Simon Luckhurst.com

"Later, in the afternoon, the most amazing thing happened..."



Zoe Luckhurst-Lane

The price of justice?

Mum: It was a good result.

Dad: Yeah, if it was worth the price.

Mum: She'll be OK.

Dad: Of course she'll be OK.



Synopsis

Traumatised after giving evidence in court, 12-year old Stephanie eventually finds solace in the support she receives from family and friends.



Credits

Stephanie: Zoe Luckhurst-Lane

Mum: Gabrielle Hammond

Mark: Huge DeVaney

Carol: Sally Berridge

Megan: Naomi Jacobs

Ronnie: Claudia Schmidt

With Genevieve Davis, Ann Spaven, Joan Gissing, Maya Davis-Jackson.



Written, produced and directed by Simon Luckhurst.

Camera: Keean Murrell Snape

Sound: Nicholas Tyrrell

Clapper: Dennis (DJ) Jackson

Colour Grading: Melvin J. Montalban



Budget

Total: around $300. Actually the budget for this film should have been considerable, however I once again received great support from Relativity Studios. Should the discerning viewer of this site detect a trend in regards to my alledged annual exploitation of the good folk at Relativity, please let it be known that my relationship with the studio for the rest of the year is best described in biological terms as being more symbiotic. Or so I like to think...



Screenings

Short Sited 11, Wollongong NSW, March 2007.

2007 Homebrewed International Film Festival.



Notes on the Film

I wanted to write something my daughters could be in. The eldest, of course, decided for reasons known only to herself that she would pass up this thrilling offer and go to Germany for the summer instead. For some reason known only to my sub-concious, a large part of the inspiration for the film came while watching a local amateur production of "The Pirates of Penzance." I have yet to understand the link. That's brains for you...

We shot in the house of my friend Tans. If you look carefully you'll see her photo on the wall above the lounge. She would have liked to have appeared in it, but in a move obviously allied with that of a certain eldest daughter, Tans decided that the week of filming would be the best time to travel to the nearest thing that Australia has to Germany, ie Adelaide.

This film was a change from my normal style of film, in that I think it is actually quite good, and of course it's a drama. I felt it was important to make a drama so people could watch it and then nod knowingly to each other and mutter remarks relating to 'his move away from the early comedies...'

I had a whole other song in mind entirely for what are now the two songs that appear in the movie. When it came to editing, the other song just didn't work, although I had Murray angrily singing alone in his bathroom with the recorder in a vain attempt to assist. As it was, his song "Anger," which I eventually used, was far, far better. To learn more about Murray and his music, visit his My Space page. It says something of his songs that by the end of post production most of Relativity had made themselves a copy of his album.

Astute viewers will note that Genevieve Davis, who appears in the film with her daughter Maya, sings backup on "Anger." Even more astute viewers will note that Genevieve's partner, DJ, worked the clapper for this production, after having appeared in both "Crapfest" and "The Buns of Navarone."

I was so fortunate to work with the cast and crew of this film. Gabrielle I had known was a hidden acting talent, altough I knew her daughter Claudia could sing brilliantly. Hugh I had of course been working with for years (see "Lina, Portrait of a Teenage Aztec" for example.) Ann thought she was coming to sing, little realising she was going to be in the film. Her friend Joan had even less idea what was in store for her. Sally jumped straight into the role of Carol at short notice. And Naomi, despite concerns at 11pm the night before shooting that she would have to work, managed to find someone to fill her shift and met my vision for the role of Megan. My crew were no less brilliant, Keean once again providing sterling work with the camera, although I'm a little glad he didn't indulge in his latest passion for completely out of focus shots ('with meaning,' he claims.) He can continue to put them in his own films. And Nick worked above and beyond the call of duty on the day of the shoot and later in post. Melvin, in what may be his last cinematic venture before heading off to AFTRS, did a great job in colour grading. I knew him before he was famous!





Watch the Movie



Pictures


Sally Berridge


Naomi Jacobs


Gabrielle Hammond


Claudia Schmidt and Zoe Luckhurst-Lane


Hugh Devaney


Zoe Luckhurst-Lane