They originally planned to make two films with common characters and opening scenes about the separate experiences of a father and son – the father would be a tradesman cop gin with unemployment at middle age while the son faces a new job.
[1] Filming took place in the mining town of Newman approx 1200 km north of Perth in the Pilbara.
Brian Hannant spent several weeks working among mining crews incognito, then developing a script with Frank Hardy and, later, British TV writer Harold Lander.
[1] A subplot was written and shot where David had an affair with kindergarten teacher played by Kirrily Nolan.
[1] The film was distributed widely through non-commercial libraries in Australia and screened on television in 1973.