Gorman Arts Centre, 31 July 2017
This week the Canberra Critics Circle enjoyed a
conversation with Writer/Director Ché Baker. The trailer for Baker’s first feature film, a “super
low budget” high concept sci-fi titled Blue World Order debuted at Supanova in Melbourne in May.
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| Che Baker - Photo: Helen Musa |
Baker, who spent years working in Wellington, the centre of New Zealand’s busy Film Industry, has re-located to Canberra where Blue World Order was shot and where Baker hopes that the successful production model he developed for his own film will prove sustainable for future film production in the ACT.
Making feature films is among the most
difficult of collaborative art forms. “Quite
literally” said Baker, “it’s the stuff that no-one sees that makes it such a
complicated endeavour”. He believes that Canberra provides all the ingredients
for successful film production. Its geographic location makes it logistically
realistic, it has masses of sunshine, great locations and a willing local
government, who while not involved in funding, expedited location and other
permits. Baker’s production model has seen his film finished and money returned
to his business investors before international sales have been finalised. A
mighty effort!
Baker’s confidence in beginning his four
and a half year project was bolstered by his knowledge that, after 20 years in
the industry, he could, if necessary, do all the jobs on set. He acted as
writer, director and producer with Dallas Bland as co-director and partner
Sarah Mason as co-producer. Actors include Billy Zane, Jack Thompson, Stephen
Hunter and Barbara Hastings.
Baker is passionate about the value of
working independently as a filmmaker. Among other topics discussed were the travails
of casting, with horror and sci-fi being two genres that will sell
internationally without a ‘name’ actor, the use of tropes that resonate through
films across decades, the importance of walking the line between the familiar
and the unique, the role of a producer on set as a cheerleader and
communications strategist and the ”marathon” journey of securing international
licenses. It was salutary to understand
that, for independent filmmakers, piracy in any market locks the filmmaker out
of securing sales licences in that market.
Having seen the fascinating trailer we
all look forward to the screening!
Dr Anni Doyle Wawrzynczak