Lights, camera, action: Geordie Taylor and Pascal Mercay prepare for the inaugural Warrambeen Film Festival, where they will appear in their own film, We of the Walls, as two Scottish brothers
We of the Walls was completed in just five days, despite set-backs, which included having just 24 hours to recast one role and flash floods delaying filming.
“Mum, of course, catered for everyone so I owe her big,” Geordie says.
His parents are big backers of the local area and Geordie says they have supported the festival every step of the way, even offering their heritage-listed bluestone property for use as the festival site.
Instead of sheep, the preserved shearing shed will play host to a flock of film buffs, while the natural surroundings make for the perfect outdoor cinema.
“The ampitheatre is basically a beautiful undulating hill that looks down to the homestead,” Geordie says.
“Hopefully we’ll get a bit of rain so we have green grass to sit on.”
As a way of showing support to the film community, the festival will offer prizes to film makers.
The festival’s main prize is Roy’s Film, (named after the family’s rooster), and encourages locals to submit a film under 30-minutes long.
“We want it to re-tell or to be based on a local story,” Geordie says.
“We’re trying to re-mine those great stories you hear down the pub or by the camp fire.”
Not only will the winner’s film be screened on the day, but they will also be given $8000 to create a film for next year’s festival.
“After the main day’s events, everyone will go to the main stage where a giant inflatable screen will blow up and we’ll screen the top 10 film entries,” Geordie says.
The judges, who will represent a “cross-section of society” won’t be over-analysing production values, he says. Instead, they will reward the most enjoyable story.
The Warrambeen Film Festival will also support the region, with a competition for local school kids and fundraisers for community groups.
“We’ve got the Rokewood Football Club running the bar and the local kinder will run a bouncing castle,” Geordie says.
The creative duo are expecting an audience of anywhere up to 2000 people.
After working on the festival for six months without payment, Geordie and Pascal would love to see profits from their first year. However, the money generated from the festival will be re-invested into next year’s event.
“But you can’t put a price on community, can you?” Geordie says.
Laura Wakely
