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Albert's
Chook Tractor
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ALBERT’S
CHOOK TRACTOR
Producer:
Kath Symmons
Director: Stephen Thomas
Writer: Rachael Treasure
Production Company: Roar Film Pty Ltd
Albert’s
Chook Tractor, a half-hour drama produced in Tasmania as part of
the My Way series, is screening on SBS Television Friday 11 October
at 8.30pm (7.30pm EST). The film was written by Rachael Treasure,
Directed by Steve Thomas and Produced by Kath Symmons. Production
was funded jointly by Screen Tasmania and SBS Independent.
When
Albert Tickle’s mother dies, he is left alone to cope with
his hardcase father and a rundown failing family farm. When his
mother’s prize chooks become sick and start to die, Albert
realises that not all is well on the farm.
Driven
to action by his father’s rigid attitudes, this dreamy and
eccentric farmer’s son decides that listening and learning
from nature is the only way forward, for both of them. With the
help of his mother’s chooks and Gloria, an old family friend,
Albert takes on his father and the old ways. Eventually he defies
the ridicule of the district by building a ‘chook tractor’
and deploying it to farm his way… the chemical-free way of
cycles and seasons.
Rachael Treasure – Writer
Rachael Treasure is a former journalist and photographer who has
lived in many parts of Australia. She has a Bachelor of Arts from
Stuart University and has worked for the ABC as a rural reporter.
She now writes novels, short stories and screenplays from her home
in Tasmania’s Fingal Valley. Penguin books has just published
her first novel, Jillaroo, and her feature film script, Bachelors
and Spinsters has been funded to second draft stage. Rachael is
committed to raising the profile of Tasmania’s talent to national
and international publishers and markets.
Stephen
Thomas - Director
Stephen has been an art director, creative director and multimedia
creator. He has written and directed rock videos, short dramas,
documentaries and many television and cinema commercials. His short
film, Left Luggage, was selected for competition in the Brisbane,
St Kilda, Sydney and Edge of the World film festivals and his interactive
work, Five Bells, was presented as part of the Melbourne and St
Kilda Film Festivals and selected as one of the top twenty interactive
projects in Australia. In 1997 he made the documentary Pulp Town
about the tumultuous events surrounding the 1995 strike at the Burnie
Pulp. This documentary was purchased by SBS. In 2000 he made The
End of the Game, an acclaimed ABC documentary about a Tasmanian
deer shooter’s last hunting trip. He is currently completing
The Shack, a two part documentary series for ABC Television about
shack culture.
Kath
Symmons - Producer
Kath is a Hobart based film maker with a strong production background.
She has produced documentaries, drama, commercials and multimedia.
In 1998 she produced Roar Film’s landmark interactive work,
Five Bells, based on the poem by Kenneth Slessor. She has recently
completed production of Roar’s widely acclaimed interactive
- The Tragedy and Myth of the Tasmanian Tiger. She has also produced
Roar’s documentaries — Pulp Town, The End of the Game
and Song for Fanny. In 1995 she was awarded an Australian Film Commission
Producer’s Fellowship. Kath is currently completing The Shack,
two half hours for ABC Television about shack culture. In addition
to her role as producer, Kath also oversees the business affairs
of Roar Film.
CAST
Henry Nixon as Albert
Henry graduated from NIDA in 2000. Since then he has worked extensively
in theatre and television with roles in The Lost World, McLeod’s
Daughters and Life Support. He has also worked with Belvoir Street
Theatre and Marion Street Theatre.
John Jarratt as Bert
John graduated from NIDA in 1973 and quickly made a name for himself
in film and television. He played McCarthy in The Great McCarthy
and a year later landed a major role in Picnic at Hanging Rock.
Over the next twenty nine years he starred in more than 13 major
Australian feature films and eight mini-series, including The Odd
Angry Shot, We of the Never Never, Belinda, All Men are Liars, Dead
Heart, Fields of Fire, Palace of Dreams and The Last Outlaw.
Justine Saunders as Gloria
Justine’s film credits include The Chant of Jimmy Blacksmith,
The Fringe Dwellers, Until the End of the World and Top Enders.
Her television work includes Certain Women, Rush, Women of the Sun,
Prisoner, The Last Resort, Flying Doctors and Heartland. She has
worked with companies like Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre
Company, Nimrod and the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust.
Linzee Arnold as Trev
Originaly from Tasmania Linzee has worked all around Australia as
a musician and actor before finally returning to Hobart six years
ago. He has had roles in a number of films prior to Albert’s
Chook Tractor.
Les
Winspear as Les
Les has worked as an actor in Tasmania for more than fifteen years.
His credits include stage, film and television.
Jamie Bladel as Marjorie Tickle
Jamie trained as an actor at the VCA in Melbourne. Over a twenty
year career she has worked as an actor, writer and director. She
recently played the lead role in Steve Thomas’s hit musical
The Tank.
Photo: Matt
Newton
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