Fine Bone China

The story

Fine Bone China is a dark comedy that tells the story of two dysfunctional siblings grappling with their abusive father’s impending death. Because sometimes the love you need lives in exactly the place you don’t want to visit.

Leah’s tightly-structured morning routine is thrown into chaos when her brother Jamie arrives at her door, with news of their abusive father’s admission to hospital.

Set between the insular world of Leah’s apartment and the vastness of the ocean, Fine Bone China explores themes of family, trauma, forgiveness, and identity.

From the director

I've always found sibling dynamics the most fascinating. They are the people guaranteed to drive you up the wall, the ones who know how to hurt you the most in the least amount of time, but at the same time – for me anyway – they’re the people I'd drop anything for, and I know I couldn't do life without. 

Coming from a very loving yet complex family who rely heavily on humour to negotiate life, I've always been obsessed with dysfunction and how comedy can be born out of tension. 

Recently returning home, I’ve been back in the day to day family fold more than I have for over two decades. This has been heart-filling and challenging, at times in equal measures, but whatever hurdles have come our way, somehow they have brought us closer. So for me, the timing of this film is perfect. I want to explore the messiness of being human and tell stories that can hold the heartache and humour in one breath. 

Dysfunctional family stories are always relevant because let’s face it, families are difficult. We are thrown into the world alongside people we don’t choose, each of us with our own version of the same journey and then try to negotiate life by each other’s side. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But all I know is if I could choose my family, I’d choose the one I have. (Most days, anyway.)

Why this story? Why now?

Psychological trauma is often overlooked in discussions of family dysfunction and childhood trauma, but makes up almost 60% of reported instances. 

Instances of adults living with unacknowledged childhood trauma are even higher, with the personal, social and economic cost yet to be fully understood. Recognising and addressing the psychological and physical effects of childhood trauma is a mammoth task, even before you consider our lack of social awareness of the problem. Add in the fact that adults who have experienced emotional trauma may not have the family support necessary to seek out the treatment they need.

Often, it is the siblings who survive this that become each other’s first experience of unconditional love. When the first safe person in your life is as ill-equipped as you are to provide solid, healthy psychological support, there is no emotional or psychological anchor from which to build a sense of emotional security. You are cast adrift.

After 18 months of unimaginable global trauma, the need for understanding and compassion is greater than ever. In telling this story, we want to celebrate the unique bond between siblings, the importance of love and compassion in surviving major life events, and the value of vulnerability.

Cast

Briana Esmé as Leah

Briana Esmé Louise McGeary, known professionally as Briana Esmé, is currently completing her final year at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA)’s prestigious acting course. Born in Melbourne to a family of creatives, Briana was raised to appreciate the arts as a lifelong practice. As well as being an accomplished dancer, she is the first female to graduate from both the Diploma of Screen Acting and the Bachelor of Arts (Acting) at WAAPA. Her current project is Gloria by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar. Briana is thrilled to be a part of Fine Bone China and can’t wait to bring this story about siblings to life on screen.

Raj Labade as Jamie

From Sydney Australia, of Anglo-Indian heritage, Raj Labade is a 20 year old actor, singer, writer, graduating from WAAPA’s Bachelor of Arts (Acting) at the end of 2021. Raj is most inspired by opportunities to create exciting, provocative work that is visceral and unexpected. He is ready to begin his career in film, television and stage. 

Crew

Jennifer Piper

Writer and Producer

Jennifer Piper is an actor and writer who lives on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. He has performed for theatre companies across Melbourne and her plays A Scandal in the Weimar and That Time Everything Went And We Were Totally Fine are published via Australian Plays. JP’s short films, Facing the Future, At Home with Anne Zieté and Breakfast Tea – all created in isolation during Melbourne lockdown – have enjoyed official selection at various film festivals. JP’s chapter ‘Undyingly Queer’ will appear in a new textbook, Queering the Vampire Narrative, due for publication later this year. JP has two brothers; one older, one younger. All three are fans of dark comedy.

