FILM
The Films they said could'nt be made... but we made them anyway
Welcome to my humble Feature Film showcase! Here, you can explore a collection of our independent no budget spectaculars! Grass roots at its grassiest and putting the E back into epicness. Each film tells a story and is a product of passion, creativity, and a little bit of sweat. Some memorable performances by the well known, and the not so well known. So grab a cold one and take a journey through these cult classics, and immerse yourself in the world of storytelling through film.
On Tour and lookin for a Feed
Two Rough Diamonds, One French Firecracker,
and a whole heap of Outback!
Fate brings three very diverse characters together on a road trip with a difference. A real beer soaked, bulldust coated piece of genuine Aussie Outback filmology.
Set amidst the rugged splendor of the Australian Outback , two fun loving drifters, Singing raconteur Phil O'Brien and ex Jailbird Al Zimdahl come across a French beauty 'Elisa', alone in the middle of nowhere, and on a mission to find what she really wants out of life. A gifted Singer and musician, the bright lights of Paris and her Fathers business caused her disillusion, and she'd thrown herself into the empty vastness of outback Northern Territory hoping to find answers.
The unlikely trio hit the road.
Produced by Robyn Marais and Phil O'Brien
Rated D - Dry as a Dead Dingo's Donger 52 minutes
Crazy Days at the old Brumby Moon
Rated E - Bloody Epic 72 minutes
The sequel to On Tour and lookin for a Feed
An outback drifter who has been playing it hard for way too long tries to finally pick up the pieces of his life.
After trying to drink Darwin dry, and a conflict at a local Pub, he decides to head back out bush to start life again, back to his old one horse home town Corrella Springs.
More twists and turns than two snakes having sex on a rocky ridge....and drier than a Wazubi Tribesman's Jockstrap.Filmed on location at spectacular Mount Bundy Station Northern Territory Australia
Featuring a special guest appearance from the legend David Gulpilil
Starring...
Phil O'Brien Al Zimdahl David Gulpilil Alizee Sery Daniel Tapp
Produced by Robyn Marais - Phil O'Brien
A Campfiresinger Production c 2024
The Boat with No Name
Set amidst the raw beauty of North East Arnhem Land in remote Northern Australia , a small community has lost its school teacher due to government cutbacks.
With the chance inheritance of a boat, they see this as an opportunity to start a business and find the money to buy their own teacher. Things don't quite go as planned !
Starring a complete local cast from regional centre Nhulunbuy in North East Arnhem Land , this unique film is a community project and a window into a part of Australia that is rarely seen.
A Campfiresinger Production c 2022 Duration 94 minutes
Gunfight at the Korma Cafe
Coming sooner or later !
Working on it
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Ducumentary
Places Pubs and People
'Places Pubs and People' Duration 60minutes HD
An old 4Wheel Drive - a philosophical Nomad, and a trip across Australia's last frontier...
Synopsis
For laconic bushman Phil O'Brien, the many years travelling the rough, dusty tracks of Outback Northern Territory have paid off, maybe not in material wealth, but in forged friendships, and a sense of freedom.
Phil brings this to the camera , and through a series of bush style interludes, interviews and scenarios, gives the viewer a rare look at a uniquely diverse place, from someone on the 'inside'.
A valuable, and very entertaining insight, into the fascinating lives of Territorians.
All set against the spectacular backdrop of one of Australia's most raw and beautiful areas, and captured beautifully by legendary Cameraman Ian Redfearn.
Cast Iron Chef
'Cast Iron Chef' - Duration 85minutes
A group of talented campfire cooking teams meet in the Northern Territory Outback to compete in the biggest campfire cooking event the world has never seen or ever heard of.
Ingredients locally sourced or grown themselves resulting in cutting edge campfire cuisine. Each dish must be accompanied by a theatrical performance.
This years theme is 'After the Pandemic', something very unique, awesome unbridled campfire cooking, quirky characters, and great insight into the Northern Territory culture.
Short Films
Although these short films are never gunna win a Gold Logie there's nothing like rounding up some friends and grabbing the camera and just having some creative fun.
'Stella' she was so much more that just a glamour ! Or was she? Duration 8 minutes
'In the Wild'
Spanish Backpacker 'Cristina' ventures into the wilds of the Northern Territory Australia.
Starring Cristina the girl that works at the Service Station. Duration 5 minutes
Independant Film Making
At times its like climbing Mount Everest in a pair of thongs...every step just gets harder and harder !
I think people generally look at films as being the big productions that cost a bomb and have a small army of people working on them, the ones they see on Netflix and at the Cinema. For most people that's film, but on the other side of the tracks there's another genre, Independant low budget film making.
It can be just as creative and entertaining as its mainstream cousin.
If you've got a good story and a camera you're in the game, and why not?
Budget film making is an artform in itself and should be celebrated. For me I got an opportunity to tell a story in a different way, it's still just storytelling but with more options. I've been lucky enough to meet some fantastic people and also involve friends and the community in my film projects, and I can thoroughly recommend having a crack. Don't expect any Academy Awards but it's your creativity, and you're in control, and that's worth a lot.
Yes, for sure making your own films isn't the easiest thing to do, but the rewards are many and the feeling of really accomplishing something, combined with a rip roaring after party, are well worth the pain.
Reviews and Movie Moments
ABC Radio interview on the making of 'The Boat with No Name' in all its no budget glory and the fantastic community involvement.
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This ABC News story gives a great behind the scenes insight into the hard work but also the rewards of film making with support from such a beautiful community.
A really well written review by legend film maker and critic Bill Mousoulis, he really got the film, but he also incorporates his views on Indie Film making. Well worth a read.
On Tour and Lookin for a Feed 'Bloopers'
A movie about a wild roadtrip turned into a wild roadtrip, and the full cast of...
me, my good mate Al Zimdahl and a French Backpacker called Elisa rolled along having a great time , plenty of Bloopers !
After a hard day's filming and making it up as we went along, the cast of On Tour let their hair down, had one too many, and then murder an old Elvis song with legendary Barrow Creek Publican Les Pilton on vocals
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Robyn Marais who made it all happen doing camera sound directing and everything else, surrounded by fly's and dust and in the middle of nowhere wondering how she ever got roped into this one !
The Catering can be fairly basic when making an Independant Film
David Gulpilil offered his services in our film 'Crazy Days at the old Brumby Moon', I think he was the best actor I've ever seen, a top bloke and a born performer, the real deal.
It was a real highlight spending time with him and seeing him in action.
Cattleman Ben Tapp tells a funny little story about Two Crows talking to each other, in our documentary 'Places Pubs and People', a crack up...
My good mate Al Zimdahl one of the best Australian Actors no one has ever heard of. Couldn't get a better co producer, a dedicated thespian who loves being part of a good film adventure.
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