{"id":7252,"date":"2018-12-13T02:55:50","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T18:55:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/audiences-applaud-a-bold-voice-in-australian-cinema\/"},"modified":"2022-12-07T13:09:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-07T05:09:06","slug":"audiences-applaud-a-bold-voice-in-australian-cinema","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/audiences-applaud-a-bold-voice-in-australian-cinema\/","title":{"rendered":"Audiences applaud a bold voice in Australian cinema"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perth filmmaker Alison James would have liked her lead actors to be walking the red carpet last week in Sydney. But Sonic, Snowy, Claudia, Ebony, Buddha, Wasim, Petra and Zara were happy to be home relaxing.<\/p>\n

As writer\/director of the short film Judas Collar<\/em>, James was in Sydney for the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts (AACTA) awards \u2013 the industry\u2019s pinnacle event and a paparazzi scene for society celebs and politicians, but probably not for camels.<\/p>\n

Praised for its cinematography, unique narrative and sound design \u2013 which is notable for an absence of dialogue \u2013 Judas Collar<\/em> is James\u2019s allegory about the human journey of self-realisation. Her film chronicles the journey of a wild camel captured and fitted with a culling device known as a Judas collar.<\/p>\n

James \u2013 a graduate of Curtin\u2019s program in Film and Television \u2013 first heard the term \u2018Judas collar\u2019 while in pre-production for a documentary series on helicopter pilots working in the Australian outback.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought, what the hell is a Judas collar?\u201d James says.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a tracking device that\u2019s placed around the neck of a female camel. The camel then seeks a herd to join, and the device alerts hunters to the location. The herd is shot except for the female \u2018Judas\u2019, who then searches for another community \u2013 and the process starts again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was struck by the biblical reference, and I wondered how horrific it must be for that one animal to be continuously surrounded by death and experiencing loss.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Film
On location for Judas Collar. Photography by Jessica Wyld<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The film, which James admits was emotionally as well as logistically difficult, cleverly merges documentary and fiction forms.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe concept that perhaps the Judas camel develops self-awareness, and begins walking alone to save the herds \u2013 it was a story I had to tell.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wrote four drafts with a human central character, but decided that keeping a camel as the protagonist would let the audience into this strange world, and connect with the Judas and her journey.\u201d<\/p>\n

While the story is a distinct exploration of self-realisation, it also foregrounds the wretchedness of self-deception. As James points out, the audience will realise the Judas is a danger to the community only as long as the collar\u2019s battery lasts, but she\u2019ll never know this.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo live a life of loneliness and sacrifice I think is a story that is deeply and tragically human.\u201d<\/p>\n

“To live a life of loneliness and sacrifice I think is a story that is deeply and tragically human.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Supported by Screenwest and produced Brooke Silcox (also a Curtin graduate), the film was shot mostly in regional Western Australia, in hot November conditions, with a cast of eight from the Calamunnda Camel Farm in Perth.<\/p>\n

Adding minor complexity to the schedule, James was seven months\u2019 pregnant when production wrapped.<\/p>\n

The film premiered in June at the 2018 Sydney Film Festival, where James earned Special Mention in the Best Director category of the prestigious Dendy Awards. A few months later, James and Silcox were in Texas for the international premiere of Judas Collar<\/em> at the Austin Film Festival.<\/p>\n

\u201cJudas Collar <\/em>was one of 2,700 submissions for Best Short Narrative Fiction \u2013 and we won!\u201d<\/p>\n

With Austin being an Academy Accredited Festival, the win means that Judas Collar<\/em> is eligible to be nominated for the 2020 Academy Awards.<\/p>\n

\"Silhouette
Judas Collar won Best Short Narrative Fiction at the Austin Film Festival, making it eligible for an Academy Award nomination.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As a Curtin student, James was able to choose an uncommon double major that was perfect for her interests: \u00a0Film and Television (now Screen Arts<\/a>), and Psychology.<\/p>\n

\u201cExploring what it means to be human lies at the heart of both film and psychology, in different ways,\u201d she points out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe use stories to try to understand ourselves more deeply; working in film is part of that investigative process.<\/p>\n

Since graduating in 2005, James has built a successful career directing documentaries, although they\u2019ve usually been people-centric expos\u00e9s.<\/p>\n

James has built a successful career directing documentaries, although they\u2019ve usually been people-centric expos\u00e9s.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With commissions from Discovery and The History Channel, as well as for the ABC and SBS, she\u2019s been on set in locations as distinctive as Honduras, Ireland and Iceland. But with her current success in fiction film, is her focus changing?<\/p>\n

\u201cMy goals are always<\/em> changing. I\u2019ve been passionate about documentaries for many years and I\u2019ve worked on amazing projects. But lately I\u2019ve been wanting to tell my own stories, which has led to some short films in the drama space.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m actually inspired by films that mix documentary and drama elements.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Judas<\/p>\n

Although Judas Collar<\/em> will be touring the Australian festival circuit during summer, James will spend a few months in New Mexico, \u2018relaxing\u2019 with her seven-month-old, Ryker, while her husband Zak (Hilditch \u2013 also a Curtin graduate!) completes his feature film for Netflix.<\/p>\n

While James didn\u2019t take home the AACTA title this year, the top-tier recognition is sure to impact her opportunities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still busy researching and writing. My short-term goal is to write a feature screenplay that is gripping, surprising and emotionally satisfying.<\/p>\n

And long term?<\/p>\n

\u201cTo be a bold, original voice in Australian cinema, and to make films that connect deeply with a wide audience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Judas Collar<\/em> is currently showing in Perth as part of the Lotterywest Films program.<\/p>\n