February, 2010

A good start to 2010

This time last year I had needed to return to my cinema projection job, cursing the inconsistent film industry in which I am attempting to build my career and make a living. Fortunately 2010 has already got off to an amazing start as I wrap up my first feature film project and prepare to shoot a fortnight of the Adelaide International Arts Festival ahead of a possible film in London.

Oranges and Sunshine is the first feature film by UK director Jim Loach. The son of Ken Loach, Jim had grown up in the world of film-making and has an impressive portfolio of UK television and short film to his credit. He is the nicest person, as is his producer Camilla Bray, a positive energy that flowed down through the entire production making it a joy to work on. The film deals with the scandal of the English orphans forcibly emigrated to Australia between the 1950′s and the 1970′s and one social worker’s attempt to uncover the truth and re-unite families. The stellar cast is led by Emily Watson with David Wenham and Hugo Weaving, in our forth film together. Set in the 1980′s, the film shot in Nottingham, England before coming to my home town Adelaide and then on to the rugged landscape of Arkaroola in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia.

Oranges and Sunshine cast and crew on a light plane to Arkaroola. Feburary 2010.

Oranges and Sunshine cast and crew on a light plane to Arkaroola. Feburary 2010.

The English crew members suffered in the intense outback heat coupled with an apocalyptic assault of flies in the rugged Arkaroola location, it tested even us hardened Aussies. To every one’s surprise they were not the only Englishmen in the remote region with no less than Lord Monckton, the outspoken climate change sceptic, sharing our accommodation with his wife and friend, Australian climate change denier Ian Plimer. I wrote and letter to the Sydney Morning Herald about the strange meeting and an amusing incident that unfolded.

Starting the year on a film in Adelaide has given me an extended and indulgent period at home with my beloved family and dear friends. The dog is regularily walked, an endless list of house jobs have been tackled and I have been able to do lots of cruising around on my bike. Always with a compact camera on me, I have numerous suburban photo projects underway, and have been photographing discarded, inverted televisions on the street for several years. The switching over from analogue to digital transmission has meant that there has been huge addition to this particular collection that one day will make a curious exhibition and record of the time.

Discarded Inverted TV's.

Discarded Inverted TV’s.