PASSION 2024
CourtCourtofof IllusionsIllusions
who does the night belong to?
Table of Contents
Editor’snote
Welcome, esteemed traveller, to our Court of Illusions:
As night falls and the city is shrouded in velvet darkness, the gates to our secret society open and we welcome you back to the third gathering… For established members of the order, we are honoured by your return, and for the uninitiated or the curious passerby, we extend our warmest invitation to step into the PFP community
In line with our society’s flagship event of the year - ‘The Invitation’ - we have chosen a complementary theme for our publication‘Court of Illusions - Who does the Night Belong to?’. This theme offers a darker contrast to our previous themes, giving our members a chance to explore a different side of their creativity with all things gothic and dramatic.
Some highlights in this edition to look for include Lily Anderson’s hauntingly beautiful poem ‘In Between’, Michelle Yu’s poignant and reflective poem ‘Illusion of a Life Once Lived’ and Lydia Condon’s evocative monotype prints. In this issue, we also feature an exclusive interview with Hugo Webster and Lachlan Gallagher in which we discuss the past, present and future of Film Society, as well as various aspects of the Melbourne film scene.
We are grateful for your presence on this creative journey with us, and may the night be with you.
Yours in secrecy,
Sara Lu and Emma Li PFP Publications Directors
BETWEEN BETWEENIIN N
Cinnamon figures like to follow me around my own house
Their forms entice my gaze a beat too long.
In between our world and its own; a place we can only browse.
Wind sweeps us together in a dance that is not dissimilar to a routine
Hands clasped around our own we sing and prance as though we might be more than flesh and
bone
Bring your eyes to me
Dart your lips around my neck
Tip toe in the corridor as we leave the space
Into the gardens and I can only see your face
Grinning at me in the moonlight
Spin me into the darkness
As though my own feet are worthy of stars
Burning them through until I am left with burnt ashes
But I wouldn't care
You could carry me through and into a flame and I would love you still
L R Anderson
K O I
Hester Zou
emptyroom
illusion of a life once lived
Michelle Yu
acrowdinhere
scatteredguitarstringsbentfromhollowheartwood likearmsangledupwardsinthedarkofnight pinnedandneedledbyalover’ssleepinghead
theirvoicesresonatehere
inthisemptyroom
acrossthewall
afiguresketchedfromtheback repeatedinshadesofgreenandblack walkingacrossthehardwoodfloors aprojectionfromthesunshiningthroughtheglazedglass windows thisillusionoflife ofamanwalkingabouttown lifeseized,squeezed broughtintotheroom
featheredfineliner perspectivelinesspanningmidair floating,beatingspider’swebs resignedonthewall
ajadenecklacestrunguponthedoor itsonce-silverchainwasheddownthedrain rinsedofpalaver coatedcopper theironmistaste oflife’smistakes andwrenchedheartbreak
portraiture wrangledfromthestreakywaxofbrokenoilcrayons shovedintothecornerbox andaplasticsheath
thisiswhereIlive withtheghostsofwhoIwasayearago butIceasedtodrawlongago somehowtheflamehasflickered sputtered goneout deadenedaswaxoilcrayons brokenandspilled acrossthefloor
inthisroomwheretheirvoicesecho thepeoplewhowalkhere incrayongreyandpasteldust powderedstreaksofforgottenart carvedayearago somanypartsofalifeunseen packedawayincardboardcratesofmemory andpasttimetricklingby,unknown
allthereisleftistheillusion oflife
theillusionofdrawingsonceliving drawings ofanimatethings andanimateddreams
Michelle is an emerging writer/creative with over 60 pieces of writing published in independent magazines, and two publically-performed plays this year (Neither Here Nor There by Cipta, and To The Moon And Back, as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival). Michelle's compelling works examine the minute and moving, polishing life's moments to find its resonance.
@the_sun_shines_back
Lydia Condon
How do I make it okay?
