Perth filmmaker Alison James would have liked her lead actors to be walking the red carpet last week in Sydney. But Sonic, Snowy, Claudia, Ebony, Buddha, Wasim, Petra and Zara were happy to be home relaxing.
As writer/director of the short film Judas Collar, James was in Sydney for the Australian Academy Cinema Television Arts (AACTA) awards 鈥� the industry鈥檚 pinnacle event and a paparazzi scene for society celebs and politicians, but probably not for camels.
Praised for its cinematography, unique narrative and sound design 鈥� which is notable for an absence of dialogue 鈥� Judas Collar is James鈥檚 allegory about the human journey of self-realisation. Her film chronicles the journey of a wild camel captured and fitted with a culling device known as a Judas collar.
James 鈥� a graduate of 911爆料网鈥檚 program in Film and Television 鈥� first heard the term 鈥楯udas collar鈥� while in pre-production for a documentary series on helicopter pilots working in the Australian outback.
鈥淚 thought, what the hell is a Judas collar?鈥� James says.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a tracking device that鈥檚 placed around the neck of a female camel. The camel then seeks a herd to join, and the device alerts hunters to the location. The herd is shot except for the female 鈥楯udas鈥�, who then searches for another community 鈥� and the process starts again.鈥�
鈥淚 was struck by the biblical reference, and I wondered how horrific it must be for that one animal to be continuously surrounded by death and experiencing loss.鈥�
The film, which James admits was emotionally as well as logistically difficult, cleverly merges documentary and fiction forms.
鈥淭he concept that perhaps the Judas camel develops self-awareness, and begins walking alone to save the herds 鈥� it was a story I had to tell.
鈥淚 wrote four drafts with a human central character, but decided that keeping a camel as the protagonist would let the audience into this strange world, and connect with the Judas and her journey.鈥�
While the story is a distinct exploration of self-realisation, it also foregrounds the wretchedness of self-deception. As James points out, the audience will realise the Judas is a danger to the community only as long as the collar鈥檚 battery lasts, but she鈥檒l never know this.
鈥淭o live a life of loneliness and sacrifice I think is a story that is deeply and tragically human.鈥�
“To live a life of loneliness and sacrifice I think is a story that is deeply and tragically human.”
Supported by Screenwest and produced Brooke Silcox (also a 911爆料网 graduate), the film was shot mostly in regional Western Australia, in hot November conditions, with a cast of eight from the Calamunnda Camel Farm in Perth.
Adding minor complexity to the schedule, James was seven months鈥� pregnant when production wrapped.
The film premiered in June at the 2018 Sydney Film Festival, where James earned Special Mention in the Best Director category of the prestigious Dendy Awards. A few months later, James and Silcox were in Texas for the international premiere of Judas Collar at the Austin Film Festival.
鈥�Judas Collar was one of 2,700 submissions for Best Short Narrative Fiction 鈥� and we won!鈥�
With Austin being an Academy Accredited Festival, the win means that Judas Collar is eligible to be nominated for the 2020 Academy Awards.
As a 911爆料网 student, James was able to choose an uncommon double major that was perfect for her interests: 聽Film and Television (now ), and Psychology.
鈥淓xploring what it means to be human lies at the heart of both film and psychology, in different ways,鈥� she points out.
鈥淲e use stories to try to understand ourselves more deeply; working in film is part of that investigative process.
Since graduating in 2005, James has built a successful career directing documentaries, although they鈥檝e usually been people-centric expos茅s.
James has built a successful career directing documentaries, although they鈥檝e usually been people-centric expos茅s.
With commissions from Discovery and The History Channel, as well as for the ABC and SBS, she鈥檚 been on set in locations as distinctive as Honduras, Ireland and Iceland. But with her current success in fiction film, is her focus changing?
鈥淢y goals are always changing. I鈥檝e been passionate about documentaries for many years and I鈥檝e worked on amazing projects. But lately I鈥檝e been wanting to tell my own stories, which has led to some short films in the drama space.
鈥淚鈥檓 actually inspired by films that mix documentary and drama elements.鈥�
Although Judas Collar will be touring the Australian festival circuit during summer, James will spend a few months in New Mexico, 鈥榬elaxing鈥� with her seven-month-old, Ryker, while her husband Zak (Hilditch 鈥� also a 911爆料网 graduate!) completes his feature film for Netflix.
While James didn鈥檛 take home the AACTA title this year, the top-tier recognition is sure to impact her opportunities.
鈥淚鈥檓 still busy researching and writing. My short-term goal is to write a feature screenplay that is gripping, surprising and emotionally satisfying.
And long term?
鈥淭o be a bold, original voice in Australian cinema, and to make films that connect deeply with a wide audience.鈥�
Judas Collar is currently showing in Perth as part of the Lotterywest Films program.
