News release April 20, 2024:
Australian actress Erin Connor has emerged as one of the standout stars of Anno 2020, the mystery-drama feature film which celebrated its world premiere at a red-carpet screening in Sydney this month.
Erin Connor…drawn to Anno 2020.
The engaging actress, best known for her screen roles in Occupation: Rainfall, When Love Springs, Dino King 3D and The Suicide Theory, plays a depressed and highly stressed wife separated from her onscreen husband Greg Poppleton, the Sydney-based actor known for Backtrack and Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Connor has a reputation for versatility, but to call her versatile is almost doing her a disservice. Once a champion golfer, she changed careers to film and television, making her mark in feature-length films, short films, commercials, and other projects.
Those other projects include strong advocacy for animal protection and preservation – a throwback no doubt to a childhood spent growing up on a tropical fruit farm near Byron Bay, in New South Wales, surrounded by nature and having a menagerie of animals to look after.
“My mother was the daughter of one Captain Neptune Blood,” she said. “He was a prolific explorer who discovered and studied many animal and plant species, notably in the highlands of Papua New Guinea where my mother and my older sister were both born.”
Connor said she had to be part of the Anno 2020 production when the film’s Sydney-based director James Morcan and lead producer Gil Ben-Moshe, of MoneyShot Productions, approached her.
Billed as a global kaleidoscope of interconnected characters seeking redemption, forgiveness, and answers amidst the chaos of 2020, the movie was shot on a micro budget of US$6,000.
“Anno 2020 drew me in like a magnet,” Connor recalled. “The sheer scope of the project, combined with its unique approach, had me hooked from the get-go. That and the opportunity to collaborate during such a challenging time was simply irresistible.”
She referred to the strict COVID-related lockdowns of 2020 and the fact that the actors were usually physically isolated from each other while the movie was shot in 17 cities on four continents during that most difficult of times.
“Coping with those challenges required a lot of patience and a good dash of creativity, but the warmth and support from everyone involved made it feel like we were all right there together, on set, rather than being separated by oceans in some cases,” said Connor.
“Despite the difficulties, I loved my involvement with Anno 2020. It was such fun I don’t even know where to begin. The bonds formed, the challenges overcome, and the sheer joy of bringing my character to life combined to make it an experience I’ll treasure forever.”
Connor said the highlight for her was the incredible sense of camaraderie that was achieved on set along with the joy of collaborating with such a talented cast and crew. That said, she admitted that slapping her screen husband Poppleton in one dramatic scene was certainly a memorable moment.
As for coping with the challenges of 2020, she said she had to navigate her way, along with many others, through the ups and downs of lockdowns.
“That year (2020) was quite a rollercoaster, wasn’t it? In my case I couldn’t use my Visa to work overseas, and I found it hard not being able to see my aging parents or my siblings and close friends all the while surrounded by the fear of the unknown in such a unique time in the world.
“It really was a test of resilience, but it also brought moments of unexpected beauty and connection in the ‘small stuff’ that happened if you know what I mean.”
Connor’s commitment to Anno 2020, the movie, impressed everyone associated with it – in particular lead producer Ben-Moshe.
“Shooting remotely for the majority of her scenes was a challenge by any measure, but Erin made it look easy,” he said. “She brought much-needed energy to the role she played and the chemistry between her and her co-stars is a highlight for audiences.”
Ben-Moshe said audiences will be moved by her failed marriage to her onscreen husband Greg (Poppleton) as well as her decision to move away from his onscreen niece played by up-and-coming Australian child actress Audrey Nitschke (Wolf Like Me).
“Erin’s performance was always authentic and audiences will be riding every emotion with her as she takes them on an emotional rollercoaster. I really do look forward to working with her again.”
New Zealand-born director James Morcan, who also adapted the film’s screenplay from his published novel Anno 2020, described Connor as a very empathetic, heart-based person.
“That’s part of the reason why she’s such a brilliant actress,” he said. “Whatever scene or whatever role she plays, Erin lives it in the moment. I find her to be one of the most genuine actors in the world and was honoured to work with her.”
Morcan said Connor is not only ultra-professional but is very down to earth and a fun personality to have on a film set.
Connor said she wouldn’t hesitate to work with Anno 2020’s filmmakers again.
“James’s directing was truly something special,” she said. “To see him step into his directorial debut with such confidence and vision was inspiring. He brought out the best in all of us and created an environment where creativity could truly flourish. He is a beautiful person with a sense of calm in his leadership which I believe is the best traits for a director.”
Connor…at home on the red carpet.
In Anno 2020, Erin Connor was surrounded by an award-winning ensemble of international actors. Other cast members include American veteran actors Kevin Scott Allen (Alias, Prison Break and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Sheila Ball (A Prince and Pauper Christmas, Assault On VA-33 and By Deception), and Chinese American Crystal J. Huang (Dark Feathers) as well as Jessica Castello (Oildale).
Connor has two upcoming movies, Piggy and Pinball, both to be shot in Melbourne. In Piggy, she will star alongside Robert Morgan (Babylon, Hacksaw Ridge) and Vince Colosimo (Underbelly, The Second); Pinball, which is still under wraps, will be helmed by award-winning writer-director Matt Holcomb.
A Melbourne cinematic screening of Anno 2020 will be held on May 6, and a Brisbane screening on June 4. Beyond these red-carpet events, the longer-term target includes online distribution on major streaming platforms.
Video highlights from the recent World Premiere red-carpet screening of Anno 2020 in Sydney can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_sXNibPrHw&t
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Morcan Books & Films 