For 14-year-old Bronte Abernethy, her dreams of acting took a clearer shape whilst collaborating with a number of other Maribyrnong and Hobsons Bay young women last year.
She was among the participants in Yarraville-based business For the Love of Film’s The Reel Collective program for eight to 12 and 12 to 16 year-old aspiring female and non-binary film-makers, with roles both in front of and behind the camera towards diversifying gender representation in film-making.
Bronte said she decided to take part in the 2022 program as she wanted to explore more about acting and what work goes into the film-making process.
“It was really great collaborating with everyone and I enjoyed acting,” she said.
“It’s definitely opened my eyes to how films are made.”
Program participants and their loved ones attended a special screening and awards night at Yarraville’s Sun Theatre last December
Founding the business in 2019, writer and director Juliet Porter said she was impressed by the participants’ work ethic and overall creative approach.
“The thing that I love the most is that they all find a role that they enjoy,” she said.
“Film-making really has a role for everyone.
“They all really find their strength on a film set.”
Ms Porter said the participants discovered a sense of personal and creative expression and freedom when they were given control of the film-making process.
“They are not inhibited, they’re quite experimental,” she said.
“They are really brave.
“The subtext has a emotional core for them.”
Ms Porter said following the COVID-19 pandemic, uniting as one group to watch their final projects was special for the 2022 project participants.
“To see your work up on the big screen was pretty exciting for everyone,” she said.
Details: www.fortheloveoffilm.com.au
