Private Project

Asian Male, 60s, LEAD

63-year-old Filipino-Australian actor Alex Montes is given 48 hours to prepare for the biggest opportunity of his life. But his scattered enthusiasm takes over and the rest of his life falls apart.

  • Charlotte Nicdao
    Director
    Mythic Quest
  • Charlotte Nicdao
    Writer
  • Luke Goodall
    Producer
    The Followers
  • Bron Belcher
    Producer
    Shredding (short)
  • Charlotte Nicdao
    Producer
  • Alfred Nicdao
    Key Cast
    "Alex Montes"
    Love Me, Fisk, Neighbours, Offspring
  • Molly Daniels
    Key Cast
    "Ricki"
    Ronny Chieng: International Students, Tomorrow When The War Began,
  • Don Bridges
    Key Cast
    "Bill"
    The Clearing, Judy and Punch, Troll Bridge
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Runtime:
    15 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    February 2, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    25,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Charlotte Nicdao

Charlotte Nicdao is a Filipina-Australian working across the Australian and North American screen industries. She is the lead actress of acclaimed Apple TV+ series MYTHIC QUEST. As a director and producer, Charlotte is passionate about Australian screen stories that centre marginalised voices both in front of and behind the camera.

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Director Statement

I am extremely sceptical of films about actors. Not just because the film industry has the tendency to self-aggrandise, and no participant in that industry more self-aggrandising than an actor - but also because as an actor myself, I am super conscious of how people outside our business view what we do. The WGA and SAG strikes of 2023 highlighted the limitations of the broader communities’ understanding of what being a working actor actually looks like. How many people asked “Why does George Clooney need to go on strike?” ASIAN MALE, 60s, LEAD was sparked by an attempt to answer that question (TLDR George Clooney doesn’t, but the actor cast as his cab driver does).

It was also obviously completely inspired by my incredibly talented father, one of the first Asian actors to appear on Australian television in the 1970s, who I have watched audition for two-dimensional-stereotype after two-dimensional-stereotype since I was old enough to understand what an audition, or a stereotype, was. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to benefit from the (slowly) changing landscape of diversity and inclusivity on screen, but I think it’s important to acknowledge the actors of colour who came before, and how their contributions both paved the way - and have gone without proper recognition for decades.

ASIAN MALE, 60s, LEAD is about what inclusivity in a changing film industry actually looks like, how labour solidarity supports rank and file actors, and who is allowed to “follow their dream”.