IT’S not every day a movie set comes to town.
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Next month, the Upper Hunter’s aspiring actors will have a chance to shine as extras in an Australian feature film.
In an attempt to encourage the film industry to involve rural communities, cast and crew of Davo Hardy’s new project A Silent Agreement will be in Muswellbrook on Monday, June 5, to shoot the epilogue scene.
And, around 100 local extras are needed to complete the set.
Details about that process will be released soon, according to assistant director Ron Healey.
He said the Muswellbrook community had expressed support for their local filmmakers and welcomed shooting of more feature films in the area.
“This shoot will give people the chance to take part in a new Australian feature film, something not always available in regional parts of the country,” he said.
“It will also give some of our local young filmmakers [and] writing folks the opportunity of working on a professional film set.”
A Silent Agreement will be Mr Hardy’s second collaboration with veteran actor Paul Mercurio (Strictly Ballroom).
The story follows an aspiring writer who combats a life-long speech impediment, aided by his profoundly deaf partner.
Not only does the film tackle the issues faced by those with hearing difficulties, it also includes deaf people in significant roles on set.
It has a focus on using Auslan (Australian Sign Language), and is both a unique Aussie movie, and an independent foreign-language drama.
“Several of the cast and crew are profoundly deaf and are presented with dignity and respect, rather than token novelty, as sometimes happens with disabilities and minorities in film,” Mr Healey said.
“This is a film presenting flawed, human characters and reminding us all to lift the fallen and heal the hurting, even from within.”
A Silent Agreement is set for release in September, 2017.