Inspiration Plains
A residential nexus for older female artists where liveability meets creativity and the numbers count…Ka-ching! Why not come along and join Sister Abstraction’s sharing circle today?
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Harriet McKernDirectorSmile, Backwards Showgirl Variation
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Lisa HanssensKey Cast"Sister Abstraction"
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Susan Ling YoungKey Cast"Number Two & Number Four"
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Hiske WeijersKey Cast"Number Three"
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Kari McKernKey Cast"Number Eight"
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Harriet McKernWriterSmile, Backwards Showgirl Variation
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Harriet McKernProducerSmile, Backwards Showgirl Variation
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Carmen GalanProducer
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Gabriela LozaProducerErased
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Ruth SligoProducerErased
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Gabriela LozaDOPErased
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Gabriela LozaProduction DesignerErased
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Harriet McKernEditorSmile, Backwards Showgirl Variation
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Michelle BarrySound Mixer and Designer
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Catherine McQuadeScreen ComposerThe Widow
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Project Type:Experimental, Short
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Genres:Experimental, Comedy, Mockumetary
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Runtime:4 minutes 10 seconds
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Completion Date:March 1, 2021
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Production Budget:500 AUD
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Country of Origin:Australia
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Country of Filming:Australia
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
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CIFFI 2021Dehli
India
December 15, 2021
Indian Premier -
Cinemaking International Film FestivalDakar
Bangladesh
December 17, 2021
Bangladesh Premier
Honourable Mention -
1st Monthly Film FestivalBelgrade
Serbia
December 12, 2021
World Premier
Honourable Mention -
Festival RenuacSantiago
Chile
January 22, 2022
Chilean Premier -
Top Indie Film AwardsTokyo
Japan
January 5, 2022
Japan Premier
"Best Original Idea" 2022 - also nominated in Best Experimental Short and Best Humour -
Dare To Struggle Film FestivalSydney
Australia
April 23, 2022
Australian Premiere -
Setting Sun Film FestivalYarraville, Melbourne
Australia
May 9, 2022
Harriet has over 30 years experience in the Australian film and television industry across a range of roles. These include General Manager for the Australian Directors Guild, Co-ordinator of WIFT’s mentorship scheme and also of Screen NSW (fto)’s AURORA Script Development Lab. In 2015 she graduated as a mature age student from the International Film School Sydney (now AFFT) where she studied writing, directing and producing. Harriet is now re-ingniting her longtime ambition to work as a director. Her recent short film ‘Smile’ has screened to travellers on Virgin
inflight and at numerous festivals including Palm Springs Shortfest and recently as part of Australian Short Film Today. Harriet is currently developing longer form projects including a feature ‘Allegra Box Splits’ based on her well travelled comedy short ‘Backwards Showgirl Variation’ and is interested in seeing older women inhabit our screens.
Directors Statement Harriet McKern
Set in a creative artists' playground for older women, the film is a mock corporate promotion for a special sort of lifestyle village, an idyllic nexus of vision and liveability. Some of the cast play characters based on themselves. It was written and shot within a couple of days, has a DIY feel with a more sophisticated hopefully ironic post production. As such it sits somewhere between drama, oddball comedy and mockumentary with themes about artists, older women + non-binary folk and corporatisation. & with the exception of the colour grader, the whole cast and crew are older women. It also plays a little homage to the classic sci-fi 1960s UK series 'The Prisoner'.