2025 - The Year That Was

What a year 2025 turned out to be!

Not one but TWO proof of concept short films shot and completed from scripts I'd written to support corresponding feature projects. One, a fictional whistleblower story starring Myles Pollard and Caroline Brazier in the style and tone of the feature screenplay based on Andrew Wilkie's book Axis of Deceit. Both the feature and the short are called Truth To Power. 

The second, a self contained short utilising a story strand from my high concept horror screenplay Doomscroller, starring newcomers Mackenzie Reynolds and Jayk Thomas. This one is called #doomscroller.

The feature Doomscroller would go on to be very well received at the 37⁰South film market in Melbourne. I'll be working on a new draft based on market feedback as a priority in 2026. 

Between those two shoots I was accepted into Screenwest's revived Feature Navigator initiative with a third feature project, The Agenda. What an inspiring and informative four days discussing the project with industry professionals. 

Speaking of The Agenda, it was one of two feature scripts read on separate nights at Scripts and Sips. The other one being the thriller Turbulence. Thank you to Ryan Woosnam for organising such terrific evenings and all the actors who read on those nights and gave such perceptive feedback afterwards. 

I received periodic updates on the werewolf feature Bull with the script still in circulation and a possible co-production in the offing.

The second half of the year saw two separate instances of actors approaching me after having been given my name by actors I respect. One has led to a new short film script called Undercurrent which I'm excited about. The other could possibly lead to developing a synopsis into a psychological thriller that is right in my wheelhouse. 

I even started writing a play which, in my fashion, is based on a scenario not too tangential to the fictional Truth To Power short. 

New collaborators, new projects, a renewed sense of enthusiasm and optimism as 2026 unfolds. I re-joined the Australian Writers’ Guild on Christmas Eve and also found an excellent intellectual property lawyer to bounce things off.

Highlights include:

Being on set when Myles and Caroline were going at it in a pivotal scene from the Truth To Power short. What a joy to see your words brought to life by such excellent actors. 

Again, from TTP… the casting of recently graduated WAAPA student Deep Sroa who went head to head with Myles. 

Meeting the Cairnes Brothers of Late Night With The Devil fame and discussing Doomscroller with them at Feature Navigator. 

Reconnecting with editor Lawrie Silvestrin who edited my first produced short film (Slice)… over twenty years ago! 

Working the ol’ socials to ensure we met the crowdfunding target for the #doomscroller shoot and, indeed, exceeded it. 

Reaching out to a student film-maker to give feedback on her short film script because the subject matter resonated deeply. 

And perhaps most of all, the goodwill from people who donated to the crowdfunding campaign and/or asked about my film projects, especially in theatre circles where I'm better known as a reviewer. The support and interest throughout the year has been truly amazing!

So thank you to all the people who believe in me and my work.

Let's see what 2026 brings…

The Proof of Concept, Take 2

All it took was three months. From when we finished shooting one proof of concept short film - Truth To Power - until we embarked on the same task with a wildly different project, the horror script #doomscroller. 

I say 'all' as if it were nothing. Of course, it's a massive task to go from one self-financed short film to another in such a tight timeframe. It's kind of remarkable if I think about it. 

But we didn't have time to think. From that shoot at the end of January to completing the short and preparing a funding submission for its feature counterpart, the team focussed pretty exclusively on Truth to Power.

After a comprehensive effort, we handily met the funding deadline in early March and instead of resting on our laurels and waiting to see what the outcome would be we immediately launched into planning the next shoot over the Anzac Day long weekend. 

The 'we' in those sentences is the same creative team as Truth To Power - myself as writer, producer Jaimee Peasley, and producer/director Tim Dean though Tim would be concentrating on directing only for the DS short with Jaimee as sole producer under the Patch Productions (Australia) Pty Ltd banner. On this one though we needed a little assistance. Which I'm delighted to say we found through several avenues.

While the Truth To Power short is a 14 page, dialogue heavy script with multiple transitions in and out of imagined scenes, it's basically set in one location - a conference room. 

The Doomscroller script, at a svelte 8 pages, is dialogue light, essentially a two-hander but has an effects shot and ended up being filmed in multiple locations.   

