A DUNOLLY couple never expected to be caught up in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, let alone have a movie made featuring them.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Carol and Len Hobday, who breed kelpies, were pushed into the limelight after selling their prized showdog Koko, who went onto be the star of critically acclaimed film Red Dog.
Producer Nelson Woss is set to begin production later this year on a sequel, The Koko Story, which will follow the kelpie's meteoric rise to fame.
Mr Hobday said the film would not feature much of Koko's life before he became a star.
"We hope Carol and I feature in the film a tiny bit," he said.
"It would be great if Billy Connolly played me."
Mrs Hobday said someone really gorgeous should play her.
"And someone about 30 years younger," she said.
Mr and Mrs Hobday say they are proud to have produced exceptional kelpies, with two more of their dogs set to play the role of Koko.
"We never expected our dogs to go into show business," Mrs Hobday said.
"The experience has changed our life dramatically.
"After the first film we had people knocking on our door first thing in the morning.
"People wanted to come and see Red Dog.
"They didn't know that Red Dog was sold to Woss years ago.
"We hope this sequel will give tourism to Dunolly a boost."
Businesses told the Bendigo Advertiser last month they were hopeful the new film would be made in Dunolly, increasing tourism to the "struggling" small town.
Dunolly Golden Triangle Motel owner Graham Ashton said it would be great if The Koko Story was filmed in Dunolly.
"Businesses in small towns need every little bit of help they can get," he said.
"We don't get much advertising so it's a battle to attract tourists and stay afloat.
"At the moment we are only breaking even.
"It would be great to get a boost and have more people visit Dunolly.
"I loved the first film.
"I bought it on DVD after seeing it at the cinema."
Dunolly Quality Meats owner Andy Gibbs said after Red Dog was screened in 2011 there was an increase in tourism to the small town.
"You'd see people coming into the shop you'd never seen before," he said.
"They'd ask about Red Dog.
"It can sometimes be hard living in a small town such as Dunolly.
"Young people flee to attend university as soon as they can.
"Farmers in surrounding communities have struggled the past two decades.
"Small towns are getting smaller, so it's fantastic when there's positive publicity such as this.
"Hopefully, even more people will come to visit.
"We have a lot to offer."