Sim1Fish on Film
October 11th 2006 03:39
Four months ago I went to the Cannes Film Festival.
I went to see the premier of my latest film, Bloodspit. It wasn’t on the red carpet, not even the blue – it was downstairs at the Market and in the tradition of guerrilla film-making the film was made with a budget of $4000. Australian. That’s right. The film cost less to make than the week spent in France.
It was a moving experience.
Lloyd Kaufman, the head of Troma Films, who bought our film was there. We met him and he was cool.
And then we came back.
Was there a reception?
No.
Was there adoration for our achievement?
No.
But I’m not bitter.
In film-making you’re only as good as your next project. You either go hard, or give up.
People stop me in the street and say;
“Leon, how can we get into real film-making?”
I tell them what Duke Hendrix, my co-creator in film-making crime and I tell everyone.
“All you need is a good idea and a camera.”
In fact, there’s so much you don’t need to make films, it’s scary. Look round, just look round. Get motivated and make the films you like to watch, not the ones people tell you to make.
My inspiration was a film called Stone . 1974, made by Sandy Harbutt.
Recently I was talking to a 38 year-old mate who works in the Australian film industry. I told him he was too young to have ever worked on an Australian film worth writing about. Like Stone. I love Stone. I love it because it’s the way Australia should be. Was, but isn’t anymore. Brotherhood – sun – guys & chicks – beer – water with salt.
Stone is everything Picnic at Hanging Rock, made a year later, tries to be. The Great Australian Film. 94 minutes enveloping a code of mateship only someone who lives on a sunburnt island in the middle of nowhere can appreciate.
When I was young I got a phone call from my mother who said Ken Shorter (lead actor in Stone) was at her place and if I wanted to meet him to come straight over. I rode my Honda seven-fifty-four straight over. I parked it next to Ken’s bike. I felt cool, he was cool. I had a moment.
I think Stone taught me one valuable lesson.
Sure you can be straight. Build a career based on the capitalist notion that if you pack your coffin with enough bread you’ll get through to the next life. Or you can cheat. Live your life like you’re on an island. With a bike. With a chick like Rebecca Gilling, she’s in the film and how hot is she? Damn hot. And that’s the place I want to be. Stone is not just a film worth watching, it should be made into a Government sponsored fridge magnet – don’t be afraid, be alert and live life like a Coffin Cheater.
Until next time and happy film-making.
I went to see the premier of my latest film, Bloodspit. It wasn’t on the red carpet, not even the blue – it was downstairs at the Market and in the tradition of guerrilla film-making the film was made with a budget of $4000. Australian. That’s right. The film cost less to make than the week spent in France.
It was a moving experience.
Lloyd Kaufman, the head of Troma Films, who bought our film was there. We met him and he was cool.
And then we came back.
Was there a reception?
No.
Was there adoration for our achievement?
But I’m not bitter.
In film-making you’re only as good as your next project. You either go hard, or give up.
People stop me in the street and say;
“Leon, how can we get into real film-making?”
I tell them what Duke Hendrix, my co-creator in film-making crime and I tell everyone.
“All you need is a good idea and a camera.”
In fact, there’s so much you don’t need to make films, it’s scary. Look round, just look round. Get motivated and make the films you like to watch, not the ones people tell you to make.
My inspiration was a film called Stone . 1974, made by Sandy Harbutt.
Recently I was talking to a 38 year-old mate who works in the Australian film industry. I told him he was too young to have ever worked on an Australian film worth writing about. Like Stone. I love Stone. I love it because it’s the way Australia should be. Was, but isn’t anymore. Brotherhood – sun – guys & chicks – beer – water with salt.
Stone is everything Picnic at Hanging Rock, made a year later, tries to be. The Great Australian Film. 94 minutes enveloping a code of mateship only someone who lives on a sunburnt island in the middle of nowhere can appreciate.
I think Stone taught me one valuable lesson.
Sure you can be straight. Build a career based on the capitalist notion that if you pack your coffin with enough bread you’ll get through to the next life. Or you can cheat. Live your life like you’re on an island. With a bike. With a chick like Rebecca Gilling, she’s in the film and how hot is she? Damn hot. And that’s the place I want to be. Stone is not just a film worth watching, it should be made into a Government sponsored fridge magnet – don’t be afraid, be alert and live life like a Coffin Cheater.
Until next time and happy film-making.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
I met Llyod Kaufman myself back in 1995 when I was living in London. He is a really supportive and sincere guy I enjoyed our chat.
I am a fan of Biker movies and Stone wss good value. I also love Picnic at Hanging Rock, is that a conflict of interest? Two completly different films, but both proud Australians.
Your living the dream man and its great, Im working on getting there myself. Two big thumbs up from John Doe.