resford News G
The
News of the communities of the Paterson and Allyn River Valleys
June 2012
F
Local Feature Film Debut
ilmed on location in Dungog, Paterson and Gresford, Bathing Franky is about to see its debut at the James Theatre, Dungog. Bathing Franky’s writer and co-producer, Michael Winchester, is also owneroperator of an organic beef farm at Mount Rivers. Michael trained as an actor at the Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne and has worked in theatre, film and television for over twenty five years. The story of Bathing Franky began over 10 years ago when Michael was approached by Owen Elliot (corporate filmmaker and TV editor) to develop a film from a monologue he had seen Michael perform. Michael and Owen were joined by another local identity, award winning script editor and writer, John O’Brien, and over the next 8 years they worked together developing the script. Filming was completed in December 2009 and editing and post production took a further 2 ½ years; and all this was achieved on a shoestring budget in and around their “real” jobs and family lives. Michael said “keeping our upfront costs to just $60,000 would not have been possible without the encouragement and generous support from cast, crew, friends, family, neighbours, and the local businesses and residents of the Dungog shire including the township of Gresford. Some of the local community involvement included The Hotel Beatty in East Gresford, donating accommodation for the crew; friends acting as chauffeurs and transporting the cast to and from set; neighbours turning their houses and properties into film sets – even our next door neighbours, Leon and Marisa Groves, provided the catering for the entire 4 weeks of filming, in addition to modifying their personal ride on lawnmower, that features in the film, by adorning it with a leather office chair and beach umbrella!” “It seems to me that communities are built around the lives of individuals working together and sharing their experiences – supporting each other and learning from one another; and when I look back at the sheer hard work, the time and commitment shown by so many people connected with this film, I’m immensely happy to see how we played our small part in developing a patch of our local community fabric.” You can see Bathing Franky at the James Theatre either on Saturday 16 June, 6.30pm [for which bookings are essential], which will include a Q&A session with the stars of the film Henri Szeps and Maria Venuti, followed by a finger food reception behind the screen or on Sunday 17 June at 2pm, for which tickets will be on sale at the door. Tickets available: at the ‘Dungog Newsagency’ Dowling Street OR for bookings/ enquiries contact Liz Hughes on 0447 773 277, 4992 3825 OR email adishcalledwanda@hotmail.com
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