Character: Thomas Mollison
Director: Elissa Down
Genre: Drama
Filming Early 2007
Release: 6th March 2008
Cast: Toni Collette, Luke Ford, Erik Thomson, Gemma Ward

All Thomas wants is a normal adolescence but his autistic brother, Charlie, thwarts his every opportunity. Will Thomas, with the help of his girlfriend, Jackie, accept his brother?

Photos

Trailer

Trivia

• Filmed over 29 days
• The film is based on the directors own life, living with an autistic brother.

Quotes

Rhys (on being cast as a lead in his first film): «I feel like I have to pinch myself sometimes.»

Rhys (on roadtesting the characters): «I met the directoer’s brother – whom Charlie is based on – and Luke Ford, who plays Charlie, and I went road-testing in character. We went around the shopping centre and to the movies, and it was surprising to see how people reacted to us, how ignorant some people are [about autism]. Some people assumed he was some kind of axe-murderer out to get them, so they’d freeze up or they’d give us really weird stares like we were the freaks.»

Rhys (on roadtesting the characters): «We went to see Aragon because Charlie was into that genre. In the movies it’s intense- dark and quiet. And Charlie was being loud – constantly moaning and groaning. And the audience reaction was insane. I kept shrinking into nothing. The audience was so young, no one understood what was going on. Then Charlie got hungry and I had to give him a lolly. We stayed until the very end of the credits, hoping the audience would have all gone, and then snuck out.»

Rhys (on meeting Gemma): «Well, I was nervous about meeting Gemma because she was playing my character’s love-interest. But the director made us do various things, prior to filming, to break down all the barrieres between us. We wore massive tracksuits and laid out cushions so we could wrestle, and we played Twister and danced to ’90s music so, by the time those kissing scenes happened, we felt really comfortable with each other. Kisses never feel real anyway – it’s all too technical to enjoy it!»

Rhys: «Hopefully, I will surprise people. I did feel like I was trying to prove myself but I am just glad the director took a chance and I really nutted it out.»

Gemma Ward (plays Jackie Masters): «It’s not only a piece of artwork, it’s a story that needs to be told. It’s opening up an area in people’s brains about issues that are not often spoken about.»

Elissa Down (director): «It’s a film that celebrates unconditional love of family. There are so many families out there with so much different situations and the things that keep them together are their love and their sense of humor. And that’s what the film shows.»

Elissa Down (director): «Rhys was a beautiful surprise and in so many ways, I think he is Thomas.»

Links

IMDB