Emma Jackson

Director

Emma is an actor, writer, director, teacher and storyteller for both stage and screen with over 20 years of professional experience. As a performer, Emma’s career has spanned theatre, film and TV, both in Australia and internationally since her graduation from NIDA. She has performed across the country for all the major state theatre companies including Black Swan, Belvoir St, STC, QTC, MTC, SASTC, The Sydney Opera House and has been on countless Australian TV and film productions over the years, most recently playing Bree in How To Please a Woman, directed by Renee Webster, produced by Tania Chambers. Emma has built a career telling stories and last year her short film directorial debut, Deb, became a finalist at CinefestOz2020 for the Best Female Filmmakers Award. She also directed a music video for Clint Bracknell’s single Break Loose and Associate Produced short film, The Grazing Table. Emma has two older brothers who make her laugh more than anyone on the planet, except when they are playing Scrabble. Then she sometimes wants to punch them.

Alan Chambers

Associate Producer and Editor

Alan Chambers has worked as an actor, producer, high school teacher & theatre director in various locations around Australia. He graduated from NIDA with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts (Acting) in 2010 and is an alumnus of Curtin University (Performance Studies) and ACU (Teaching). Alan is the founder and former Co-Artistic Director of Sly Rat Theatre Company (2013-2019). In 2020, he relocated to Perth to learn film editing at the WA Screen Academy. His first project was the official music video for Clint Bracknell's Breakloose, directed by Emma Jackson. He is thrilled to be working with her again on a new documentary: Breakfast with Madi, and a short drama about siblings: Fine Bone China. 

Leslie Hornung

Associate Producer

Leslie Hornung is a Western Australian producer and writer, who has produced and written numerous short films and short documentaries, including the 2020 Audience-Award Winning short documentary A Safe Space For All. Leslie has worked with the Revelation Perth International Film Festival coordinating event support for four years and is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ community. Leslie is currently completing his Master's at the WA Screen Academy, majoring in producing and minoring in screenwriting. Leslie has recently worked as a note-taker in the writers' room for an upcoming TV series directed by Nicholas Verso and produced by Tania Chambers and is currently completing a Screen Australia Attachment through SBS under the mentorship of Hannah Ngo and Melissa Kelly.

Michael Sgro

Director of Photography

Michael Sgro is an emerging Perth DP specialising in narrative cinematography. His background as an actor and film director has granted him a strong sense of story and character, and his time working professionally in film and TV lighting has honed his keen eye for imagery.

Maxwell Goldie

Sound Designer

Maxwell Goldie is a filmmaker with a focus on editing and post-production. He has two siblings, both an older and younger brother, who have been through many struggles together and come out the other side proudly. His family is one of his most valued aspects of his life, and features in his tattoos. Maxwell was inspired by Fine Bone China’s powerful script, because of his family’s ability to always support each other, demonstrate their love and overcome any obstacles they face. He has worked on a number of projects involving siblings, and mental health, including the documentary Kia Kaha (2020), featuring Leon Ruri. Maxwell hopes to be able to make this film come to life through its sound design, working with brilliant sound recordist Aref Rashidan.

Aref Rashidan

Sound Recordist

Aref joins us as sound recordist for Fine Bone China. With a Diploma of Screen and Media and an Advanced Diploma in Digital Cinema, he is currently completing his Bachelor of Screen Studies at WA Screen Academy. He has a number of short film and CTV credits, and his passion for helping others has already made him an indispensable member of the Academy's 2021 cohort. Aref proudly calls himself a family person and is looking forward to Fine Bone China’s adventure into siblinghood.

How you can help

Our goal is to raise $3400 to bring Fine Bone China to life. All funds raised will directly support the film’s production, and bring Leah and Jamie’s story to life. Your support will help us create the most beautiful, engaging and authentic film we possibly can.

We will used the funds raised to:

• Book locations that work for the story - especially on the beach

• Hire specialised underwater camera equipment

• Bring in experts to keep our actors safe in specialised scenes

• Keep the cast and crew well-fed (there’s a lot of people involved in making a film)

• Create the right setting and costumes (including a whole bunch of teacups)

By supporting this campaign, you’re not just helping us shed light on an important topic; you’re also supporting new and emerging filmmakers with new stories to tell.

Welcome to the family

We’re all so grateful for your support.

Watch our progress on Facebook and Instagram 

Fine Bone China is produced by the WA Screen Academy (WASA) students, featuring third year actors from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

We meet, work and play on unceded Whadjuk Noongar Boodja and offer our respect and gratitude to elders past, present and emerging.