Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Depicting the year, a day at a time
Yesterday it was my turn to contribute to the 3six5 project, a worldwide online chronicle of 2011 from 365 points of view. My entry, about early morning walks, magpies and Mum, is here
Saturday, November 12, 2011
The Thunderbolt Mystery
I was invited to a location shoot at the old fossicking grounds in Uralla, to do a story about the making of a new docudrama about controversial local bushranger, Captain Thunderbolt. The atmosphere on set was surprisingly relaxed - probably because the actors were amateurs (albeit brilliantly cast ones), didn't have any lines to remember (the scenes were dialogue-free re-enactments), and the film crew consisted of only two people (director/cameraman Shayne Cantly and his lovely, warm partner/producer Jo Cantly).
I spent a guilt-inducing amount of time chatting to the actors and watching the filming. It was great fun. The guy who played Thunderbolt was perfect, a genuine slow-talking Aussie bushman by the name of Clint Poulsen. He lives on an isolated property 120km west of Chinchilla and landed the role of Fred 'Thunderbolt' Ward after his wife sent in a photo of him on his horse.
"The wife and I heard on the wireless that they were looking for someone to play Thunderbolt," Clint told me, the strong country burr in his voice evoking memories of long-dead, rustic great-uncles. "He had to ride a horse and have a beard. I never thought any more about it. But when I came back from work that afternoon, the wife said she'd put my name down for it. I thought it was a bit of a joke. I went off mustering for three days and when I got back she said I had the part."
While I was there, they re-enacted a legendary tale from Thunderbolt's life, about the time he and his teenage sidekick, Will Monckton, robbed some wandering minstrels on the road between Tenterfield and Warwick. When the bushranger demanded their money, the musicians protested that they had almost none. Thunderbolt relieved them of three pounds, and ordered them to perform for him. He liked their act, and promised that if he had a win at the Tenterfield races he'd send them back their money. His horse did win, and the money was returned, or so the story goes.
Jo suggested that I come back later that afternoon, to watch them filming the horse chase scenes. I wrestled with my conscience - I had more than enough material for a good story already. Luckily for me, it tipped down rain and I stayed diligently at my desk.
The full version of this article appeared in The Armidale Express on 24 October 2011, on p.1 and p.7. There's a preview here
I spent a guilt-inducing amount of time chatting to the actors and watching the filming. It was great fun. The guy who played Thunderbolt was perfect, a genuine slow-talking Aussie bushman by the name of Clint Poulsen. He lives on an isolated property 120km west of Chinchilla and landed the role of Fred 'Thunderbolt' Ward after his wife sent in a photo of him on his horse.
"The wife and I heard on the wireless that they were looking for someone to play Thunderbolt," Clint told me, the strong country burr in his voice evoking memories of long-dead, rustic great-uncles. "He had to ride a horse and have a beard. I never thought any more about it. But when I came back from work that afternoon, the wife said she'd put my name down for it. I thought it was a bit of a joke. I went off mustering for three days and when I got back she said I had the part."
While I was there, they re-enacted a legendary tale from Thunderbolt's life, about the time he and his teenage sidekick, Will Monckton, robbed some wandering minstrels on the road between Tenterfield and Warwick. When the bushranger demanded their money, the musicians protested that they had almost none. Thunderbolt relieved them of three pounds, and ordered them to perform for him. He liked their act, and promised that if he had a win at the Tenterfield races he'd send them back their money. His horse did win, and the money was returned, or so the story goes.
Jo suggested that I come back later that afternoon, to watch them filming the horse chase scenes. I wrestled with my conscience - I had more than enough material for a good story already. Luckily for me, it tipped down rain and I stayed diligently at my desk.
The full version of this article appeared in The Armidale Express on 24 October 2011, on p.1 and p.7. There's a preview here
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