DISCLAIMER
The book that this biopic is planned to be based on is my autobiography: ‘No Looking Back’ and has been written as anonymously as possible. Some cities, states and institutions have been mentioned but no humans, except me.
The school where the bullying occurred is in NO WAY AT FAULT NOR IN THE LEAST BIT RESPONSIBLE FOR MY EXPERIENCES.
From days well and truly gone by.
Hi all – I really hope you are all well and will stay that way.
While I only issued our last update a couple of weeks ago, I have been feeling an increasing need to get something out about this horrible nightmare that we are all enduring, world wide and how it is affecting us – or should I say, pre-production of our film.
I am not in complete lockdown – yet – but am close enough to it. I am trying to stay at home as much as I can, only going out for daily exercise, always keeping the required distance from others and washing my hands constantly – and that’s about it. My husband continues going out because he works in an ‘essential industry’.
Like so many of us, my initial fear at the thought of having to stay home for weeks/months on end was – how on earth do I stay busy and keep myself sane?
And that did worry me.
Still in drought.
But now that we are at the end of the first week of self-isolation, I am more than busy and keeping myself very sane – well, ok, as sane as I have ever been and will ever be. As mentioned above I am still getting my daily exercise and plan to keep this up until the worst is over – until we get the green light that everything is lifted and we are getting back to ‘normal’ life again.
I also continue to work heavily on pre-production of our film – ie the script is nearly completed – at least the first draft is. I am also being sent scripts for other potential films to read through – believe me, if all these are accepted by production companies, there are some excellent films to be made in the future. And from what I can see, they are mostly being made by Australian production companies, with 90% Australian crews and cast and locations completely Australian and mostly in the outback. YES!
Drought again.
I am also looking for another pastoral station to add to our existing ones, along with looking for many other locations in SA and WA. And starting to look at more major actors to play the major roles. Most of these characters require several actors to take them through many years. Some of those actors that I already have on our list will be considered for some of these roles as well. But these are only people whom have been acting for a long time and have built up healthy profiles.
And yes, as is known, we have conducted one audition to date. More would have been planned from then on, but life seemed to have other ideas which have brought much of the ‘normality’ of the world to a grinding halt, albeit temporary. So, no auditions for the moment but as soon as the above-mentioned green light is turned on, I will be getting straight back into the areas where socialising/mixing is required. And that includes auditions.
Typical wool shed, complete with some shearers’ stands.
Funding remains a requirement. While we have had a couple of donations (again my deepest gratitude to those people) I have realised it is possibly not the best timing to continue looking for funding/grants etc. That said, if I can convince funding bodies/people that this film has the potential to assist getting the tourist industry in Australia, particularly for the outback, back on its feet after this nightmare, then maybe…just maybe. And there are other areas too which I will look at and I will reach out to various relevant people/bodies, but need to choose very carefully and wording is vital at any time, but more so now. Again, more donations are welcome and please always remember, this film will simply not proceed without money. What does?
So I leave this with you. I will continue to send out our updates but as for pre-production itself, anything involving socialising/mixing will be put on the back burner until further notice. But it WILL happen.
For now I will sign off and wish you all the best of health throughout the coming months. Stay healthy, stay safe, keep washing those hands regularly, always stay the required distance when in the company of others and do stay home if you can. Follow advice from the authorities to a ‘T’.
I am thinking of you all and REALLY looking forward to the end when we can really get stuck into this. It WILL happen.
Thank you.
Just a reminder of how big distances can be in outback Australia.
