The world's most powerful heavy metal band embark on their first international tour. Told through a mix of gritty observational documentary and exaggerated animation, the film looks at the drudgery of low budget touring and the ecstasy of creating incredible stage performances. Exaggeration beyond parody, silliness beyond irony and a belief in awesomeness.

Barbariön recently won a Facebook competition to play a heavy metal music festival on the beaches of Croatia, which prompted them to embark on a month long European tour. This has given us the perfect opportunity and setting to make a feature length documentary about the band. But this will not be just another “band on tour” film.

They present themselves with more hyperbole than any other band out there, and this exaggerated storytelling is big part of their mystique. Their interpretation of events and outlandish on stage characters are beyond reality. Approximately one quarter of this film will be an over the top parallel to the real events told through animation.

The film will follow the trials and tribulations of the band as they play huge festivals and bikie bars in the middle of nowhere. It will examine the culture of heavy metal music across Europe and it will explore the nature of storytelling and how people make their dreams a reality.

Estimated Production Schedule

Pricipal Photography:  15th May - 15th July 2013

Post Production: 15th July 2013 - 15th July 2014

Barbarion are the greatest band in the history of history. They look good, they play good and they have flames. Consisting of seven very manly men dressed (with no historical accuracy) as various Barbaric types, they put on a stage show that will make a mighty warrior out of even the lowliest peasant.Their supreme metal sound revolves around three part guitar harmonies, excessively loud bass, thundering drumbeats and morbidly obese (literally) dual vocals. They are the antidote to modern life. All witness the glory that is Barbarion!

Or so they say on their website. Barbarion are not about subtlety. They are about putting on one of the best, most over the top stage shows that budget and fire regulations allow. While they’re not taking themselves seriously, its also not intentional parody. They’ve created a band so that they have an excuse to do the most awesome stuff they can possibly think off. And that awesome stuff is classic heavy metal, amazing costumes and homemade pyrotechnics. Theres an innocence that’s somehow infectious and you become caught up in it, no mater what your musical taste.

Check out their first, glorious music video “My Rock” below. But keep in mind that their stage show involves even more flames and explosions.

Find out more about the band at http://www.barbarion.net

The $60,000 we’re aiming to raise will just cover the expenses of following the band around Europe, the cost of the rewards and their postage, the PayPal and credit card transaction fees, and the fees associated with the Pozible campaign.  

To be clear, this money will just cover the shooting of the film. Once we return to Australia will will start the post production phase which will be funded through a combination of government grants, strong coffee and a dedication to metal.

Director - Dave Budge
www.cameraclub.tv

Dave Budge is a documentary, music video and television commercial director. He specialises in capturing and creating thought provoking and moving documentary content, but counters that by directing ridiculous music videos

Dave recently directed the documentary television series BACK OF HOUSE about the worldwide journey of artist Jeff Martin, a global campaign for SAMSUNG, and major launches for HOLDEN and DAVID JONES. He has directed music videos for ART VS SCIENCE and BARBARIÖN and live performances clips for artists including KIMBRA, ACTIVE CHILD and THE AUSTRALIAN BALLET as part of the project www.sideshowalley.tv in Melbourne and New York City.

Editor - Ken Sallows
www.imdb.com/name/nm0758627/

During his career, Ken has edited some thirty plus feature films in addition to many documentaries and television programs. Ken has been nominated for nine AFI Awards, as a producer, sound editor and picture editor. His credits and awards during his plotted history include MALCOLM, PROOF, LOVE AND OTHER CATASTROPES, CHOPPER, GETTIN’ SQUARE, TOM WHITE and THE COMBINATION.

Cinematographer - Joel Betts
https://vimeo.com/41420018

Joel has worked as a cinematographer on many successful projects including documentaries ONE CUP, SQEEZED and SHADOWPLAY. Award winning short Films TWO MEN and THE LAUNDROMAT and music videos for rock icons BARBARIÖN and BIG SCARY. Working to further hone his skills he recently completed a graduate diploma of cinematography at the Australian Film Television and Radio School in Sydney.

Art Director & Motion Designer - Matt Slater
www.mattslater.com.au

From a very early age, Matt has had a passion for drawing and design, with Looney Tunes and cool band logos his main inspiration. This passion lead him to Swinburne University, then on to Melbourne agencies Sputnik Agency and Visual Jazz, where he worked as a lead designer. Clients included Crumpler, Krispy Kreme, ACF, ABC Kids and he also created award winning work for The Australian Defence Force. Matt now works as a freelance motion designer, with recent notable work for the documentary series Back Of House and an online series of videos for RMIT University.

Character Design - Kate Moon
kateemoon.tumblr.com

Graduating from Swinburne University of Technology Kate began her career at Digital Pictures Iloura, one of Australia's premiere post-production houses. She worked on projects for clients such as Honda, Target and The City of Melbourne. Some notable works include character design and animation for Drumstick's Summer Parade Campaign, as well as designing title sequences for ELIZEBETH: THE GOLDEN AGE and BRAN NU DAE. A major illustrated publication ‘A Gross of Zombies’ is set to launch this winter.

Animation Team - Oh Yeah Wow
www.ohyeahwow.com

Led by Darcy Prendegast who was lead sculptor on Adam Elliot's feature film ‘Mary and Max’, has been selected for Annecy and Stuttgart animation festivals 4 times, has directed music videos - both live action and animated for some of the worlds biggest bands including Gotye, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ben Folds Five, Aloe Blacc/ Wax Tailor and has bagged a few awards along the way for them- including an ARIA nomination, SoundKilda wins and SXSW selections.