THE FINAL WINTER

"An instant Aussie classic - a drama with balls that's unafraid to show heart and soul" - Newcastle Herald

One of the most critically acclaimed Australian dramas of the year plays out on DVD on February 14, 2008.

Directed by Jane Forrest and Brian Andrews and written by Matt Nable, The Final Winter DVD features a winning lineup of Australian talent and contains bonus material including cast interviews and goof reel.

The engaging Australian Drama that received rave reviews following its theatrical release will be available on DVD on February 14, 2008 from Paramount Home Entertainment. Matt Nable (Writer, Producer & Lead Actor) heads a team of Australian talent in The Final Winter that is second to none - including Raelee Hill (Superman Returns), John Jarratt (Wolf Creek), Nathaniel Dean (Candy, Somersault), Conrad Coleby (All Saints) and League star Matthew Johns. A tale of courage, determination, The Final Winter is "a bittersweet ode to Rugby League before it became big business" (Newcastle Herald) and a must have for all film lovers and League fans.

SYNOPSIS: As the winds of change sweep across the rugby league landscape, Grub Henderson (Matt Nable) defiantly stands among all others as the embodiment of those before him. Foreign codes of business are tearing at the fabric of loyalty that exists between Grub's club and family. He collides head-on with an administration eager to him, and battles against his brother and coach's betrayal. At home his wife is troubled by the transformation of the man she married, and his children are left wanting for their father. In a bid to cling to his self-worth, Grub bitterly swallows his pride and bargains for his future. As the game that provides him an identity crumbles, he finds acceptance in the man he could be.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• The Final Winter Goof Reel

• Interviews with the Cast

CRITICAL ACCLAIM:

"Matthew Nable proves himself the most exciting Cinematic talent to emerge in this country" - Erin Free, Filmink

"A stirring, raw, emotive tale, which captures Australia's fighting spirit for the game we love so much...A truly inspirational and exceptionally gifted performance by Nable...A must see Aussie flick" - Erin McWhirter, Daily Telegraph

"Writer Matt Nable has tackled something special and brought it off in fine style" - Evan Williams, Weekend Australian

"The Final Winter is fine film about a hard game." - Jim Schenbri, The Age

THE MAKING OF THE FINAL WINTER - INTERESTING FACTS :

• The Final Winter is Paramount's first local acquisition for distribution. In the early 1980s, when the film was set, the Newtown jets were sponsored by a company called Paramount Shirts.

• Matt Nable originally wrote The Final Winter as a novel back in 1995 and re-wrote it as a screenplay in 2005

• The Production Company "The Three Scallywags" comprises of old friends Matt Nable, Anthony Coffey and Brian Andrews. It was formed for The Final Winter and none of the three had any film experience between them (Nable and Coffey were ex-footballers and Andrews an ex-professional basketballer and musican)

• While working out at his local gym, Matt Nable spotted popular TV personality and former league great, Matthew Johns, and decided to seize the moment and ask him to play the central role of coach Jack Cooper. Johns has no prior any acting experience and this was his first role

• The Final Winter trailer was shot on a digital camera in the change rooms at Narrabeen so that there was something to show potential investors. Because of budget limitations, the film was shot on high definition digital video rather than film

• The Three Scallywags managed to raise the $1.6 million they needed to make THE FINAL WINTER from completely independent sources

• Nable comes from a proud rugby league family. He was a semi-professional player, his older brother Adam was a champion professional player and their dad Dave was a trainer for the Australian team.

• In the novel version of The Final Winter, it was the bright-eyed, youthful figure of "Billy Webster" [played in the movie by Conrad Coleby] that was the story's main protagonist. Nable shifted the focus to the darker and more complex character of "Grub Henderson" in the screenplay.

• Matt Nable did not write the character of "Grub Henderson" for himself but during pre-production, decided he wanted to have a go at playing the role, despite never having acted before. Before filming started, both Nable and Johns received acting lessons from an acting coach and fellow cast members

• Established actors Conrad Coleby and Nathaniel Dean had never played Rugby League before they filmed the scenes on the field in The Final Winter

• The Final Winter was Director Jane Forrest's Feature directorial debut (previously she had directed many shorts)

• Filming for The Final Winter took place on location in and around the inner western Sydney suburb of Marrickville. Filming took 25 days in total and a call was put out on the Newtown Jets website for fans to come out and act as extras.

• The movie's boardroom scenes are filling with living legends of Rubgy League including Tommy Raudonkikis, Noel Kelly, Phil Sigsworth, Max Krilich and Terry Randall. Nable based the character of "Grub Henderson" on the spirit which these legendary players embodied.

HISTORY OF THE NEWTOWN JETS:

Newtown Rugby League Football Club was formed on January 8, 1908, at an overflow public meeting in the Newtown Town Hall. The meeting had been convened by the prominent Sydney sportsman James J. Giltinan (after whom the NSW Rugby League Premiership shield is named), Labor MP Henry Hoyle, and Harry Hammill (who was to be the fledgling club's first captain).

From the very beginning, Newtown became noted for its gritty, never-say-die spirit, and the ability to make the best of limited financial resources. Located in a rock-solid working class district, Newtown was seen as the definitive battlers' team, and one associated with the best fighting qualities inherent in the Australian character.

THE FINAL WINTER

Genre: Drama

Duration: 90 minutes

Classification: M

Disks: 1