Jaimee established a crowdfunding campaign through the Australian Cultural Fund which we needed to ameliorate out-of-pocket costs having just been through a DIY shoot. With my financial situation increasingly parlous, I gritted my virtual teeth determined to help meet the target by hitting the socials. Not only did Team DS meet that goal we went a little over. A HUGE thank you to the people listed at the end of this post and all the anonymous donors as well!    

Then there's the crew, many of whom were with us on the TTP shoot. Jaimee put together another outstanding collection of talented people who worked tirelessly over the three day shoot, a lot of it at night, donating their time and expertise. To see so many of the same faces reaffirmed in my mind the quality of the script as well as an acknowledgement we were going about things the right way with Tim's directing and Jaimee's producing skills again to the fore. Thank you to one and all for your excellent work and belief in us. 

The same with casting. Heaps of self-tapes came in from talented young actors and we found our leads in newcomers Mackenzie Reynolds and Jayk Thomas after doing callbacks. They acquitted themselves in style over the shoot. 

While I was on set the whole time for TTP, it being our first production as a trio, this time I stayed well out of the way and let Tim, Jaimee, the cast and crew do their thing. I had absolute confidence they had everything in hand. I rocked up for a few hours on the first day - apparently ate all the chips - and for a few hours on the final night. Special mention to script supervisor Matthew Keenan who had my back as a proactive and thoughtful guardian of the script. 

Now I eagerly await a first assembly of the film even though there are some pickup shots still to be done. Early word from our editor Lawrie Silvestrin is very encouraging! 

I'm super proud of what we've achieved in the first four months of the year. To add to the list we were also accepted into Screenwest's Feature Navigator initiative which took place less than a fortnight before our shoot. But that's best left to another post as an amazing experience with yet another feature project. 

For now, THANK YOU to the following people who donated to the #doomscroller crowdfunding campaign and the many other people who wish to remain anonymous:

Michael Facey, Karen Connolly, Alan Gill, Jason Jones, Janelle Pelchen, Narelle Townsend, Alice Reynolds, Naomi Scalora, Virginia Moore-Price, Alzbeta Rekosh, Aaron McCann, Jane Rennick, Charli Peasley, Drew Anthony, Thomas Dimmick, Katy R, Dolores & Donald Hyde, Courtney Magee, Rowan Marshall, Jeffrey Jay Fowler, Sue Chalcraft, Ryan Davey, Carly Portch, e Group Holdings Pty Ltd, Jonathan Beckett, Carol Peasley, Donna McFetridge, Lynette Cuthbert, Bruce Turner, Kieran Ridgway, Phil Bedworth, DMC Conveyor Services, Rosemary McKenna & Peta Reynolds Lugg. 

Also, thank you to the people who see me at shows and ask about my film endeavours or message me. It really means a lot.

Richard

Doomscroller - Crowdfunding Campaign

I’m a writer. And of a certain age. All the whizz-bang multi-media presentations aren’t really my thing. So I’m just going to write.

It’s difficult asking people for money. Especially now. I know that. But here’s why.

I’ve written a horror screenplay a lot of people seem to like very much. Industry people whose opinions I value and trust.

To have a shot at getting that feature script made we first need to demonstrate we know what we’re doing. To that end I’ve written a self-contained short film – a proof of concept. Again, another script people seem to like very much.

We are shooting that short film over the Anzac Day long weekend. This is coming off the back of shooting another proof of concept short at the end of January which was a trial of fire for me and my creative collaborators which we passed with flying colours.

Except it means our resources are somewhat depleted. Not in the talent, goodwill, right way of going about things perspective. But in the dollars kind of way to look after our cast and crew and for any additional equipment we may need.

Why should you care if Richard gets to make a great short film to possibly get to make a feature film?

It’s a good question.

It feels like I’ve served a twenty-year apprenticeship and suddenly everything is happening all at once. Crazy things, wonderful things, exciting things.

I’d like to think that that over the journey I have been supportive of people with their own creative dreams and endeavours. Nobody owes me anything though.

But if you are able to spare a few dollars in a tax-deductible donation I’d love to be able to show you all what my creative talents and dreams are.

