'Out of the COVID Dust'

‘Willarney’ sheep station - Cooma NSW

Where there is dust, there is dirt. Yet, when you use all your tools in a new light, mud can be made. And mud can build unimaginable things.

COVID-19 made its move and as if a chess clock sat between us, it pressed the shiny black button and paused time; your move. So I moved. Yet, not alone. I moved with people who had a eagerness to create - even when COVID played a deadly game. So we moved. We moved safely and we moved in a direction that would give voice to those already experiencing a deadly game; drought and mental health and, the devastating impacts of these issues on Australian farmers. Our move was, ‘Biscuit Dust’; a film that follows Addy and Andrew Gella as they are confronted with the revelations of their father's inner battles and the uncertain future of their fifth generation sheep station.

Eight months…

It began as a conversation amongst two friends in May which spiralled into a writing marathon to all hours of the morning, to draft after draft between our day jobs, paired with advice and more drafts, to research and networking. From sitting in Parramatta with the team of Portrait Films sharing a filming dream over sushi, to ending in Cooma, NSW and meeting people with the uttermost kindness and never ending love to assist our dream, ‘Biscuit Dust’ was written, captured and edited (across Sydney and Orange) within the space of eight months. In 2020, COVID-19 shut down the Arts industry, yet many - where possible - persevered under safe and new ways of storytelling. Where there is dust, there is dirt. Yet, when you use all your tools in a new light, mud can be made. And mud can build unimaginable things. Checkmate.

2021 presents it own goals and challenges and we look forward to seeing what those are for our debut film, ‘Biscuit Dust’.

Ari and Sam
L Block Production House

Written by: Samantha Camilleri
Script Editor: Cooper Lindsay
Producers: Arianna Levy and Samantha Camilleri
Cinematographer: Jaime Vives
Sound Recordist and Editor: Deanna Devi
Production Manager: Caleb Fodda
Composer/Sound Designer and Editor: Robert Hart
Colourist: Casey Huskins
with
Samantha Camilleri as Addy Gella
Jace Fleming as Andrew Gella
Stephen Snars as Henry Gella (voice-over)
Alan McGufficke as Henry Gella
Mollie Gorman as News Reporter

From L-R: Jace Fleming, Samantha Camilleri, Jamie Vives, Deanna Devi, Caleb Rodda, Arianna Levy and director, Cooper Lindsay.