Aussie Talent Production Recruitment

Behind The Scenes

True Blue Aussie Talent

I set out on this remarkable journey to write, produce, and direct the Wantin sizzle reel. I was adamant that I wanted to have people aligned to me who were passionate about their craft and deserved an opportunity to be showcased for their abilities.

Anyone who is associated with the development of a film can tell you from their experiences, that it is seriously hard yakka. There isn't an aspect of any department that's not integral to the success of the production. Hence, I knew from the outset that it was critical to engage and surround myself with a talented crew. 

"Never stop trying. It's your dream, so do what it takes to make it happen."

Thanks to the assistance of Ignition Pictures I was already well underway with auditioning for a full cast for the reel. Their willingness to drive the casting call outs and screen tests set the pace for the production. Once the actors were in place, I ventured forward on my own to begin executing the rehearsals, location scouting, developing the storyboards, and creating the preliminary shot lists. Then in my spare time, I reviewed all the incoming crew applications from my shout out through Australian filming networks and industry service platforms such as StarNow.

Create a plan & be willing to change it.

Post developing a shortlist of candidates I steamrolled through the arduous task of calling to make a time to catch up with everyone. The interview process or meet and greet session offers a critical chance to see if you mesh with the candidate. The hope for most creatives is that their showreels speak volumes for their capability, so they don't have to sell themselves in person.

Instinct plays a part for me when I'm assessing people. My initial plan was to meet absolutely every candidate. I quickly found the rigidity of this approach was limiting my access to skilled applicants. With a quick adjustment, I switched to speaking with some applicants on the phone. Mary-Kate Winebrenner, my production assistant, was one such person and Hanna Palmer, a Steadicam specialist was another. It didn't take me long to appreciate that the individuals who were applying for the roles oozed passion for film making.

A couple of days into the process, I met with Konrad McCarthy for a coffee. Within minutes of our exchange, I knew I had found the person I wanted to appoint as my Director of Photography. His brooding confidence overshadowed his introverted demeanor. I held no doubts that he would be the right person for the job. He quickly demonstrated that he is a straight shooter who doesn't entertain drama and outcome-driven. I could tell by his probing questions that he held a high level of dedication toward his role of aiding the visual translation of the story to film. Post our meeting; I felt a sense of calm knowing my project was in the right hands. Honestly, I was stoked and couldn't wait to get started.

“Cinema is a matter of what's in the frame and what's out”
― Martin Scorsese

Photo's & Article Created By: Truth Devour

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