The highly anticipated Australian Christmas movie How to Make Gravy premiered on Binge in December, and we’ve caught up with the cast and creators to hear all about the filmmaking process.
Paul Kelly’s iconic Australian song How to Make Gravy was adapted for the screen by ARIA award-winning musician Meg Washington and writer/director Nick Waterman.
Since its release in 1996, the song has gained cult status, cementing itself in the Christmas traditions of millions of families—with December 21 being celebrated as ‘Gravy Day’. It tells the story of Joe, an inmate writing a letter to his brother Dan as his family prepares to celebrate their first Christmas without him.
Meg Washington and Nick Waterman on the inspiration behind How To Make Gravy
During an interview with Chattr, Meg and Nick revealed they were inspired to create the Christmas movie by a series of events in 2019: After listening to the song at a friend’s Christmas drinks, she later suggested it would make a great movie.
When the couple reached out to Kelly’s manager, Bill Cullen, just to see if the idea was possible, he invited them to Kelly’s gig in Brisbane on December 21 — otherwise known as Gravy Day.
“Cut to us in the rain with 10,000 people and Paul singing that song and all the 10,000 people, us included, holding each other and just openly sobbing,” Meg explained.
“Nick and I just looked at each other and looked around, and we just thought, this is really special – we need to do everything we can to try and make this happen.”
Nick said that it wasn’t hard to get people onboard to collaborate with the project.
“There’s so much love and goodwill out there for Paul Kelly and so many fans of his music. People have been connecting with his music for decades,” he told Chattr.
“Whenever we were telling people about the project, we were amazed at how receptive they were.”
Hugo Weaving and Daniel Henshall on what it was like making How To Make Gravy
In the interview, Hugo Weaving, who plays prison cook Noel in the film, shared his insights about the story, their characters and his experience working on set.
“I think it’s actually a very beautiful film,” he said. “I’m really incredibly proud to be a part of it. Beautiful song – a great adaptation by a couple of really exciting team of filmmakers Megan and Nick, and fantastic to work with this guy [Daniel Henshall] and a great cast.”
Daniel, who plays prisoner Joe (and the song’s letter writer), echoed Hugo’s sentiments and told Chattr what drew him to the How To Make Gravy script.
“I think the catharsis and the understanding of people’s faults and how everybody makes mistakes and nobody is perfect,” he said.
“That really spoke to me; I just went, ‘Oh, this is so inclusive’, and it spoke of healing through community. Allowing people to accept their own faults and holding them accountable while giving care and support and not just keeping them isolated in their own fear, shame, or guilt.
“Every single character goes through some turning point, some revelation, some change – it gives us as an audience hope for them and hope for ourselves in our own day-to-day faults and mistakes.”
Hugo added: “I think it speaks to all of us actually because it’s about family and home and missing home.
“When you want to be there and you can’t and therefore about owning up to your own inadequacies and it’s ok to be human beings. It’s fantastic material.”
Brenton Thwaites and Damon Herriman weighed in on what they loved about the script
Brenton Thwaites, who plays Joe’s brother Dan, told Chattr that he could personally relate to the story that’s told on How To Make Gravy.
“It’s a very well-written character-driven drama about a family that on the page just felt really connected and were going through the trials and tribulations of most Aussie families, and it really just kind of hit home,” he said.
“The fact that it was very brave and the themes in it are confronting but at the same time very resolving and rewarding in a cathartic way. There’s a lot of great stuff for families in there … I think the relationships in this film are very recognisable and really emotionally impactful.”
Damon Herriman plays Roger, another family member mentioned in the song, said he’s been a fan of the song How To Make Gravy since the 90s and was intrigued by the character.
“I felt like [Roger] was someone I hadn’t quite played before, a little bit of an outsider in this family group who thinks he’s a bit better than everyone else, and was there was some humour to be had in there as well so it was a fun role.
“I got to play husband to Kate Mulvany for the second time in my life, and she’s a dear friend, so that was also a huge plus.”
How to Make Gravy is now available to stream on BINGE, Foxtel, and Hubbl On Demand.
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