Quick flick set for Cannes: Fairytale film Journey The Peninsula Journal Weekender (Front page & feature story) Thursday, 10 March, 2005 by Kristy Spena Lights! Camera! Action! Filmed on the Mornington Peninsula, Brigit & Benny is a short feature film selected for the Cannes Film Festival, writes Kristy Spena. THE Mornington Peninsula was abuzz last December as actors, cast and crew descended on the area to film the locally produced Brigit & Benny. While the Peninsula is renowned for its food, wine and beautiful landscape, its ability to produce high quality feature films is beginning to make its mark on the industry. Director and actor Sally McClean, who lives in Mt Martha, is one of Australia's most accomplished actresses and the brains behind Brigit & Benny - a short feature film that could receive plenty of overseas accolades if successful. "The Peninsula is a community rich in filmmakers. I'm not sure if it's a sea change thing, but there are a lot of documentary makers who have moved down here, so it adds a nice flavour to the area," said Sally. "It's great for the area, there are a lot of actors like Cameron Daddo and (radio personality) Matt Tilley who lived on the Peninsula, so maybe there is something in the water!" [The Peninsula's] ability to produce high quality feature films is beginning to make its mark on the industry. The script for Brigit & Benny was a light-bulb idea for Sally who wrote it in 10 minutes while working on another project. It was put aside for a year, until she and a co-producer read through it and saw its potential to be made into a film. Brigit & Benny is a "modern faerietale" told for adults and is based on the themes of diversity and acceptance. "It is a story about not judging things (or people) on how they look. Of rediscovering the world through the eyes of a child. Of learning to live without fear or mistrust of that which we do not understand. Of embracing the gift of compassion," said Sally. Filmed over two weekends in December at Mt Martha House, the crew used plenty of props to turn it into a city park. "We made gazebos, bought trees, rocks, flowers and benches to make it look like a park," Sally said. Directing the film was a challenge for Sally, who is used to being in front of the camera. However, the support she received from the cast and crew made it much easier. "It was fun, but very fast moving. I had a very supportive cast - and I got to wear elves ears!" said Sally who also plays homeless woman Brigit in the film. "I was in tacky clothes and got to have dirt allover my face which was great!" The film was originally set for Tropfest, however because the film was nine minutes they would have had to edit it to seven, which could have taken away essential elements. As it turns out, this decision may be well-rewarded, with the film now being entered into the 58th Cannes Film Festival, which will take place from May 11 to 22. "It would be great to finally get a film screened at Cannes. The closest I've come to it was with my first short feature, A Little Rain Must Fall, made in London in 1997," said Sally. "We had the film selected for Cannes in the non-competition section of the festival, based on the rough cut, but unfortunately in the days leading up to the deadline ... the entire final cut was deleted off the AVID suite we were using by another editor who thought we had finished. With no hope of recovering it, it was pretty devastating, to say the least." Sally hoped no one would be unlucky enough to have the same thing happen twice. "But, it is the film industry, and so you take it a day at a time. That said, our editor is very careful and no one else is using his computer, so we should be okay." While Sally and her crew are happy with their product, it will all be in the hands of judges. "It's always hard to know how it will fare. I know Cannes like things that are edgy and have a strong theme, so it will come down to criteria and personal preference by the judging panel. Australians are pretty good at making good things on very little money and the editor said it 'looked like a bought one' so we'll see what reception we get," said Sally. What made filming on the Peninsula even more exciting was having an audience watching on the first day of shooting. "The locals came and sat on the banks, which was nice support. I think they were quite excited and interested in what we were up to and watched it unfold. "The theatre actors loved it because they're used to a live audience and thought it might help them," said Sally. While the editors finish putting the film together, the Peninsula has its fingers crossed that this locally produced film takes home the gong and cements its name in the industry. "It has worked out really well. We've just gone through the editing phrase and it's looking brilliant. The special effects are now being put in and then we will add the music," said Sally. "You get so close (to completion) and you keep changing things that you think can be improved. While we may think it's the best thing since sliced bread, others may find things that could be done better." Even if the film isn't a success at Cannes, Sally intends on entering it in as many festivals as possible. "You have to keep the film up-to-date so that's what we will be doing for the next 12 months, getting it out there as well as working on other projects. "The cast and crew have been so supportive, I'm just thrilled with the way it has gone." < back to Press