Two locals who have followed their dreams and passions and made good, Mr Jake Speer, Kensington House Entertainment, assisted by Elijah Ingram, Miil Miil Productions, shared with us some information regarding Jake’s latest short film production, Lords Of the Soil, as potential sponsors and financial backers.
Lords Of The Soil is scheduled to film in the Riverina in August this year. It is s a moving historical drama set during the Autumn of 1866 on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River. It is a painful story but also one that focuses on kindness and compassion. It will bring together the very best the Riverina has to offer; its history, landscape and people, to share a story with audiences around the world that both captivates and informs in an emotionally moving and visually satisfying way.
Lords Of The Soil is a piece of fiction inspired by the true history of the Riverina. It is a film that showcases a lost way of life and explores the complex relationship between the indigenous and non- indigenous people of the region.
Lords Of The Soil shoot dates will be late August/ early September 2023 with proposed locations of Leeton, Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Narrandera and Darlington Point. Leeton has been selected as the production base and Sydney for post-production, with a total production estimate of $60,000.
It is in the Autumn of 1866, a young settler develops a kinship with the Indigenous family who reside on his newly purchased land.
Basil Bennett a city doctor, arrives in the thriving settlement of Wagga Wagga in search of a new life on the frontier lands of the New South Wales river plains. After meeting with wealthy pastoralist, John, and learning of the customs of the area - the issuing of woolen blankets to the native population at the onset of winter - Basil ventures out of town complete with a collection of fresh wool blankets.
Once present on his new parcel of land, on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, Basil is met by a young indigenous family – lead by Maliyan, a powerful Wiradjuri man. (Maliyan is the Wiradjuri means wedge-tailed eagle.) Basil’s introduction to the family is fraught with tension but it is the blankets that Basil leaves as a gift that may properly articulate his intentions towards these people.
Despite a rising negative narrative in town regarding the local native population, Basil and Maliyan develop a mutual affinity as they build their lives simultaneously amongst the tranquil landscape that surrounds them. The sharing of food, knowledge and labour become the bedrock of this unconventional friendship. Death soon comes to this modest neighbourhood as Maliyan succumbs to a fever, leaving his wife and child to abandon their home on the river. Tormented by the loss of Maliyan, Basil removes all that remains of the family he shared a home with. A memory too painful to bear.
The film will bring together a team of professionals and amateurs alike, from metropolitan and regional talent, to deliver a piece of cinema that will captivate audiences through stunning photography, detailed and authentic designs and intimate and grounded performances. Much care and attention will be given to creating meaningful relationships with the indigenous community of the area to ensure this story is told with respect and integrity. It will be a unique opportunity to share and preserve the local language and knowledge of the Wiradjuri people.
In 2017 Jake created Kensington House Entertainment, a boutique production company dedicated to developing and producing high quality entertainment for stage and screen. This includes the award winning short film “Inside Water” and the regional stage production of William Shakespeare’s “HENRY V”.
In 2018 Kensington House Entertainment produced ‘Inside Water’ in partnership with Leeton Shire Council, and with the support of a number of regionally based individuals and businesses, and with a total budget of $50,000.
Jake Speer is a Producer, Director and Actor. For the past decade, as an actor, Jake has worked extensively across theatre, film and television at the highest level, working with leading companies in the entertainment.
Associate Producers, Miil Miil Productions began through grant support from the Aboriginal Languages Trust and created a series of short films on Wiradjuri Language and Culture in the Riverina region of NSW. Miil Miil then went on to work in building their capacity to deliver film and photography services to the broader community. Since their inception, they have built on capabilities to provide everything from pre-production, through to shooting and post-production. To date, Miil Miil has continued to make Aboriginal Language films with the Aboriginal Languages Trust, as well as working with the broader arts community to deliver a professional standard of film and photography.
Miil Miil Productions consists of Bernard Higgins and Elijah Ingram, two young Wiradjuri men working on their home country. Bernard is from Wagga Wagga who has done incredible work in animation and is also an accomplished Animator and Videographer. He hopes to create resources that help others to learn his traditional language and culture.
