Several AFTRS alumni have joined forces on new online series, Liberty St, created by Duncan Ragg and Jessica Marshall (Playing for Keeps, Bad Mothers, Informer 3838).
The eight-episode series was shot with a full crew under strict lockdown conditions and has been released on collective, The Corinthian Food Store’s website.
Written to conform with government restrictions at the time, the result of the eight-week-long production period is a testament to the talents of the crew who worked on the series: directors Lucy Gaffy (Master of Screen Arts, 2009), Luke Marsden (Master of Screen Arts, 2017; Graduate Diploma in Directing, 2014) and Jo-Anne Brechin (Graduate Certificate in Screenwriting Fundamentals, 2013); cinematographer Emma Paine (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2010); series editor Jessie Hildebrand (Master of Arts Screen, 2018; Graduate Diploma in Editing, 2011); Tim O’Connor (Master of Arts Screen, 2018), who edited episode Mike, and Andrew Brown (Master of Arts Screen, 2019; Advanced Diploma in Visual Effects, 2017) who worked on animation/VFX for the series.
Starring Australian theatre royalty – Susie Youssef, Harry Greenwood, Sara West, Charles Wu, Catherine Van Davies and Steve Rodgers along with 2019 NSW Talent Camp participant, Tommy Misa – the series features eight personal stories taking place over a 24-hour period during lockdown and explores intimacy, loss and what is revealed about ourselves in isolation.
“A beacon of hope. I know it sounds dramatic but that’s what ‘Liberty St’ felt like when it came along at a time when most of us actors felt like we may never work again.”
- Susie Youssef
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The series was written during the height of Covid-19 fears and became a way for the creators to push through the deep struggles of isolation and stay connected with one another, with the creators describing it as, “a love letter to ourselves, our artistic community and each other.”
‘Working on this project has given us a chance to turn the restlessness and dreaming of isolation into something that speaks directly to the now and always, finding big stories in the smallest places.’
- Charles Wu
Liberty St is available to view online until 19 September on The Corinthian Food Store’s website.
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LIBERTY ST CREDITS
Created by Duncan Ragg and Jessica Marshall
Starring Contessa Treffone, Sara West, Harry Greenwood, Ava Caryofyllis, Steve Rodgers, Susie Youssef, Tommy Misa, Duncan Ragg, Charles Wu and Catherine Van Davies.
Directed by Lucy Gaffy (Master of Screen Arts, 2009), Isabella Andronos, Jeremy Brull, Luke Marsden (Master of Screen Arts, 2017; Graduate Diploma in Directing, 2014), Sara West and Jo-Anne Brechin (Graduate Certificate in Screenwriting Fundamentals, 2013)
Cinematography by Emma Paine (Graduate Diploma in Cinematography, 2010)
Production design and costumes by Isabella Andronos
Production design assist and art dept by Roze Hooij
Produced by Duncan Ragg and Katherine Shearer
Score by Charles Wu
Edited by Jessie Hildebrand (Master of Arts Screen, 2018; Graduate Diploma in Editing, 2011)
Editor, ‘Mike’: Tim O’Connor (Master of Arts Screen, 2018)
Animation/VFX: Andrew Brown (Master of Arts Screen, 2019; Advanced Diploma in Visual Effects, 2017)
