Meet the Toowoomba student who took out BUFTA 2023

How long did each of your films Golden Hour and Mitchell take to make from start to finish? Was one more time-consuming than the other, and why?

My documentary Mitchell took around an entire semester last year to create, as Mitchell and I both went in without having a clear plan or structure for the end product. The creation of the short happened organically as I followed Mitchell around, focusing on his abilities and his optimistic view on life. Interviews happened later as we had grown closer as friends, making the interview process more relaxed and informal (which I believe was a huge positive).

Golden Hour, on the other hand, had a clear plan and structure from the beginning. Filming and editing happened concurrently as it sped up the entire process. We only shot for half an hour on Wednesdays and Sundays each week, as that was the only time when everyone was available. The time slot was small as I wanted to shoot the entire project during sunset, which was 4:30 to 5 pm. I would rehearse with the actors on weekends and at lunchtime so that we wouldn’t waste time filming in the afternoon. Other scenes, like the UFO interior scene, were shot in my parent’s garage and the carpark scene was shot late at night. This project took 10 weeks to create as the crew and I had to balance schoolwork and other extracurricular activities.

What is your ultimate career goal?

My ultimate goal in life is to become a writer/director of feature films. Due to the technological advances in cameras and equipment, this dream has become more accessible to me and many other aspiring filmmakers. We live in exciting and challenging times, and I think it’s the best time, more than ever, to share stories and messages through the medium of film and television.

Do you have any advice/tips and tricks for future BUFTA entrants?

I think it is a good idea to submit more than one film in different categories/genres. This allows judges to see your range as a filmmaker. Also, make what you want to make, don’t overthink it — just be yourself. Make sure to plan ahead regarding what you want to submit to BUFTA (I had set out to create two specific short films at the beginning of the year). Whatever you make will be worthwhile, as learning experiences come naturally when creating art. Try to experiment, and don’t set an incredibly high standard for yourself — no film is completely perfect. Embrace imperfections instead of avoiding them — viewing them as a positive can often make your film more unique and charming.

What are you most looking forward to about starting at Bond University?

I’m very much looking forward to being around like-minded people who are also passionate about filmmaking. I'm keen to get formal training in each aspect of filmmaking as I’ve never had film and television as a subject beforehand. Also, to help out in any way I can on other people’s projects and develop my own student films with the incredible equipment and resources provided by Bond.

What inspired you to pursue film and television?

I distinctly remember my brother showing me the behind-the-scenes DVD of the Lord of the Rings Trilogy when I was 10 years old. Ever since realising films were created through a team of artists and creatives, I’ve wanted to be a part of it in some way. I think the combination of sound and visuals is the best form in which to teach and share stories with an audience. The number of techniques, styles, and potential found within filmmaking is endless, which I find super exciting.

Can you share your inspiration for Golden Hour and Mitchell?

The main inspiration for Golden Hour was old 50’s sci-fi films and TV shows, such as Plan 9 from Outer Space and the original Twilight Zone television series. I was also inspired by Robert Eggars and his film The Lighthouse and Jordan Peele’s Nope. All films and shows I love dearly that I think will inspire me forever. For Mitchell, I was inspired by films such as Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Aftersun and Chris Nolan’s Memento.