Puls Polonii - How does it feel to embark on such a thrilling project?

Tom Pelik - We’re in talks with some ‘A’-listers, and so this breathes a lot of confidence into the value and the vision I had for the story from the very first word I wrote…I’m also very happy to have Mr. Galinsky join the production. Here I met someone who, despite his successes (like for example bringing to life “Dust and Glory” with the biggest to date privately financed production budget in Australian film history), has been one of the most approachable and enthusiastic people I have met, but also someone who has the quality of undisputed honesty. He immediately resonated with the story, confirming my belief in its depth, and since then has been fundamental in bringing the project to where it is now. The movie will be privately financed and is of a substantial budget, and so as we’re about to go out for development and production funding, having someone like Bobby on board is simply fantastic…

- Tomek, what can you say about the actual story behind “Kosciuszko” at this stage?

- It’s a universal story, a human story about an extraordinary human, of course, but a human nevertheless. My aim is to focus on Sir. Paul Edmund Strzelecki from that very perspective, as yet another subject to the human condition and its strengths, weaknesses, hopes, ambitions, and to explore it in the context of his Australian adventure…”

- What do you hope to achieve with this movie?

- My ultimate hope is for the film which not only entertains, but also leaves something with you long after we’ve watched it. A film that would resonate with worldwide audiences, and of course promote Strzelecki’s, among other great Poles, contribution to humanity, as well as show Australia before it became one that we know of…

Tom Pelik

- Hi, Bobby. How lucky Tom was to have secured your cooperation!

Bobby Galinsky - Tom had been referred to me from a mutual friend and associate, and from the initial contact email that laid out what he was all about; what he wanted to achieve personally and professionally as an actor and creator — I was hooked. I’m a big history fan and history is simply “uncovering what is already there” and a great script can be like a history lesson where we have a very finite amount of time to “uncover and discover” what lies beneath the surface of the title page. With “Kosciuszko” we are discovering the man whose life work graces a very important piece of geography —the highest mountain-- in Australia. But the epic STORY that is unveiled and revealed dwarfs the mountain in comparison…”

- Bobby, what aspect of your cooperation so far was the most crucial one there?

- At the end of the day, my job was to help Tom get the script in order, help him visualise this role that is his vehicle to the top of his personal mountain to climb — and help get the project to the screen. And the difference between Tom Pelik and Sir Strzelecki is that when Tom reaches the summit, he will look out and see many more mountains to climb over his career. “Kosciuszko” was, regrettably, Strzelecki’s Australian coda…”

- OK. Happy climbing then!

Bobby Galinsky