Newcastle plays role in Jason Stevens' debut feature film Chasing Comets

The comedy drama about a rugby league player who loses his girlfriend and redeems himself through religion was set in Wagga Wagga. 

Post production for the film was done in Newcastle through Shane Burrell at Final Post and the Production Station, with additional work on the film by Sawtooth Studio and Clint Topic.

Stevens, 45, who wrote the script and produced the film, was in Newcastle on Wednesday with his wife, Rebecca, who managed wardrobe on the film as well as being executive producer.

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Stevens met with Knights players and coach Nathan Brown. Team members were attending a screening of the film at Hoyts Charlestown on Wednesday night.

Stevens, who works as a TV host and guest speaker as well as working on scripts and film projects, admitted it was hard to retire from football. He played 231 league games over 14 seasons for St George and Cronulla and also represented Australia. He played his final game against the Newcastle Knights, leaving the field with a shoulder injury. He still remembers Knights’ hooker Danny Buderus respectfully clapping him off the field.

“It’s a real loss you feel after you retire,” he said in an interview on Wednesday. “It’s real hard to explain.

“It’s a matter of realising your identity is worth more than your work.”

Stevens will attend a Q & A session with the film at Avoca Beach Theatre at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast on Thursday night.

The film (rated PG), is in cinemas from August 23. It stars Isabel Lucas, Dan Ewing, Rhys Muldoon, Peter Phelps, and former rugby league player Beau Ryan.

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