives no benefit from it being made. This is just pure expoitation of vulnerable people and of Jonathon’s hard work, and the opposite of the choir’s purpose. For shame!

  4. Breathtakingly exploitative, get a grip…
    No debate: Jonathan Welch and the original Choir are the only actors in their ongoing journey of healing. This choir who give hope and inspiration to so many, a choir that has triggered numerous community building choirs all over Australia – energising spirits, finding voices, transforming lives, creating wellbeing through song .
    By any standards it defies fair play that anyone but Jonathan and the original Choir of Hard Knocks be the financial beneficiaries of narrating this far-reaching community health project.
    Finally it defies common sense that “actors” could do justice to the telling of their unique story through song.

  5. I’m totally disgusted with hearing this news, as a original choir member of the Choir of Hard Knocks I would not like to see my life role played by anybody ! And I don’t think that anyone should support this if it is to go forward …. as no actor can play any of our life’s or even come close to some of the things we have had to endure to survive….

  6. It is such a shame to take advantage of this inspirational choir who are still together 5 years on without any benefit to them ! The original documentary was moving. This is just wrong !

  7. The attraction of the TV show was its genuine reality, showing real people doing real things. I can’t imagine that many people would be enticed to see a movie that has actors playing the parts of the Choir members. It can’t match the real story. My advice to the producers is: drop the idea!

  8. What not a feature film? Simple. The actually choir have not been involved in this project in any way, and, as such, are being exploited for the profits of the sort of people who would in no way ever have been associated with the original choir.

    Shame on anyone involved in this project. It is repugnant.

  9. Why use actors. The real choir members – now known as the Choir of Hope and Inspiration – have just performed in a musical – My Fare Label – which they wrote themselves.If you want to tell the real story of the choir – use the choir members them selves and let them get some benefit.

  10. I find this utterly disturbing. I’m a member of the Choir of Hope and Inspiration, artists formally known as the Choir of Hard Knocks. I am the real thing, we are the real thing. I would love to know a few things, is any of the profits from this movie coming back to the original members of the choir or even to the homeless and disadvantaged of Melbourne, if not, why not? You are about to make a movie about a part of my life, as well as 50 other people’s lives, a movie. It’s real life. it’s what we’ve been struggling with each day. Yes, the series was a great success, and we fully enjoyed bringing our lives, opening up our hearts to the Australian public. We loved bringing our plight to Australia, however, to make a movie about it and for us who were directly involved in the series and for us who have shared our lives on that series and continue to sing with the choir, for us not to get any profit from it to help us to continue to do what we truly love to do, is a travesty! Not happy jan.

  12. As a follow of the real Choir and friend of one of them and also a very disadvantage person myself I think the movie is a disgrace!! the real thing was huge yes and they are still waiting on funding!! so support that if anything and even when it was on not all the truth was told about the Choir members the world really deserves that more!!! we want the real thing with the real thing supporting the real thing or ……. off!!!!

  13. This is disgusting… Nothing but a pure money making grab.. At least show some intestinal fortitude and give the some financial benefit… Stop showing your greed, start showing some compassion and empathy for the people who’s lives you will benefit from….

  14. As a supporter of the Real “Choir of Hard Knocks” and a provider of music programs for disadvantaged communities myself, I find that the exploitation by this “drama” of the effects of the real members and of Jonathon Welch is in extremely bad taste. The only way this could be rectified is it the profits of this film where given to the Choir, which is now known as the Choir of Hope and Inspiration.

    Shame on the producers and financiers of this project for not considering that such an idea would cause such disrespect for the real members of the Choir and its management.

  15. This is wrong on many levels. You are intending to make a profitable movie based on the real-life hardships of the disadvantaged. Do you even know that this choir has celebrated five years together? Certainly a movie celebrating this fact is a good idea- featuring the actual choir, and seeing that a percentage of proceeds goes to them and their inspirational director, Jonathon Welch. Otherwise you are simply feeding off something which is not your original concept and will be completely disrespectful of this wonderful group of people.

  16. If Jonathon Welch and the Choir were consultants to the movie, were in agreeance with the concept and the validity of facts, were part of the process and were beneficiaries of any profits, then I would be supportive. As I understand it they are not. It seems to me that this is just dealing out another Hard Knock to the Choir of Hard Knocks and certainly not being part of the Hope and Inspiration movement – shame! Instead of paying to see this movie I would much rather ask my friends Not to go and to donate their ticket money to those the movie is about to continue their great work .. They are the inspiration!!!!

  17. Exactly what part of taking a wonderful and confrontational story of hope, inspiration and triumph and turning it into an inaccurate, sensationalised, sanitised and cheap entertainment package is meant to bring about the “feel good” factor. I’d much prefer another series that was of at least some benefit to the participants it purported to represent.

  18. How dare you exploit these disadvantaged and all their hard work. Instead of paying actors to portray Jonathan and the choir how about you pay them to play themselves. Absolutely disgusted.

  19. Did anyone in association with this movie stop to think about the choir they are basing the movie on?? This just shows you that people are happy to make money anyway they can including exploiting homeless & disadvantage people….
    So where will the money from this movie go??? It doesn’t sound like any of the profits from the movie will go to the choir.

    This beautiful choir (now known as Choir of Hope and Inspiration) and their original musical director are still together and still going strong after 5 years. So why use actors?? The profits from this movie should go to the choir to keep them singing.. The choir deserve better respect than this!!

  21. as a supporter from the start of choir of hard knocks journey. I object to it as well exploiting homeless & disadvantage people. Getting actors to play the rolls that’s not no either! Get the choir members and Jonathon to do it! and the funds should go straight to the choir to keep/help them continue to sing…… your going to hurt a lot of people in the process. So its not acceptable!.

  22. I was pianist for a couple of rehearsals with this wonderful choir when they were in the very early stages of forming. What you are doing is shameful and wrong. It disrespects the work that these wonderful people have done, and discredits their ongoing choral work. Whilst you may have had a hand in producing the original doco series, this does don’t entitle you to treat these people, their stories and their successes, as a commodity.

  23. I feel that you need to take a leafe out of the choir of hard knocks book. You have no right to exploit these people. They may be disadvantaged but they can sure sing. Go and make a movie about disadvantage and homeless people instead of these people.
    Leave them alone. A great story would be about the asylum seekers and all the things they are getting of our government for free and the disadvantaged and homeless can not get anything!!!!

  24. I hope they include a scene titled “Where has the money gone?” , There are a number of questions that need to be answered in relation to the handlng of the money made from the sale of CD’s, concert tickets etc. I suppose the production will be funded by Government. Instead of using the funding to help the disadvantaged, the film makers will be benefiting. We need to help the disadvantaged not profit from them. This is shameful.

  25. as a member of the choir of hard knocks and still an active member of choir of hope and inspiration I strongly object to you exploiting homeless and disadvantage people before you line your pockets with gold stop and see the people you are about to hurt in short poor form

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