2007 Tropfest finalists

The Story of Ned

Synopsis: John Doyle, as the omnipotent yet not altogether totally reliable narrator, tells the tragic tale of Ned, a little story with a detective yarn for a father and a children's fable for a mother. But in this animation, Ned has a problem: he is a story without an ending.Director: Simon WeavingProducer: Simon WeavingWriter: Simon WeavingCinematographer: Dan MillerSound design: Mark WebberComposer: Troy HamblyEditor: Dan Miller KeyKey Cast: John Doyle, Tony TurnerLength: 6' 50"

The Grey Cloud

Synopsis: This noirish film, set in a crime-ridden city, opens with a man walking a woman down an alley. Nearby is a mysterious piano bar, a place where the music can simply take you away.Director: Matt Peek, Cam FordProducer: Matt Peek, Cam FordWriter: Matt PeekCinematographer: Cam FordSound design: John KassabComposer: Craig BryantEditor: Cam FordKey Cast: Mick Preston, Katie Astrinakis, John Richards, Brett CartlidgeLength: 7'Shot On: Super 16mmTropfest Awards: Best Cinematography - Cam Ford

An Imaginary Life (First Prize)

Synopsis: What happens to an imaginary friend once they're forgotten? Where do they go? How do they live? And can their lives ever have any meaning again? For one such imaginary friend, life has been empty. That is, until he finds a potential answer to the one question that's been consuming him this whole time.Director: Steve BakerProducer: Steve BakerWriter: Steve BakerSound design: Steve BakerComposer: Steve BakerEditor: Steve BakerKey Cast: Andrew Baker, Steve BakerLength: 4' 55"Shot On: AnimationTropfest Awards: First Prize

Being Boston

Synopsis: When Jeff is dumped by his girlfriend, he buys a cute boxer puppy called Boston to keep him company. But the weeks, then months prove lonely and difficult. Jeff's unpredictable behaviour means it could be some time before Boston makes this man his best friend.Director: Justin DrapeProducer: Justin DrapeWriter: Justin DrapeCinematographer: Timothy LaffeySound design: Simon KaneEditor: Simon NjooKey Cast: Sean Lynch, Felicity Hopkins, Ashlie FellowLength: 5' 4"Shot On: DV/HD

Between The Flags

Synopsis: How many rioters does it take to start a riot? When two guys from opposing sides of conflict are the first arrivals for a beach riot, they are initially unsure of the accepted etiquette.Director: Jayce WhiteProducer: Jayce WhiteWriter: Jayce WhiteCinematographer: Ian NicholsonSound design: Jayce WhiteEditor: Jayce WhiteKey Cast: Dan Feuerrigel, MatuseLength: 7' 4"Shot On: DV/HDTropfest Awards: Best Comedy, Best Actor (Matuse)

Road Rage (Second Prize)

Synopsis: On a busy morning on the roads, there's a near traffic accident. One driver, shaken and angry, watches as the offending car speeds away without its driver acknowledging or apologising for the near miss. He decides to chase him down in a quest for revenge, cornering the offender in a nearby street.Director: Mark BellamyProducer: Mark Bellamy, Lyndal MebbersonWriter: Mark BellamyCinematographer: Simon HardingSound design: Rohan CharltonComposer: Simon BaileyEditor: Laurie HughesKey Cast: Paul Kelman, Alan Flower, Scott Johnson, Freddy TalibLength: 7'Shot On: HDTropfest Awards: Second Prize; Audience Prize

Yellow

Synopsis: When a well-dressed man climbs into a taxi one night, the tired driver settles in for another boring ride in silence. But things change quickly when the passenger starts talking earnestly about the troubling purpose of the journey. The driver finds himself parked outside a strange house, fearing for his life.Director: William AllertProducer: William AllertWriter: William AllertCinematographer: Craig JacksonComposer: Andy ScottEditor: Brad HurtKey Cast: Nathan O'Keefe, William AllertLength: 5' 50"Shot On: HDTropfest Awards: Best Screenplay - William Allert

Pig Latin

Synopsis: Two cops startle a woman working in the garden. That's the start of a story about two guys who remember that lucky kid from school who has the pool, the trampoline, the Atari and all that other cool stuff. It's been years since they've seen him, but they still want to play.Director: Nathaniel KiwiProducer: Nathaniel KiwiWriter: Nathaniel KiwiCinematographer: Stuart SimpsonSound design: Andrew NeilComposer: Mark FarrelEditor: Nathaniel KiwiKey Cast: Stephen Curry, Steven Stagg, Diana Greentree, Charlie ClausenLength: 5' 40"Shot On: DVCAM

