GHOST STORY

SHORT FILM  |  Produced: 2004  |  Shooting Gauge: DV Cam  |  Duration: 8 mins

Inspired by an about to be demolished hotel in Canberra (less than a minute from Parliament House) we wrote a story about what could have happened there.  It was an old Public Servant Hostel (where all relocated public servants stayed until they found homes in the 1960s to 1980s) and many stories circulate Canberra about happenings at the Hostel.  We decided to find the ghosts who lived there and tell their stories. 

The actors were given the story and character arcs and asked to improvise all the dialogue.  As the hotel was about to be torn down, we were able to do all the art direction we wanted (including smashing windows, kicking down doors, graffiti and filling a whole room with fake blood).  The experience of making this film was an utterly joyful and terribly frightening one.  The hotel had an incredible presence and we believe the film captures it well.  The building might not be there anymore, but the stories will forever remain.

CAST
John              James Inabinet
Jess               Leah Wheelhouse
Little Girl       Victoria Allen

SCREENINGS
Eyescream Horror Film Festival, Sydney, Second Scoop, 2004
short::seasons summer'005, Canberra, 2005
Trasharama A-go-go, Travelling Screening, 2005

CREW 
Director/Producers         Marisa Martin, Matthew Fallon
Photographed by            Simon Cadman
Art Direction & Makeup   Therese Engel
Story                                Matthew Fallon, Marisa Martin, 
                                         Therese Engel, Simon Cadman
Improvised Dialogue      James Inabinet, Leah Wheelhouse
Edit                                  Marisa Martin
Final Sequence Edit       Ben Nunney
Sound Recording           James Moller
Music                               Michael Caruana
Catering                          Clare Young