Sally Elliot, producer/director/screenwriter has produced a full-length feature film, Hero, for virtually no cost, bar buying a bit of nosh for the crew and actors. Sally has been campaigning to have her scripts turned into the real thing for many years but has suffered rejection after rejection from our many film funding authorities.
Sally is not the lone ranger when it comes to rejections from State and Federal Government funding bodies. ‘I understand how tough it is to get finance,’ Sally said during the viewing of the final cut of the movie, Hero. ‘I have been trying for years and know I’m not the only one who keeps running up against these barriers, but the thing is, I’m not getting any younger and it has been my life’s dream to write, produce and direct my own movies.’
With a career that started in Columbia Studios in Hollywood, Sally, now 71, has spent over 40 years orchestrating her dream. ‘I have several scripts written and thought if I didn’t do something to turn at least one of these scripts into a reality, then I would feel as though all of this work had been wasted. I have spent a lot of time talking to crew members and actors. The movie, Hero, was not a complicated production, so I began appealing to like-minded people who wanted a bit of recognition.
‘Actors, camera crew, assistants … I got together with them and told them what I wanted to achieve. There are so many people wanting to carve out a career in the film industry but are finding it very tough to get a break. With these talented people climbing on board to help me bring Hero to life on the big screen, I was able to produce 95 minutes of romantic drama for no cost. In many ways it was a small miracle.’
And it wasn’t just the crew and actors that Sally had approached to help with her no cost film. Locations across Brisbane were approached and through many, many hours of meetings and negotiations, Sally managed to pull together all locations at no cost to her company, Fandango Productions.
The movie, Hero, is a romantic drama set in South East Queensland. It depicts Dr. Ted Norton, played by Andrew Foley, who, stricken by the death of a child cancer patient, turns to drugs. With his life now spiralling out of control, he finds comfort in the arms of another woman, Michelle, portrayed by Kath McBride-Hellewell. His wife, Susan, played by Natalie Galvin, is not supportive of Ted’s efforts to regain his sanity and lifestyle, but Michelle sees things differently. Ted struggles to regain respect from his peers and patients, turning away from Susan and taking the comfort that Michelle’s arms offer him. As he embarks on this passionate and transformative love affair, Ted must confront his inner demons and battle against the grip of drug dependence that threatens to destroy everything he holds dear.
‘There are many people I need to thank for their great and selfless effort,’ Sally commented. ‘My cameraman, Harrison Howard, my co-director, Peter Lovely, my editor, Erik Van Der Neuf, Mark Egan for the music, all of the wonderful actors and of course everyone who lent a hand. I have sent out a special thanks to everyone on the Hero website and on Facebook.
Anyone who would like to attend the screening, as with the movie, there is no cost. Screening will take place at Five Star Cinemas in New Farm on Monday November 6 at 7pm. Please email Sally at sally@fandangoproductions.com.au if you would like to attend.
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