Hunt on for star yowie - Film needs beast of a man (via Paul Cropper)

2 May 2010
Sunday Mail, The

A QUEENSLAND film student has launched a search for a man to play the yowie in a movie about the mystical ape-like creature rumoured to roam the Australian bush. The casting call for the short film, called The Yowie, states the successful applicant should be tall, powerful, hairy, physical, a ``Big-Foot'' and aged between 25 and 55.

Perhaps our very own hairy Hollywood star Russell Crowe could take a paycut and step in to the role, or un-manscaped local talent such as Titans prop Brad Meyers or Wolfmother guitarist Andrew Stockdale. Griffith University film student Col Bayford, 23, said the script was inspired by sasquatch stories in his native Canada and adapted to tell the tale of the Australian yowie.

``We've had over 80 applications for the role so far but the ideal candidate would be tall, hairy, rugged guy,'' Mr Bayford said. ``Creating that humanoid look is important to us because we want people to think it could be a guy in a monkey suit but he just doesn't look quite right.''

The film is based on two main characters, couple James and Vivian, who are spending a weekend camping when a mysterious figure appears in the bush. The plot follows the couple as they battle to survive the night. Mr Bayford said the film, which was funded by students, was ``more thriller than horror''. But while the film is fictional, Australian Yowie Research (AYR) founder Dean Harrison is convinced real-life yowies are out there.
``When you have done the research we have and seen what we've seen, interviewed the countless witnesses, taken plaster casts of footprints, you have to believe,'' Mr Harrison said.

``And there are photos and footage but that's all I can say and I can't say any more but they are very real,'' he said.

According to AYR almost 10,000 sightings have been reported around the nation, the majority on the east coast, including bushland areas around Brisbane.

But is budding film director Mr Bayford a believer? ``I am a firm believer in science and evolution so I keep an open mind about these things,'' he said. The Yowie begins filming at Murwillumbah in June.For information on casting for The Yowie visit http://www.starnow.com/

* Do you have a yowie sighting story? Email healys@qnp.newsltd.com.au

THE AUSSIE BIGFOOT

* There have been almost 10,000 reported sightings of yowies across Australia.
* The name "yowie" is believed to be an adaptation of Aboriginal names "Yuuri" and "Yowri", which were two commonly used names for the creature, particularly in NSW.
* They are believed to be similar to the equally mysterious ape-like creatures known as bigfoot (the USA), sasquatch (Canada), yeti (China) and chuchuna (Russia).
* The largest populations of yowie are believed to be in the remote mountainous ranges of southeast Australia.
* They have thick dark skin on the face with deep skin folds and a flattened wide nose. They often have a strong odour. They are powerfully built with broad shoulders, a small neck and muscular legs similar to an ape.
* Yowies have some serious body hair and walk upright.

Source: Australian Yowie Research
Nominate a yowie contender and read accounts of beastly sightings at thesundaymail.com.au
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