Principal photography commences on the new Australian feature "The Black Balloon" in Sydney this week.

Toni Collette ("Little Miss Sunshine"), Rhys Wakefield (TV's "Home & Away"), Luke Ford ("Kokoda"), Erik Thomson ("Somersault") and Gemma Ward star in the fil directed by first time feature director Elissa Down.

The story follows Thomas (Wakefield) and his family who move to a new home where he has to start at a new school. All he wants to do is to fit in, but when his pregnant mother (Collette) has to take things easy, he is put in charge of his autistic older brother Charlie (Ford).

Thomas, with the help of his new girlfriend Jackie (Ward), faces his biggest challenge yet. Charlie's unusual antics take Thomas on an emotional journey that causes his pent-up frustrations about his brother to pour out.

"The Black Balloon" was written by Elissa Down and Jimmy Jack ("Five Guys Named Moe").