Exporting Raymond

Phil Rosenthal grew up loving television, but never dreamed he'd have his own show, much less one that ran for more than 2000 episodes. When Everybody Loves Raymond - which he created, wrote and executive-produced - finally winds down, he gets a call: would he be interested in making a Russian version of his hit sitcom? Rosenthal sets out for Moscow, pondering the need for kidnap insurance and pleased to hear his driver was once a bodyguard for Condoleezza Rice. Arriving at the daggy Gorky Film Studio, he's instantly in conflict with the costume designer, who's unimpressed by the notion of 'everyday' clothing. The head writer has a problem with Raymond (renamed Kostya) being pushed around by women, an unacceptable notion to a Russian male; and as for the casting process... The notion that comedy is universal takes a battering in Rosenthal's laugh-out-loud account of cultural misunderstandings in the world of television production.

Screens with Sugar

Australian Premiere

Filmmaker Guests Phil Rosenthal, John Woldenberg