If you got this far, thank you for reading. To those people who have already donated, I cannot sufficiently express my enormous gratitude.

The link to make a donation is here.

Thank you for your consideration.

Richard

The Whirlwind

My head is spinning. It's like I've served a twenty year apprenticeship and now the universe has decided I actually know what I'm doing as a writer. This year has been nothing short of sensational so far. Not one but two feature screenplays in play with another feature project waiting in the wings. Not one but two proof of concept shorts with one already shot and close to being finished with the other being shot in less than a month.

I've been writing well for a sustained period. My key collaborators, Tim and Jaimee, have been spectacular. People are reaching out in amazing ways - new faces, old contacts, exciting opportunities.

I'm humbled and heartened by the response to my scripts from other writers, actors, crew, experienced practitioners whose opinion I value enormously, and the market. Tim, Jaimee, and I have been taking very positive meetings on Doomscroller while the Truth To Power feature is in for West Coast Visions, accompanied with a short I'm incredibly proud of.

More than that though, I've been able to assist people with their own projects; brokering introductions, providing feedback, and being an encouraging voice. My mantra is pretty simple - ‘when you get the chance, you do good things for good people’ so it's been a delight to help out where I can. It's also a joy to be surrounded by such positive creative talent.

Then there's the possibility of entering into a writing partnership that could be a dream scenario. Head. Spinning. Linda Blair style. Without the projectile vomit!

Yes, I know I'm an optimist and that a million things have to go right to get a film up but damn if we ain't poised nicely to, as my producer said on a film shoot recently, “turn this dream into a reality.”

And that's pretty damn exciting!

Introducing... Doomscroller!

On 15 June 2023, probably in the wee hours, I jotted down a story idea in the Notes application on my mobile. This was after I'd read a post on Twitter - when I was still on what would become the dumpster fire known as X - that asked why masters such as Scorsese and Spielberg only made ‘period pieces’ these days. The answer posited was that the smartphone had made it increasingly difficult to generate drama/tension with everybody being connected all the time. That's a discussion in and of itself but what it did do was sponsor an idea… 

The first line of my note to myself was: “If mobile phones in movies are a problem lean into it.”

From there the high concept horror film Doomscroller was born with the tagline:

“Being glued to your phone has never been so deadly.”

I'm going to be a little obtuse here as it's a relatively new project in development. However, it's one that seems to be gaining some traction.

That tagline turned into the One Liner:

“When six strangers, all with a dark online secret, wake up in a deserted house with a mobile phone glued to their hand a malevolent voice tells them that if the battery hits zero percent the phone will explode.”

I describe it as Se7en meets The Menu; the latter film giving me the inspiration for the second act turning point. Yes, this is a long way removed from Saw!

I did my usual development process, namely a detailed beat sheet before attempting a draft, and something a little unusual. I pitched it to my director Tim Dean who I normally work with on thrillers and political stories. I wasn't sure if horror was his thing so I was somewhat surprised and delighted when he loved it.

Then another surprise. The first draft came out quickly and relatively easy. Including the third act. I could see it so clearly. I was especially happy about the ending as I've worked on scripts before where I was constantly rewriting the third act and it's agony.

It's now up to fourth draft stage and yes, there is a proof of concept short taking a strand out of the feature and making it a self-contained story.

As producer Jaimee Peasley came on board to work with us, I sent off the short script initially to gauge her reaction. She loved it too and became instrumental in applying for a funding grant. We ultimately weren't successful even though the funding body apparently loved the short script. However, it was a great exercise for the three of us to work together as a creative team and introduce ourselves as such to Screenwest.

Meanwhile, on the feature front incredible things were happening that I can't talk about in detail at the moment. A memorable pitch of the concept that led to another pitch meeting. A meeting before Christmas that I pushed hard for to confirm whether the execution on the page met the promise of the concept. That 90 minute meeting validated my belief we had something very promising.

Now I wait for notes before the next rewrite. And some other things to fall into place.

I'm really excited about this one. It has commercial potential and a killer concept, pun fully intended.

Stay tuned!

The abuse of digital technology will no longer be tolerated. You have been warned #doomscroller