Early last year Chris Hocking flew up to Western Australia to help our very good friends Dave Christison (Producer) and Richard Hughes (Director) with their epic short film ‘MAN’ – an award winning 19-minute short drama that explores the underbelly of Australia’s regional drug epidemic and tackles the universal theme of what it means to be a man.
On the verge of forced retirement, a worn-out, ageing shearer, who once rained king of the high country, gets on the gear to keep up his numbers. But when the drugs take over he must learn what it really means to be a man, before he loses so much more than his country pride.
With cast and crew flown in from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and New Zealand, and shot on a stunning sheep farm with the entire team staying on location together for a week, this project was logistically massive, yet extremely fun and very collaborative with everyone working together like clock-work. As a result, the short film has done extremely well on the festival circuit:
- Finalist – Dendy Awards – 2014 Sydney Film Festival
- Best Actor Nomination – 2014 St Kilda Film Festival
- Best Cinematography Nomination – 2014 St Kilda Film Festival
- Gold Cinematography Award – 2013 Australian Cinematographers Society
- Official Selection – 2014 Newport Beach Film Festival
- Official Selection – 2014 Byron Bay International Film Festival
- Official Selection – 2014 Flickerfest International Film Festival
MASSIVE congradulations to everyone involved! It was incredibly fun and exciting project to be involved with, and we’re very proud of what Dave & Rich have achieved. They’re now working on a feature film – so keep an eye out in the future!
CREDITS
CAST:
Shane Connor
Richard Sutherland
James Rolleston
Aaron Fa’aoso
Chad Lilly
Darren Walker
Josh Gell
Nick Abbott
Huia Barlow
Lucy Roberts
Alexandra Knapton-Miller
Richard Hughes
Kelly Sheeran
Directed & Edited by: Richard Hughes
Written & Produced by: Dave Christison
Story by: Richard Hughes & Dave Christison
Director of Photography: Brad Francis
Original Score by: Matthew McKenzie
Executive Producer: Seph McKenna
Associate Producer: Jodie Fullerton & Alana Watts
1st AD & Technical Director: Kelly Sheeran
Stunt Coordniator & Driver: Grant Roa
Stunt Driver: Scott Smith
Production Coordinator: Marg Abbott & Chris Little
Continuity: Jack Doherty
Runners: Laura, Nick & Brittany Abbott
Camera Asssitant: Oliver Braslin
Data Wrangler/Technical Advisor: Chris Hocking
Sound Mixer & Designer: Gunay Demirci
Key Grip: Clint Lawrence
Gaffer: Thom Holt
Best Boy: Lenny Andrusiw
Costume Designer: Nicole Ferraro
Makeup Department: Ali Knapton-Miller
James Rolleston’s Guardian: Grant Roa
Animal Wrangler: Jeremy Abbott
Locations Manager: Mick Abbott
Construction Designer: Roy Sloan
Colourist: Rosyln Di Sisto
Stills Photographer: Laura Abbott
Graphic Designer: David Vu
Web Designer: Keigo Xavier Suzukawa
Special Effects: Kelly Sheeran
Fiddle Performance by: Peter O’Shea
Head Chef: Jennie Cornish
Catering: Julie Fullerton, Pauline Chistison, Jolie Abbott, Percy & Glenda
Accountant: Anthony Willis
Lawyer: Marcus Walkom
Special Thanks:
Southern Cross Cameras
GMS Grips
Guy Bessel Brown
Method Studios
Mal Christison
ENESS
Maryellen Laws