Szu
TW:MentionsofGrief
Mum said to go to bed more than an hour ago, but I can’t. This damn report is getting on my nerves and if I don’t complete it by tonight I’ll end up losing sleep over it. The only source of light is the white Word document blaring in front of my eyes. The line is flashing waiting for me to write the next word, but it doesn’t come out. I think about taking a break and pacing around the house would do me some good. But the thought of going to the dark hallway with no lights scare me. It’s funny, I got rid of my night light and glow- in- the- dark stars ages ago. Still, the night, no, the dark. It still scared me. I begrudgingly got off my chair and walked out of the room, muttering to myself to grow up and stop acting like a baby.
I pass by the box of childhood items sitting in the corner, slowly collecting dust. I told mum to throw them out, but she still hadn’t done it. I had slowly started to get rid of many childhood items and mum obviously wasn’t coming to terms that her baby girl was no longer here. It started with the stars, then the it Girl magazines and celebrity posters that started fraying on the edges. She remembers like it was just yesterday when dad and Callum stuck all the stars on top of the ceiling for me. Six- year- old me was elated it was the closest thing I got to camping outside under the stars.
Mum likes to cling to stuff, she always has trouble with moving on. Half the time it’s like she’s stuck in the past. I can tell she’s not listening to me when I try to talk to her, her mind is somewhere else. I glide over to the living room and look at all the family photos sitting on top of the bookshelf. Callum took nearly all the books when he moved out. I’m pretty sure he took some of mine, but I didn’t care, I probably wouldn’t have read them.
The door at the end of the hallway opens and closes immediately. She’s awake, but what for? I guess every time what she’s going to do next. Go to the bathroom? Go for a midnight walk. It’s always none of the above. Most nights she thinks I’m asleep, that I don’t know what she does in the wee late hours at night. I see her sometimes, walking around and looking at the old family photos. Sometimes she sits at the computer desk, scrolling through all the home videos and photos she uploaded years ago. I’ve caught her looking at my essays I wrote for school once. I told her that was weird, but I don’t think she cared or even heard me. Maybe she just misses the old me and wishes I was still like that. She sits there for hours at times and wakes up the next day slumped over the desk. I wish I could help her, but the others tell me not to interfere, that she’s just grieving.
And when she’s not at the desk, she’s in her bedroom, sleeping for hours on end and wakes up at 11am. I know why she sleeps so long. It’s because at least in her dream everyone is alive. Her younger sister Angela, her family, heck, probably her marriage as well. Everything and everyone are real in her dreams, and she’s not stuck in her shitty reality world.
I see her standing in front of the bookshelf gazing at all the photos. In the dark she looks like a ghost as the moon shines on her from a distance. Her dark circles and old white nightie didn’t help with the image, it was like a permanent fashion choice for her now. Her eyes are watering and tears are threatening to spill over the edges. I wish I could hug her, feel her warmth and never let her go for all eternity. I should’ve done that more before it all got worse. I try and reach out for her, but I tell myself it’s no use. Because every time I do, I slip right through her. She doesn’t see me, hear me, or feel me because I’m simply not there.
Chatarina Hanny Angelita Teja
Belladonna
Chatarina Hanny Angelita Teja
Court of Illusions
At eighteen, unaware of the setup, I accompanied you to the banquet of Alma Mater. Everyone was laughing, Faces beaming with joy.
They toasted in turn, Yet, facing the linchpin, You remained unmoved.
You see the enemy act, Madness followed by pretence, Unafraid of losing composure, Still feigned laughter.
Did the photos of you hide your sorrow?
Exercise utmost caution, Seated like a stone even facing the power, That mockery, that indifference, Watched closely by my naive gaze.
A little dimness in my heart, Yet latently blood was surging with excitement, When it comes the moment to bid farewell to the future.
The changes in faces under the spotlight were too frightening, Who recognized anyone when masks were removed? In worldly flow, that helpless crowd, You had to hide behind a façade.
Some would reach their stop, Some would mourn graves, Don’t linger, my friend, Let everyone be sickly together.
This world holds no nostalgia. Before the camera, suddenly realising it was a setup, I felt inconsequential, It seemed like a game or a struggle for survival, Wasn’t it enough for me to hear you?
