In the middle of November, 1976, Australian producer Phil Avalon contacted Mel Gibson and his good pal, Steve Bisley, at NIDA, and asked if they would be interested in appearing in a little beach movie he was planning. The two young actors were delighted with the project.
"Summer City" was going to be made for a minuscule budget of less than $100,000 and Avalon offered his "stars" the union minimum of $400, which Mel later claimed he never received.
Initially, producer/actor/screenwriter Avalon intended to recruit Nick Papadopoulous but Nick was going through some personal problems and Gibson took Nick´s place and got the part of a surfer called "Scollop".
"Summer City" is basically a surfing documentary. Four lads head for the coast to enjoy a wild weekend of boozing and to give one of their group, the soon-to-be- married Jarrat, one lat fling before he ties the knot. The fun-filled weekend will climax in tragedy.
Mel, his hair dyed a dreadful blond , was not good on the boards and the director had to use a stand-in surfer for some scenes
The entire shoot, which lasted on and off for more than a month, was a highly informal affair. Actors and technicians shared work and frugal lunches of ham rolls bought from the nearest bakery.
Mel, John Jarratt, Steve Bisley and Deborah Foreman became great friends. Mel and Debbie started a romance just days after beginning work on the film. This relationship broke up unexpectedly.
The final weeks of the shoot were completed in very trying circumstances, with Avalon virtually broke. He even had to borrow from friends in order to finish the movie.
"Summer City" had only a fair reception at the box office. It was never released theatrically anywhere but in Australia, much to Gibson´s relief. Mel has little affection for the film. "It was an abomination", has said the megastar..
In the United States "Summer City" was released on video several years later.
"An abomination. A cheap, nasty flick that was cranked out in three weeks."
SUMMER CITY
Director: Christopher Fraser
Producer: Phil Avalon
Screenwriter: Phil Avalon
Editor: David Stiven
Photography: Jerry Marek
Music: Phil Butkis
Cast: Mel Gibson, John Jarratt, STeve Bisley, Phil Avalon, Deborah Foreman, James Elliot, Vicky Hrelumian, Peter McGovern, Abigail.
Australia 1977
"The movie actually got a release, but, fortunately, only in Australia."
BIOGRAPHY