Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 27 November 1986, page 4


INXS' Hutchence

in screen debut

Michael Hutchence

THE NEW feature by 26-year-old

director Richard Lowenstein, Dogs in Space, will be released in Canberra in December.

The film stars Michael Hutchence, lead singer of Australian rock group, INXS, in his first screen acting role.

Lowenstein has previously directed rock videos for Hutchence and INXS and is one of Australia's top music video directors. In 1983, 1984, and this year he won the Australian Countdown Award for Best Rock Video of the Year.

"Dogs in Space" is set in a large rundown house in inner Melbourne in the late 1970s and follows the exploits of a motley group of young punks, hippies, students and radicals who share the house. Among the group is Sam (played by Hutchence) who has his own rock band called Dogs in Space. Sam's girl friend, Anna, is played by Saskia Post, who is known for her work in The Sullivans television serial.

Dogs in Space will be jointly released by Hoyts Distribution and the independ-ent distributor, Ronin films. The joint distribution deal is a first for the film industry, combining the high trade pro file and commercial expertise of Hoyts with the marketing and promotional style of the independent.

The producer of Dogs in Space is Glenys Rowe, who directed promotions for Ronin films in 1983-84. At that time she orchestrated a major campaign for Lowenstein's first feature. Strikebound.

Mr Jonathon Chissick, managing di-rector of the Hoyts Corporation and spokesman for the Hoyts-Ronin joint venture, said Dogs in Space has the type of energy that leaves audiences breathless and entertained. "Its appeal is wide, from teenage fans of lNXS through to adults who enjoy high energy cinema with exciting music."