It was just a setup, Guests were more than guests, During photos and toasts, it wasn’t your concern, You don’t master the art of performance, Wasn’t it enough for you to be sickly? Gradually, it made you more ruthless. You let it accompany you into sleep forever.
by Guanhua Huang
This City
This city, now I call home
Millions of miles away, where I came from
Gave me so much - lessons, friendships and hope.
With a mind full of anxiety and dreams, I landed here in an emotional kaleidoscope.
Now it’s been a minute- full of change
I sit here in my apartment thinking back to the start
How my character has developed, till this very page
The novel of my life, words but like abstract art.
Indira
Melbourne night in
A LOW-POLY CRYSTAL BALL
These photos were taken by me on the glass exterior of the Melbourne Arts Centre. They appear to be a mosaic of different landscapes, but they are actually the result of glass and mirrors placed together at different angles.
Perhaps illusions come from the angle from which we look at things.
Perhaps everything is an illusion, just as myopic glasses make things look small, while hyperopic glasses do the opposite, and we have been wearing them for many years.
AstraUrsa
Mikayla Ho
Chasm
INTERVIEWING UNIMELB FILM SOCIETY
Jo O’Connell interviews Hugo Webster, President of Film Soc and Lachlan Gallagher, Vice President of Film Soc.
Could you give us a brief introduction to Film Society for someone who has never heard of it?
Hugo: As implied by the name, we’re about all things film. We run weekly screenings from a collection of curated films and we also have a magazine called ‘The Inquirer’ that publishes student writings on films (reviews, essays etc). Aside from that, we also have cinema outings, trivia nights and collaborations with clubs from both Unimelb and other universities.
Lachlan: There’s also a related club called the ‘Filmmakers Collaborative’ who are like a sister club to us. The main point of difference is that they facilitate students making films whereas we’re more about watching and discussing films.
Can you tell us a bit about how the club was founded?
Lachlan: So the original ‘Melbourne University Film Society’ was founded all the way back in 1948 and has since then gone through lots of different iterations. This current iteration is about 20 years old but it’s actually our 75th anniversary in total. The original Melbourne University Film Society went on to become ‘Melbourne Cinematheque’. The current Melbourne University Film Society (which is us) was reborn about twenty years ago.
Hugo: In 1952, the Melbourne University Film Society collaborated with the Victorian Federation of Film Societies and the Australian Film Institute and founded the Melbourne Film Festival (known today as the Melbourne International Film Festival or ‘MIFF’). The current Film Society is the sixth iteration.
Is the Film Society still involved with MIFF today?
Hugo: Not directly but we do a lot of collaborations with them and other film festivals in the forms of sponsorships and giveaways.
Lachlan: MIFF is kind of like its own thing now but we’re still friends with them. The whole structure and hierarchy is a bit complicatedit's like a ‘messy family tree’ (laughs).
How did you guys get involved with the Film Society and what inspired you to take on a leadership role in the club?
Lachlan: I’ve been involved in the club since 2017 - so quite a few years now. Initially, I just came along to the events, then I joined the committee, then I joined the executive committee and was secretary. I was also president for a while, and then I went back to the general committee, and now I’m Vice President.
Hugo: This is actually my first semester at Melbourne University but I’ve worked with the Unimelb Film Society before when I used to be president of the Film Society at RMIT where I did my undergrad. At the start of this year I told myself ‘Oh no, I shouldn’t, I shouldn’t get too involved’ but then the AGM was coming up and I ended up doing just that (laughs).
How does the club engage with the student and broader community?
Hugo: This is the third year we’ve gotten the ‘Friendliest Club Award’ from UMSU and we’ll work hard to uphold that. We’re very much an eventdriven club. The screenings are one place to facilitate discussion before and after the film. Aside from that we have trivia nights and also an end-of-year celebration with RMIT and Swinburne.
Almost 80% of our screenings this year have been in collaboration with other clubs. The last collaboration was with ‘Quantum Club’ (new techfocused club at Unimelb) and we watched ‘Strange Days’ which is a 90’s ‘grungy’ dystopian and futuristic film. One of the good things about Film Society is that collaborating with other clubs is really easy since it’s such a straightforward pitch for us - it’s quite clear what a collaboration with Film Society will involve.
What are some of the factors you consider when selecting which films to show at the weekly screenings?
