Koby Stevens and renowned Australian actor Eric Bana have dedicated five years to an upcoming footy documentary, only to face a setback when Stevens’ car was broken into in St Kilda. Thieves stole valuable camera equipment and a hard drive filled with critical interview footage for the project. Stevens described the situation as "sickening," noting that they typically don’t carry such gear while on the move, but it was a temporary necessity during packing.
Fortunately, the essential documentary footage was backed up, alleviating some concerns. Despite this, Stevens expressed unease about the stolen, unaired footage being in the wrong hands. He stated, "It’s more about that there’s something out in the world that no one’s seen," emphasising the importance of the project’s integrity and the hard work of the team involved.
Stevens called on the offenders to recognise the sentimental value of the hard drive’s contents and urged them to return it, even if anonymously. He said, "If they have it, just drop it off. There’s not much you can do with it." He further lamented losing the camera gear but stressed that the hard drive’s return was paramount.
The documentary, titled Thrive, is nearing post-production by the end of the year. Stevens remarked on the film’s significance, stating, "It’s pretty game-changing, and on that hard drive was some pretty game-changing stuff." He concluded by noting the sensitive nature of the material that is now at risk, hinting at the potential impact it could have once released.