Mountains in Focus

My husband and I are part of the new wave of creatives who moved to the Blue Mountains in the wake of Covid-19. At the time we were unsure how distance from the city would impact our freelance careers, but we decided to dive in and not let work demands dictate our lives.

I am an actress/TV editor and my husband, Guy Edmonds, is an Emmy award-winning writer/director/actor/author. Truth be told, the move was an easy decision during the pandemic. Our industry had virtually shut down.

Living in a World Heritage area is certainly conducive to creativity. Inhaling the crisp mountain air bolts your senses awake. Standing atop ancient mountains that have weathered storms for millennia is hugely comforting when you are weathering the storms of a freelance arts career. We had always suspected the mountains was home to many creative types, and as we became more involved in the community, we were inspired by the large number of diverse screen practitioners, many of whom have thriving careers while still calling the Blue Mountains home. A recent MTNS MADE Salon showcased a handful of these people with a wide range of talent, from screen composers and cinematographers, to editors and writers.

For example, Natalie Beak, a film and TV production designer and Senior Lecturer in Production Design at AFTRS (Australia, Film Television Radio School) describes the restorative nature of "lazy mountain mornings…embracing the fog, mist, and rain and settling in,” after a hectic work schedule. “These ancient lands of the Dharug and Gundungurra peoples are some of the most beautiful in the world…Heading out for a simple walk can unlock new ideas…In terms of design, I often draw colour palettes from nature – collecting leaves and arranging them into a colour wheel for instance. The true spectrum of colour available in nature is fascinating.”

Film prop makers Lewis Morley and Marilyn Pride agree with the positive impact living in the mountains has on their creativity. Lewis says: “Our lives as creatives living in the Blue Mountains can be best summed up by one fond memory. I was sitting on my sunny verandah with a (huge) rubber hand nestled in my lap. As I carefully shaved away the mould lines, I looked out over the natural bushland surrounding our house. In the distance, the towers of the city glittered through the haze. It occurred to me that two hours hence, I would be right in there, but for now I was where I really wanted to be – and soon would be again.”

Many screen industry workers who live in the mountains thrived during the pandemic, being able to work from home. AACTA award-winning film producer Alex White (Babyteeth), who recently relocated with her actor/director partner Eden Falk, says: “One blessing of the last couple of years is that it no longer matters where you live, especially in this industry. Zoom has connected us with more collaborators locally and internationally, but it is so nice to be back in the room together with our collaborators when we can.”

Likewise, during lockdown Guy worked remotely to write the Emmy-nominated season two of Hardball, with every single writers’ room and development meeting being done over zoom. In terms of acting, Guy and I have both appreciated sending self-tape auditions to casting directors and avoiding the rigmarole of in-person auditions. Additionally, I have enjoyed a period of working as an editor on SBS’s Insight program from home.

Of course the distance doesn’t work for everyone. Natalie says the impact of living away from the city is "very real.” She recently completed a gig on the upcoming Stan series, Year Of. The demanding TV production schedule meant that the daily commute to Sydney was not sustainable, and she had to rent a basic studio in the city out of her own pocket. Both she and her family – partner Cleon Prineas, an Emmy award-winning screen writer (Beat Bugs, The Wonder Gang), and their two school-aged children – found this period very difficult, with Natalie only able to see her family on weekends.

The arts in Australia can be a fickle industry and surviving often means pivoting or diversifying your skills. Natalie says, “while my core practice has been working in film and television, I also design across events, commercials and have now entered the teaching sphere.” Her part-time teaching job offers respite from the gruelling hours of production, and she can “balance work and life surprisingly well, while maintaining important industry connections.” She adds, “I would love to see Screen NSW and Screen Australia offer dedicated funding for Blue Mountains created stories and content. There needs to be more opportunities for the creation of content made in the mountains.”

Kalani Gacon is a writer/director/producer of documentary and fiction who grew up in the mountains. In response to the lack of film opportunities, he created an organisation called Mountain of Youth which uses filmmaking to bring young people together. He explains: “Because there (wasn’t) really any film industry in the mountains I made my own opportunity…to keep myself making films and teach the next generation.” Mountain of Youth’s latest film production, Soles, is the culmination of a four-month mentorship program with students from Katoomba High School.

There is an exciting opportunity to harness and grow the screen expertise in the Blue Mountains and for the wealth of talent to be retained here. We have a myriad of world class creative talent, from writers, actors, and producers, to illustrators, animators, prop makers and scenic artists.

The future is optimistic for screen practitioners living in Greater Western Sydney with the plan to build a $150 million film production precinct located at Penrith Lakes. The 41-hectare precinct would include up to 10 production stages, filming tanks, construction and design facilities, as well as a film school – with the aim of employing up to 2,000 people on major movie projects. This is an exciting prospect for both aspiring and seasoned screen practitioners living in the mountains. Anything that integrates the film industry more with the mountains is welcome, with positive social, economic, and cultural benefits for not just those who work in the industry, but for the community at large.