Wagga-based film The Merger's trailer released

A story with a big heart, plenty of laughs and lashings of sweet and sour chicken kiev, The Merger is the tale of a struggling, small town footy team that recruits refugees to survive.

Reuniting the crew that created Backyard Ashes, director Mark Grentell and producer Anne Robinson joined forces with comedian, actor and writer Damian Callinan to adapt to the screen his award-winning, stage show of the same name.

Mr Grentell said he was pleased to finally have the chance to show off the trailer. 

“You sit in a dark room editing for months on end and finally you get to show to the world a glimpse and it’s been positive reactions so far,” he said. 

“Now that we are through post-production we are ramping up to the release.”

“It’s such a big process, writing the script, developing the project, financing it and shooting it as well as editing. 

“It’s a huge relief and nice to finally celebrate it.” 

The date for the premiere is still not finalised, but Mr Grentell promises a big event. 

“We are definitely going to be bringing a big premiere to Wagga,” he said. 

”Wagga was where we shot the film and everyone would be keen for it.” 

Mr Callinan said the struggling footy team, who resound with the Aussie battler war-cry “keep doing it until you’re not s---”, is but a canvas upon which a new, more accepting culturally diverse Australia can be painted.

“When you bother to listen and learn from what our refugees have actually been through, wanting to turn them away isn’t an option,” said Damian Callinan.

Many refugees in Wagga were extras in the film, including Yazidi refugee Khato Izzeldin, who became one of the featured players in the Bodgy Creek Roosters, and even got a character name of his own choosing, Iraqi Kev.