Buddies

Buddies is a 1983 Australian comedy/drama film directed by Arch Nicholson and written by John Dingwall. Dingwall won the Best Original Screenplay AFI Award for the script. The film was not a great success in 1983, as no Australian distributor wanted to release it, but Dingwall took it around the country cinemas himself, where it was well received. Plot Young miners Mike and Johnny work in the gem fields of central Queensland around Emerald. Conflict arises when their pick-and-shovel operation is threatened by a large scale bulldozer operator. Cast Colin Friels as Mike Harold Hopkins as Johnny Kris McQuade as Stella Simon Chilvers as Alfred Norman Kaye as George Lisa Peers as Jennifer Bruce Spence as Ted Andrew Sharp as Peter Dinah Shearing as Merle Production John Dingwall wrote the script and decided to produce it himself. He raised the money with the help of Rex Pilbeam, a former mayor of Rockhampton. Most of the money was raised in Queensland, including investment from the Queensland Film Corporation. Shooting took place on location in Emerald, Queensland and lasted six weeks.