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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 on the whole, no human names have been mentioned.

THE SCHOOL WHERE THE BULLYING OCCURRED IS IN NO WAY AT FAULT NOR IN THE LEAST BIT RESPONSIBLE FOR MY EXPERIENCES.

Hello…hopefully this blog post will find everyone well and starting to enjoy life again now that we, in Australia, are moving out of isolation and back to normal – or should I say, the ‘new normal’…although I still don’t know what that means exactly. Social distancing is a part of it as is washing your hands properly and very regularly. Both continue to be so very important.

Part of the Great Australian Bight.

So…no, I haven’t forgotten you. Nor have I stopped working on NLB in any way at all. And now that we ARE starting to get back to this new normal, I am starting to look for better known actors – mainly from SA and WA again – to take the more major roles. Also locations – we have three pastoral stations on board, although not yet in cement – but they will be – and I am looking for another couple. I plan these to be spread between both states (SA and WA).

I am also looking at showcasing the difference in School of the Air from when I was a primary student learning that way, to 55 years later – ie today. The difference is just so mammoth – which is hardly surprising given that there are 55 years of improvements in transport, technology and roads etc. I do consider myself to be very fortunate with my primary education – it was so different. And through the research for ‘Red Dust Dreams‘ I was incredibly lucky in that one of the stations in Qld that I visited had three students learning through SotA or Distance Education, so I was able to see first hand how different it is nowadays. Just amazing. On that same trip, I also managed to visit my own old SotA base in South Australia and have to say I was quite stunned when seeing the lessons being taught from that end as well. 

Music is another big factor and we have huge plans for this – for the opening and closing scenes and even one scene on the station which will feature a rising singer/songwriter from WA who is writing both the music and lyrics for this very special scene which will feature that thing that is so very rare in the outback – RAIN. We are hoping that one of our foreign actors will be actually dancing in this rain, on the station, with me. Yes. Rain is so rare out there that when it did happen we used to sit and watch, listen, smell and take it all in. And I have loved dancing in it ever since. Yep – even in the middle of the night. 

Normal sparse vegetation of the outback.

Thank you to all those who responded to my last blog post when I did ask for everyone whom is still interested in being considered for our film to let me know – more on this below. I am still trying to do my best to give everyone a chance with this, particularly rising actors from South and Western Australia. This includes anyone from me right down through the layers to the extras and helpers etc. We do have some from other nations but a lot now depends on what borders are open by the time we reach the stage where they are needed to be in Australia. That said, we also have some bigger names coming in from the eastern states and again that will depend on borders being open. 

With everything starting again, we are slotting in locations…as in stations and I have a few people in mind for the roles of station owners and/or managers as well as a lot for station hands/jillaroos/jackaroos. None of these is locked in concrete yet and won’t be until after auditioning. 

Dawson’s burrowing bees. On a road in outback WA.

Writing of the screenplay itself is going well. I am still really enjoying it but, again, I had no idea how much is involved. I have to keep referring back to my autobiography to see what I did throughout my life to date! And doing this has meant I have found that I have missed certain characters that need to be included but I have also been able to delete some who really didn’t play a huge part in my life.

Again, when I began this I really had no idea how much is involved in making a feature film/biopic – and I’m only in pre-production which I am told can take years. Then there’s actual filming, to say nothing of possible years in post-production. Just another rung in this mammoth learning curve that I have committed myself to.

Before I close I do need to just reiterate that, PLEASE – those of you whom are still interested in being considered for a role in this film and have not already done so, PLEASE respond to this to let me know. Again, if I do not hear from you, I will be removing you from our list and you will no longer hear from me at all. I will mention this one last time in the next blog – after that, it will be too late.

Thank you – and stay well. 

Typical main street of outback town. Lovely and peaceful and quiet – usually.

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