Counter

Synopsis: A troubled accountant inherits a mysterious counter from a relative, who says "it will make everything clear". But what does it count? Desperate to know the purpose of his inheritance, Neville begins to question everything he does in his daily routine, becoming drawn into an obsessive and life-changing search for meaning.Director: Michael Noonan (filmmaker)Producer: Michael Noonan, Carine ChaiWriter: Michael NoonanSound design: Michael NoonanComposer: Michael NoonanEditor: Michael NoonanKey Cast: Christopher Sommers, Kat Henry, Catherine Glavicic, Paul Bryan, Michael CarterLength: 6' 59"Shot On: HDV

Real Thing

Synopsis: A woman wakes up in bed. Beside her is the man who insists he is her husband. But is he really? She can't remember.Director: Rupert GlassonProducer: Hugo O'Conner, Rani ChaleyerWriter: Rupert GlassonCinematographer: Ben AllenSound design: Michael McMenomyComposer: John GrayEditor: Rani ChaleyerKey Cast: Slava Orel, Emma Jackson, Jean-Marc RussLength: 5'Shot On: DVCAMTropfest Awards: Best Original Score - John Gray

The Von

Synopsis: It is 1982 and a schoolboy Alex Vonzitzavitz - possessor of a cool jacket and superhero card collection - is about to face the most humiliating experience of his life. Remember that nightmare you had about turning up to school naked? This is worse. But don't panic! Superheroes like The Von always find a way to get out of trouble.Director: John MavetyProducer: Robyn SinclairWriter: John MavetyCinematographer: Glenn HannsSound design: Nathan BrandComposer: Tewe HanareEditor: John Mavety, Adam Harley.Key Cast: Jacob Bicknell, Zeke Collins, Jaime Lee Parker, Gabrielle Desdoigts, Louis Desdoigts, April Hayes DicksonLength: 6' 59"Shot On: HDTropfest Awards: Third Prize; Sony Foundation Young Talent Award - Jacob Bicknell

Bad Yoghurt

Synopsis: On a hot summer's day, a hot sexy woman sits by a pool. She eats some hot sexy yoghurt. But everything is not as perfect as it seems. The glamour fades when she realises the yoghurt is bad.Director: Shaun BeagleyProducer: Shaun BeagleyWriter: Shaun BeagleyCinematographer: Jonas McGuigginSound design: Stuart WelchComposer: Bernard HoustonEditor: Kurt RoyanKey Cast: Natalie LynnLength: 5'Shot On: 16mmTropfest Awards: The Tropicana Award

Mere Oblivion

Synopsis: The title, from Shakespeare, is a reference to growing old. Librarian Kenny Bunkport learns what it means when he takes his elderly grandmother to a swish restaurant.Director: Burleigh SmithProducer: Burleigh SmithWriter: Burleigh SmithCinematographer: Jason ThomasEditor: Ross Farnsworth (i.e., Burleigh Smith)Key Cast: Burleigh Smith, Elizabeth Caiacob, Michael Su, Kate RitchieLength: 7'Shot On: HDVTropfest Awards: Best Female Actor - Elizabeth Caiacob

A-Z

Synopsis: Muz's doctor has bad news: "Your aorta's clogged with fat, all your vital parts are weak". In this animation, that means Muz has to stop eating meat. To break the habit, the doc prescribes a radical new cure that goes from A to Z.Director: Zenon KohlerProducer: Zenon KohlerWriter: Murray HartinStill photographer: Greg DesmonSound design: Ash MakladComposer: Pat DrummondEditor: Zenon KohlerLength: 4' 40"Shot On: Computer generated on a Macintosh with digital stills

Still

Synopsis: When a man and a woman choose the paths they want to take in their relationship, their son is left aside. In this evocative film, there are three lives and two decisions on one still night.Director: Jayne MontagueProducer: Jayne MontagueValentina FornoAssistant Director: Ashleigh Kate BrooksWriter: Nick ThompsonCinematographer: Shing Fung CheungSound design: David StalleyComposer: David StalleyEditor: Rolmar BaldonadoKey Cast: Jodine Muir, Pete Walters, Giles Penfold,Length: 6' 41"Shot On: HD

Fore!

Synopsis: "Golf isn't a game," says Tiger Woods. "It's a choice that one makes with one's life." A man learns the truth of that statement when he heads to the driving range to hit a few balls.Director: Duane FogwellProducer: Stewart BrownWriter: Duane FogwellCinematographer: Geoff EllisComposer: Geir BrillanEditor: Duane FogwellKey Cast: Daniel Bowden, Paul Moxey,Length: 6' 30"Shot On: 35mmTropfest Awards: Best Editing - Duane Fogwell