Elijah is a young Wiradjuri man from Leeton who works across several fields in the Arts. A Filmmaker, Photographer, Artist and Poet, Elijah wants to do all he can to help preserve and grow his traditional language and culture.
Should you be interested in hearing more about this film production and its wider impact for the community of Leeton, please contact Jake Speer.
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Graeme’s Something to Smile About
“To make a great movie you need three things – the script, the script and THE SCRIPT.”
- Alfred Hitchcock
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Carmel’s Brain Teaser
Mr. Jenkins is trying to find a worker he can really trust. Out of the four candidates, James, Hudson, Paul, and Steven, he knows that two are honest and the other two are compulsive liars. From what each one of them says, can you work out which two are the liars?
James - “Neither Paul nor Hudson tells the truth.”
Hudson - “If Steven is a liar, then James is trustworthy.”
Paul - “If, and only if, James is not an honest person, then Steven, too, has a rather loose attitude to the truth.”
Steven - “What Paul said is untrue.”
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Director’s Roundup
New trial seating arrangements, intimade groups – What were your thoughts on the evening?
- Rotary Club of Leeton Board Meeting – commences 7.00pm Tuesday 20 June 2023, Brian’s home. Answer: James and Paul are the two liars.
- Hanna Chiyomi Maeda Farewell – Ladies Night – Thursday 22 June 2023, Historic Hydro, everyone welcome to make this an extra special evening. This will be Hanna’s night to tell us all about her Rotary Exchange experience, thoughts and the opportunity to for one and all to say farewell. Don’t forget to register your attending guests.
- Charity Golf Day – 25 June 2023 – 12-hole, three person Ambrose event in aid of St Vincent de Paul Society and Friends of Luro. Players fee will include lots of free food throughout the day and chances to will the prize money on offer. Book @ Golf Pro Shop
- President Elect 2024/25 – Club is still missing their President Elect for 2024/25, consider putting up your hand.
- July Farmers and Makers Markets – Next markets will be held on Saturday 1 July 2023. 8.30am to 12.30pm Mountford Park.
- Lionel’s Bootleg Smokehouse – Saturday 8 July 2023 – Leeton Jockey Club, Racecourse Road 6.00pm - 11.30pm, Rotary Club of Leeton Central – tickets available online at www.leetonartdecofestival.com.au
- Art Deco Festival – Saturday 8 July 2023 – Food stall and market. 11.00am to 2.00pm in Mountford Park. Dress in period attire.
- Change Over - – Thursday 13 July 2023 – Historic Hydro – more details to come.
- Deb Belle of the Ball – 28 July 2023 – Leeton Soldiers Club – this will be the Clubs 70th anniversary ball. Currently looking for committee members, please contact Brian if able to assist in any way.
- FRRR Evaluation Session – The results of our second-to-last community evaluation session with FRRR have been reported on, for information click on the links below:
- Info and photos here: https://ircf.frrr.org.au/2023/06/07/may-evaluation-community-insights-leeton/
- 'Culmination Plan' here: https://ircf.frrr.org.au/wp-content/uploads/VFFF-Culmination-Plan-Leeton.pdf
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Sergeant’s Session
Sergeant Nicholas aka Nick proved no-one is immune from the Sergeant, fining one and all including the President and himself. Nick said he would pay the fine for himself and his friend, (no, visiting friends are not immune either). He went on to tell us about his week saying he would be paying for a slight mishap with an email for a while to come.
No-one is immune from the Sergeant.
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Silly Joke / Meme
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Carmel’s Optical Illusion Photo
Tightrope walkers in the snow?
Or another of the mind-bending optical illusion photos you can take at the Bolivian salt flats? The world’s largest salt flats, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, are so incredibly flat and level for miles and miles that the horizon line seems to go on forever. Without any depth perception, the eye is tricked into falling for amazing optical illusion photos like this one!
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Graeme’s Quote of the Week
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