
When I was growing up, I went to an all-girls school and one of the highlights of the year was the father-daughter camp. Each year we would return to the same camping area South of Sydney’s city, completely surrounded by National Park and right next to the beach. It was a complete escape. Even years later, the impression of place is so clear in my memory. And so, in this place in the South of Sydney, my film is set. I had hoped to make the film in Sydney as well, but with the craziness of 2020 I've decided to return to Melbourne to make the film.
For a while now, I’ve been interested in exploring the human experience of grief. We experience it as a community, as an individual, and also through other people’s experience. The idea for When I Go came about when I was thinking about the father-daughter camps. And so I wondered, what if somebody wasn’t there who was the year before? The film surrounds the main character, fourteen-year-old Delilah. In the past year (since the last camp), her friend Phoebe has passed away. The film surrounds the idea of time having passed since the loss, but the feeling of someone missing still remaining in everyday life.
One of the things that I was sure of when writing this script was that I wanted it to be really subtle. I wanted the experience of grief to be second, and the camp to be first. As the girls go about their usual camping activities, such as kayaking and card games, everyone in the group is acutely aware of the loss, but no one speaks of it. A spanner is put in the works when Phoebe’s father, Peter, arrives at the camp. He was invited by the other fathers last minute to include him and support him in this hard time. When faced with loss, the community is so important in supporting one another. Peter’s presence at the camp, however, confuses Delilah’s experience of grief so far because now, she has to face it head on.
The owner of this listing has agreed to abide by local 'working with children' regulations. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Audition / Rehearsal / Production dates
Production dates: 27th of Feb - 2nd March (4 day shoot)Rehearsal dates: the week of the 15th of Feb
Job payment
Unpaid – this is a collaboration opportunity - Student Graduation Film
Expenses paid - Accomodation (if required) will be provided.
Collaborations should create mutual benefit and are usually amateur, student or 'Time for Print' projects.
Delilah
Delilah likes to keep to herself, but she relies heavily on the strong friendships around her.
Female, aged 15 to 17
Apply nowSupporting Female Leads
Delilah has four close friends from school who attend the camp with her and their fathers. They all grew up together and must support one another when faced with the loss of their friend, Phoebe.
Female, aged 15 to 17
Apply now