Hugo: When we’re selecting the films we try to get as many voices around the committee as possible so that we’re not just showing one perspective. Collaborating with other clubs so much also helps to get other voices in too.
Lachlan: We’ve also got a backlog of films we’ve shown at screenings going back quite a long time, so we’ll sometimes look at that and if we haven’t shown a specific type of film in a while we might bring that up again.
How do you strike a balance in selecting your films between the more popular and entertaining films as opposed to more niche ones?
Hugo: We definitely try to show some more niche films in addition to the entertaining ones - not just for the sake of it but more to expose to people something they wouldn’t necessarily have seen or tried before and just to broaden their horizons a bit. There’s not much point screening something that you can just see on Netflix on something that’s just come out in cinemas.
The Melbourne International Film Festival occurred recently and just wrapped up in August. Did either of you participate in MIFF, and if so, did you have any standout films?
Hugo: This was my first year participating in MI FF and it was just amazing. I remember seeing ’Megalopolis’ - I saw it twice actually. I think it’s one of those films where you either love it or hate it. Definitely worth a watch even if you think it’s not your thing. It’s meant to have a bit of a spectacle to it. There’s just so much going on in Melbourne with regards to film all the time. The Japanese Film Festival is going on right now and I think also the Italian Film Festival. I remember seeing 'The Taste of Things’ from the recent French Film Festival which was really good. The city used to have dozens and dozens of cinemas - I think even the Palais used to be a cinema.
Lachlan: The entirety of MIFF was really good. I really loved ‘Misericordia’, ‘Flow’ and ‘No Other Land’.
What makes a good film for you?
Hugo: It’s hard to concretely define a set of characteristics - one thing I really do like is that sense of childhood awe and wonder that film can inspire - I’m a sucker for 80s fantasy by the way. I love the emotional pull and the sense of suspension of disbelief that films can provide. But of course I love many other kinds of films too.
Lachlan: There’s definitely so many things that can make such a great film. I think it all goes back to the writing and script. I’m a big fan of films with good dialogue but then again there’s so many films that are good but don’t have good dialogue so it’s really hard to say.
Encouraging submissions to Film Society’s publications: Melbourne University Film Inquirer. If anyone wants to get involved, just shoot Film Soc. an email! unimelbfilmsoc@gmail.com
Any favourite cinemas?
Hugo: If we’re talking about near Unimelb, Cinema Nova is I think easily the most accessible and has the best selection of films. I love the Astor too - I think it’s just great. There’s also Lido and even more recently Kino in the city which are very arthouse and retro-esque.
Lachlan: I don’t think I have a favourite cinema per se - Melbourne’s just really great for cinemas in general, and sometimes there’s a film you can watch at one cinema but not another. I do think IMAX is worth a mention - it’s really cool that we have one of those in Melbourne.
Any tips for beginners hoping to get into film?
Hugo: Come to our events! Join the club! I feel like having a student film club is really good for creating a welcoming, supportive community and helping you dip your toes into it.
Lachlan: There’s so many different ways you can get involved with films too since it’s such a dynamic thing and there’s definitely no right or wrong - the best way to start is just by watching films you like.
Do you have a long-term vision for the future of the club?
Hugo: This year we’ve got 400+ members and we regularly get 30-50 people per screening and we’re really happy with that - our main goal is just for that to continue flourishing. We really want to focus on developing the social aspect too - we don’t want to be known as only ‘the club that does weekly screenings’, we want to actively put in the effort to go beyond and build a community outside of that, as well as to engage with the broader film community.
Lachlan: There’s two parts to our club too - watching films and discussing films. Watching films is easily fulfilled by the weekly screenings but the discussion part is something we’re always trying to prove - it can be difficult getting people to stay around after screenings to talk about the film. That’s why we’re organising social events outside of that to further encourage dialogue on films.
