The foray into movies by T-Boots manufacturer Enoch Taylor & Co (est. 1851) was instigated by work boot seller Dorian Martin. In June 1998, an Irish builder named Connor was on a working holiday In Sydney and phoned Dorian to ask if he could buy large quantities of work boots from him to export to Ireland - the same ones he had bought from Gowing Bros In Sydney, which is an established menswear store that also sells footwear.
    In early 1999, Dorian received a phone call from Mel Dykes, Costume Supervisor on Bootmen' who had also seen the work boots at Gowings and wanted a variety of boots for the movie. The direct Injection sole construction of T-Boots contributed to "the look" that Mel wanted for the movie and the rest is history. Throughout filming of the movie, 48 pairs of boots were supplied in assorted styles, some safety and some non-safety.

Bootmen was inspired by the life and work of director/choreographer Dein Рerry, of Tap Dogs and Steel City fame, and was produced by Hilary Linstead, who has an impressive background In the Australian entertainment Industry
'I saw Dein In '42nd Street as a performer and he had developed a very distinctive tap style that was not traditional tap,' said Hilary.
The outcome of Hilary putting Perrу and designer/director Nigel Tiffitt together five years ago was the highly successful stage show Tap Dogs which has since been performed all around the world.
    Рerry more recently produced another dance fest, Steel City, and then collaborated with Hilary and writer Steve Worland on Bootmen.
The screenplay tells the story of two young brothers, Sean (Adam Garcia) and Mitchell (Sam Worthington), who are Newcastle steelworkers. Although vastly different, they have two things in common • both have been tap dancing since they were kids and they are both in love with the same girl, Linda (Sophie Lee).

Mitchell Is a true blue Newcastle boy with dreams of starting his own business while Sean Is determined to move on and become a professional tapper.
    The movie was filmed in Perry's home town, Newcastle, because it Inspired him and the type of dance he had originated
"We were on a very tight budget, but we moved mountains to give the picture great production value,* said Hilary. "A dance movie Is not easy. It Is like making a movie and a half and it was very difficult merging music with tap.
"It was especially Important to achieve this, because Dein wanted to make the tap sound live'. It has been a great breakthrough getting the sound right"
    There was a long period of pre-production for the movie when the actors and dancers workshopped and rehearsed their parts with Dein. It took about four months to cast the film and about a year to raise the finance.

The boots are an Integral part of this movie, because they are a complete departure from traditional tap shoes," said Hilary. "You would never have thought of boots In tap until Tap Dogs. This was Dein's original Idea; he developed a very special and different style of tap for the film. The actual tap plate on the boots Is original It Is bigger and it curls upward. It looks very stylish"
    Hilary said "old fashioned" tap had little In common with the environment from which Dein came from. He had heard all the sounds at Newcastle Engineering where he worked as a fitter and turner and they were implanted In his subconscious," she said "Newcastle gave Dein his spirit, his down to earth values and his direct approach. I find Dein greet to work with." Filming took four weeks In Newcastle and four weeks In Sydney with almost all of the exteriors shot In Newcastle. "It Is cheaper to shoot In Sydney because you don’t have the cost of accommodation," Hilary said. "But there will be no doubt In anyone's mind that the setting of the film Is Newcastle."
    The settings are varied, from Industrial landscapes to beach panoramas. Back In Sydney, on one of the most complex nights the movie employed 120 crew, 400 extras and 17 cast members. Throughout the movie there were never less than 70 crewmembers.
    "Its a very exciting time for Dein and me," said Hilary. "We are getting very good feedback from Fox, our investor and distributor in the United States."