Several major talents have joined the Australian sf film and television project Resistance — producer Toby Pease (Steven Spielberg’s Pacific, Superman Returns, Charlotte’s Web, The Matrix trilogy, Scooby Doo and Titanic), supervising producer Gary Kurtz (Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and The Dark Crystal, a two-time Academy Award nominee), composer Guy Gross (Farscape, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), concept illustrator Charles Kenway (Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, The Matrix and Mad Max), and visual consultant Andrew Lesnie, the Academy Award-winning director of photography who created the look for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The full press release appears after the jump.

The Resistance Hires On
Top Feature & Television Crew Signs On

It was announced today by Andrew Dillon, executive producer of That’s-A-Wrap Productions, that the company has signed some of the top production personnel in Australia for its upcoming science fiction action-adventure film and television project, Resistance.

“I can’t believe it,” said Dillon. “Some of the absolute top professionals in Australia – in the world, for that matter – have agreed to help bring my dream project to life.”

Toby Pease – Producer/First Assistant Director

Toby joins the Resistance with extensive experience on some of the highest grossing films of all time. He just finished up on Steven Spielberg’s Pacific, the follow up to the hugely successful Band of Brothers. His credits include Superman Returns, Charlotte’s Web, The Matrix trilogy, Scooby Doo and Titanic.

Gary Kurtz – Supervising Producer

Gary is a two time Academy Award nominee. To most science fiction film fans, he’s a household name, having produced some of the best loved and highest grossing films of all time. Gary’s list of credits is impressive, including producing Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and The Dark Crystal. Based in the UK, Gary can’t wait to come down under to collaborate on the Resistance feature film.

Guy Gross – Composer

Guy is one Australia’s leading film and television composers, with credits ranging from the television series Farscape to the motion picture Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. With over 25 years as a composer behind him, Guy has won or been nominated for dozens of awards for his film and television work and demonstrated a wide range of styles.

Charles Kenway – Concept Illustrator

With over 16 years experience as a storyboard artist, Charles (or ‘Chucky’ as he is known throughout the Australian film and television industry) has been integral to the design and look of such feature films as Babe, Babe: Pig in the City, The Matrix and Mad Max. He is George Miller’s personal pre-visualization and storyboarding artist.

Andrew Lesnie – Visual Consultant

During the development stage, Andrew was secured to assist in creating the style and look for Resistance. He is an Academy Award-winning director of photography and is best known as the man who created the look for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. He is an extremely versatile DP who has experience with all formats, from 35mm film to High Definition video. His other credits include The Road Warrior, Babe, King Kong, and Will Smith’s I Am Legend.

Resistance is the story of a covert attempt by aliens from outer space to take over the Earth and a guerilla-style battle to stop them when most of the world won’t believe the threat exists. What makes the story even more interesting is its focus on a band of super-smart teenagers at the center of this conflict: not only do they have to save the world but they have to deal with school, hormones and dating.

Production on the Resistance feature is expected to start later this year.