Hugo: It’s a bit hard to try to build something that lasts since students can only come for three years and then they graduate - but it’s something I definitely want to work on. Some people shy away from the word ‘legacy’ but I really like it - that’s something I really want to build towards and leave behind.
x
MascotShow
ART COMPETITION
We wrapped up the DPCxPFP Mascot Showdown with some amazing submissions! From creative fanart to hilarious memes, participants truly brought Brushy, Fruitastic Frog and Princess Passion to life. A huge congratulations to our winners and a big thank you to everyone who joined the fun! We had a blast going through all the entries and can’t wait to see more of your incredible art in the future!
to your
Maddy
Grace
Jenny
Mikayla
Yuu
wdown
Connie
Amy
Steph
Rebecca
24.06.2024
Celebrating the end of exams and the launch of PASSION Volume 2, Issue 1
“WONDER: adventure is out there!”, PFP hosted our first big party. Gathering at the Lost Boys’ TreeHouse Bar, dressed to impress in outfits inspired by the magazine theme WONDER, we all enjoyed a night of creativity and fun- complete with a special Shrek movie that only the bartenders watched properly. The rest of us were too busy chatting! We had an amazing turnout and can't wait to see everyone at future events!
that
of this semester was the perfect chance to connect with students and showcase what our club is about!
Our stand was buzzing with energy as we chatted to the passersby. It was also very exciting to see so many people take selfies with Fruitastic Frog. We loved seeing so many new faces as well as familiar faces from last semester. We’re thrilled to have welcomed so many awesome people into our community, and we can’t wait to see what’s next!
Candy
Eye Candy Makeup Event Makeup Workshop
13.08.2024
PFP collaborated with the UMSU Queer Department to host the Eye Candy Makeup Workshop Event. It was a complete blast! Attendees dived into the colourful world of eye makeup, learning all the tricks for creating a shimmering, standout look with rhinestones. Everyone got to experiment and create bold & unique looks. What a wonderful afternoon of laughter, creativity and fun! Huge thanks to makeup artist @souli.mua for teaching us her amazing skills!
Clubs award night
13.09.2024
At the UMSU Clubs & Societies annual awards night, Passion Fruit Projects was awarded the People’s Choice award. This is super exciting especially as 2024 is the first year PFP was in the running for any awards. We couldn’t have done it without our members and fellow clubs supporting us!
Conversations withAnnLiangandYizhen
rites on Insta
Ann Liang is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of the critically acclaimed YA novels This Time It’s Real, If You Could See the Sun, and I Hope This Doesn't Find You. Her books have sold into over twenty foreign territories. Born in Beijing, she grew up traveling back and forth between China and Australia, but somehow ended up with an American accent.
She now lives in Melbourne, where she can be found making overambitious to‐do lists and having profound conversations with her pet labradoodle about who’s a good dog.
Yizhen is a beloved lifestyle Youtuber with over 200k subscribers. Her Youtube channel @yizhenyz began in 2019, featuring a combination of her passion for memory logging, art and finding joy in daily life.
The conversations night was PFP’s very first industry event where we dived into the creative world with author Ann Liang and Youtuber Yizhen. Attendees enjoyed decaffinated tea and other tea party style refreshments as our guest speakers shared their unique journeys navigating their respective creative fields. As an open conversations style event, everyone got involved with the discussions that ranged from personal stories to industry specific insights. The atmosphere was so cosy, we were even treated to an unplanned, accidental, impromptu live music performance from the orchestra practising downstairs. We are so grateful to Ann and Yizhen for sharing their invaluable advice and engaging stories!
She is based in Melbourne and is currently studying Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne.
RedWebvsViperFang
Caz Reitop’s Dirty Secrets
Our Mystery Night event was a thrilling evening filled with intrigue, drama, and unexpected twists! Guests took on roles as members of two rival families who found themselves at a high-stakes auction. Tensions ran high as both sides vied for valuable items to find the missing Bosses. Just as the auction reached its peak, chaos erupted when Fruitastic Frog was suddenly abducted!
