Movie mavericks brought to screen

Two mavericks of Australian cinema are the focus of a new film by University of Canberra graduate Sue Maslin, writes Edward O'Daly

University of Canberra is where it all began for Ms Maslin

21 November 2006: In the 1930s and 1940s Rupert Kathner and Alma Brooks took on the might of the Hollywood studios to tell Australian stories, doing whatever  it took to bring their movies to the screen and presenting an often shocking vision of Sydney's seamy underbelly.

Hunt Angels, written and directed by Alec Morgan and produced by Ms Maslin, follows their passion for film-making and creates its own genre of non-fiction feature film: a documentary based on exhaustive research, but told through drama digitally composited archival images.

"It's a film about the passion for cinema and everybody who loves going to the movies will love this film about the irrepressible desire to make cinema," Ms Maslin said.

The film thrusts the viewer into an authentic 1940s Sydney as the action takes place against a backdrop of archival photographs and film footage.

Australian first

The cast - including Ben Mendelsohn, Victoria Hill and Eloise Oxer - played out their scenes in front of a green screen with the backgrounds added in later.

"This hasn't been done before in Australian cinema and it put the actors into the space and time of the archival images," Ms Maslin said.

"We wanted to show a side of Sydney that's rarely seen on film.

"People's memory of that era tends to be sunny, but it was the middle of the depression and there was a dark side and we wanted to bring that world to life."

This dark side was part of what fascinated 'Rupe and Alma', as they were known. Their newsreels covered controversial topics including prostitution and drug trafficking.

These real stories were popular with moviegoers, but angered the Hollywood studio bosses, who used their power to pressurise cinemas not to show the films.

The lack of studio backing also forced the duo to beg, borrow and sometimes steal the funding they needed to live their screen dreams - a position with which Ms Maslin sympathises.

"It's the story of all of us," she said.

"It's a really tough business we're in and for the thousands of good ideas out there, only 15 or 20 features get made each year.

"Their story stands for all Australian filmmakers."

Radical change

Ms Maslin's career in the movies began when she enrolled in the media studies graduate diploma at the University of Canberra in 1982. The course was a radical change in direction for the science graduate.

"I was preparing to do an honours year, but I knew I didn't want to continue with science, so I looked around for something I would love doing."

A visit to the University campus, a wander around the corridors of media studies - with all their examples of work and invitations to intriguing film seminars - and a long chat with media lecturer John Scott, set Ms Maslin on a course to a career that would see her study the craft and make a succession of movies, including the 2003 hit Japanese Story , starring Toni Collette.

"It all started for me back there at Canberra University and I have been working with fellow graduate, co-writer/director Daryl Dellora, ever since," Ms Maslin said.

"The course covered film, television photography and a had a unique mix of theory and practice, and this had stood me in good stead throughout my career.

"I understand the language and common aesthetic of film and it comes from the fantastic teaching of people like Bill van der Heide."

• Hunt Angels will be released on 30 November

Still time to win tickets!

Monitor has five buy-one-get-one-free tickets for you and a friend to see Hunt Angels at Electric Shadows in Canberra.

Simply answer this question:

Hunt Angels won Best General Documentary at the ATOM Awards on 10 November. What does ATOM stand for?

Send us your answer by 1pm on 4 December to be in with a chance*.

Winners will be notified by email.

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