Seven Years
Helen Thomson, Contessa Treffone and Hugo Weaving in Baby Shower. photo © Mark Rogers
Recently I made a short film (my first in seven years), a black comedy called Baby Shower, about a baby shower that goes horribly wrong. Like my previous short films, I wrote it so that it could be shot in a single day in one location, which we did (only just). This keeps things simple, logistics wise, and cuts down on costs, which is important as I’m paying for everything myself. Shooting handheld, no more than two takes and working with people who know what they’re doing gets you over the line.
I wrote, directed and produced (alongside my friend Heather Mitchell). I don’t much like producing. It’s too much of a distraction from the directing part. But I’ll do it if I have to.
Since my last short The Mother Situation won Tropfest seven years ago, I’ve spent that time writing and pitching numerous projects (in-between acting gigs), which can feel at times like a sisyphean endeavor. I’d almost forgotten the joy of just going out and making something. I won’t be waiting another seven years to make the next one.