Throughout the night, everyone worked together to unravel the mystery, ultimately leading to a surprising conclusion. Thanks to everyone for creating this memorable night of mystery and mayhem!
frognapped
of Fruitastic Frog
CouturebyViolet
Doyoualwaysleavetheshops empty-handedbecausethey nevermaketheamazing clothesyoudreamedofinyour head?Letmetrytorecreate themforyou!Iamanaspiring fashiondesignerand seamstresswhowouldloveto getexperiencecreatingoneof akindpieces.Letmeknow yourbudgetandrequirements viamyInstagramdirect messagesandwecancreate somethingmagicaltogether!
customgown createdforNatalie
A Note of Gratitude
To the PFP friends and wider community,
As we close another semester and reflect on the end of 2024, our hearts are brimming with gratitude. This year marked the first full year of our club. It has been a journey that is nothing short of magical. We deeply appreciate the endless creativity, energy, and joy that each of you has brought to our community
Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of hosting and participating in a variety of events, from inspiring art competitions to creative makeup workshops, and even elaborate themed parties. These experiences, whether shared among ourselves or in collaboration with other student groups, have been vibrant celebrations of talent and imagination. It has been wonderful to see familiar faces and to welcome new ones, many of whom have quickly become cherished members of our community.
Our amazing experiences and the community’s endless creativity are encapsulated through the three editions of our magazine published over the past year: PASSION (Volume 1, Issue 1), WONDER (Volume 2, Issue 1), and our latest release, COURT OF ILLUSIONS (Volume 2, Issue 2). We hope these issues have sparked your imagination, inspired new ideas, and brought moments of joy to your days.
As the year winds down, we want to thank every single one of you for your support, enthusiasm, and involvement. Your contributions have been the heart of everything we’ve achieved, and we couldn’t be more grateful.
From all of us at PFP, we wish you a joyful and restful holiday season!
Yours always,
Passion Fruit Projects Committee
Extensive Acknowledgments
Front Cover
-- art by Sana Gulistani, graphics by Yutong Wu
Acknowledgment of Country
-- writing by PFP committee, graphics by Yutong Wu and Mikayla Ho
Table of Contents
-- graphics by Yutong Wu and Mikayla Ho
PASSION
Editor’s Note
-- writing by Sara Lu, graphics by Yutong Wu
Meet the Committee
-- graphics by Yutong Wu
The Family Portraits -- art by Yutong Wu
Events - DPC x PFP Mascot Showdown Art Competition -- writing by Wen Xin Li, graphics by Yutong Wu
-- art by Maddy, Yuu, Mikayla, Grace, Jenny, Connie, Amy, Steph, Rebecca
Events - WONDER EOX & Magazine Launch
-- writing by Wen Xin Li, graphics by Mikayla Ho
Events - Winterfest
-- writing by Emma Li, graphics by Mikayla Ho
Events - Eye Candy Makeup Workshop
-- writing by Emma Li, graphics by Mikayla Ho
Events - 2024 Clubs Awards Night
-- writing by Yutong Wu, graphics by Mikayla Ho
Events - Conversations with Ann Liang and Yizhen
-- writing by Emma Li, graphics by Yutong Wu
Events - The Invitation: an interactive mystery night
-- writing by Emma Li, graphics by Yutong Wu
The Adventures of Princess Passion and Fruitastic Frog
-- writing and art by Mikayla Ho
Atelier Violette
-- creative business by Violet Hall, graphics by Violet Hall
POETRY
In Between
-- writing by L R Anderson, graphics by Yutong Wu
illusion of a life once lived
-- writing by Michelle Yu, graphics by Joanna Clarissa Wijaya
Court of Illusions
-- writing by Guanhua Huang, graphics by Joanna Clarissa Wijaya
This City
-- writing by Indira, graphics by Yutong Wu
ART & PHOTOGRAPHY
Koi
-- art by Hester Zou
Untitled -- art by Lydia Condon
Afterglow & Belladonna
-- photography by Chatarina Hanny Angelita Teja
Melbourne Night in a Low-Poly Crystal Ball
-- photography by AstraUrsa
Chasm
-- photography by Mikayla Ho
PROSE
How do I make it okay?
-- writing by Szu, graphics by Joanna Clarissa Wijaya
Interview with Unimelb Film Society
-- interviewing Hugo Webster and Lachlan Gallagher, interviewed by Jo O’Connell, graphics by Yutong Wu
A Note of Gratitude
-- writing by Emma Li
Back Cover
-- art by Sana Gulistani, graphics by Yutong Wu
A club that supports conscientious development of creative passion projects.