By Mitchell Clarke
A Pakenham student’s final year media project has gone global, with the short film winning a number of awards in a film festival.
Aspiring filmmaker Harrison Rook, 18, had hoped his year 12 media project would be the very beginning of a career in the film industry.
But when Covid hit, Mr Rook was forced to rethink his original story, and the way he could bring it together.
“Being a year 12 student this year was a challenge for sure,” he said.
“Locations were limited and the optimistic cast I had, had to be cut to five or so. I went back to the drawing board at the very last second, rewrote dozens of scripts and eventually created a new story that would hopefully inspire others who needed the courage during this lockdown.”
His new film, ‘Rise and Shine’, is described as a “comedic yet fantastical” journey through a teenager’s mind.
“It’s a short film about Cadman, an arrogant and pessimistic young man who sleeps all day to avoid facing his fears in the real world,” Mr Rook explained.
“However, his conscience has had enough and decides to put him through a series of dreams and nightmares to wake him up and teach him what it takes to be courageous.”
While the strict lockdown would pose headaches for Mr Rook, who was tasked with writing, directing, producing and acting, he knew it would be achievable.
“My teachers, parents and peers thought that it would be impossible as it featured a battle scene with monsters on a wasteland. But nothing is impossible.”
Ensuring he kept in line with Covid restrictions, Mr Rook managed to shoot every scene within two weeks.
The family’s small garage was cleared and used to film 75 per cent of the short movie. A green screen was also used.
“There were scenes that were difficult to shoot but we persevered and took the challenge head on as there was no going back,” he said.
Once filming had wrapped, Mr Rook spent three hours each night for two months editing the entire project.
“All of a sudden I was modelling and manipulating 3D objects, colour keying green screen footage and doing CGI (such as simulating lightning, ash particles, clouds, fire, etc.) in after effects.
“I really had no idea what I was doing sometimes during the second lock down as these levels of editing were advanced and I didn’t know anyone else who knew how to do this stuff either.
“I winged it most of the time, experimenting and failing over and over.”
But the final product would prove to be worth all the “blood, sweat and tears”, Mr Rook explained.
The movie was submitted into a first time film festival for green screen short films, which was being co-directed by Australian actor Jonny Pasvolsky.
The global festival received entries from the United States, United Kingdom, Iran, Ukraine, Ireland and Italy.
“We submitted it considering our film met the green screen requirements and we had nothing to lose,” Mr Rook explained.
In late November Mr Rook was told his project had not only been nominated for three categories, but he’d actually won all three.
He took out Best Male Actor for his performance as Cadman, Best Use of Green Screen and tied for Best Film.
“The team and I were speechless, not only was the judging panel populated with well-known names … But we had put together an award winning film in a garage during Victoria’s harsh yet necessary lock down. It was incredible,” he recalled.
Mr Rook’s film has since been named a nominated finalist at film festivals in Czech Republic and Slovakia, and was officially selected to feature in upcoming festivals in India and the United States.
More information on the film can be found on Instagram via @rookie_films.
