Hayley Edwards

‘Noah’ is a short film being produced by students at the Western Australian Screen Academy (WASA) in collaboration with the talented third year actors at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

The film follows the story of Nadia, a young woman struggling to deal with the loss of her brother, Noah, and the recurring thought that, a year after his death, she is the only one still fighting to keep his memory alive. That is until she finds herself face-to-face with Oscar, Noah’s best friend and the man responsible for his death, who may also be the one person who knew her brother as well as she did.

Together, they set out to create a legacy that reflects the talent and potential that Noah left behind.

                                                    Sam Corlett as Oscar and Mikayla Merks as Nadia

THE CREW

Director - SHANE VAN LITSENBORGH

Shane coyly ventured from TAFE to Edith Cowan University after completing a Diploma of Screen and Media. In 2017 he completed his Bachelor of Creative Industries, majoring in Film and Video, and is now persuing a Masters of Screen Studies at the WA Screen Academy, specialising in Directing and Cinematography. Shane has been honing his skills in different areas of storytelling and enjoys experimenting with ways to engage with an audience. He is fond of living vicariously, drawn to the captivating grasps of narrative work and slipping into a new character’s world.

Writer - EMMA BEEL

Emma graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and Psychology. She is currently studying a Master’s degree at the WA Screen Academy, specialising in Screenwriting and Editing. Emma’s writing interests are predominantly in drama with a focus on exploring the human condition and creating empathy for those misunderstood by society. ‘Noah’ is her first short film script to be produced and she is looking forward to the learning experience of seeing one of her stories play out on-screen.

Producer - HAYLEY EDWARDS

Hayley is currently studying a Masters in Screen Studies at the WA Screen Academy, specialising in Producing, Writing and Directing. She previously completed a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia, majoring in Media and Communications and English, having particularly enjoyed the film and video units. ‘Noah’ is the second film she has produced at the Screen Academy, after the short musical film “Knock-Out” in 2017. Hayley is excited to be working on ‘Noah’ and hopes to bring many more compelling stories to the screen.

Cinematographer - BRENDAN JOEL

Hailing from the West Coast, Brendan Joel is an Australian cinematographer who is passionate about evoking emotion through visual storytelling. He has spent the last several years working on a range of projects including music videos, narrative and commercial work as well as innovative audio / visual projects. He is currently completing a Masters in Screen Studies at the WA Screen Academy.

Editor - KATE PARKER

Kate Parker is a current Masters student at the WA Screen Academy, with a passionate focus on editing. Having graduated with a Bachelors in Film and an Advanced Diploma in Visual Arts, Kate has dilliently explored many fields within the creative industries. In 2011 Kate and three fellow TAFE graduates entered Sculpture by the Sea only to walk away with the $15,000 Sculptor Scholarship Award, which then took them to Sydney for the Bondi exhibition. Complete with a self-proclaimed "addiction" to editing, Kate firmly believes in making the world a better place, and that film has the power to make a "reel" difference.

Associate Producer - EMMANUELLE DODO-BALU

Emmanuelle is in her final year of the Bachelor of Arts (Arts Management) course at WAAPA, and she is undertaking a producing unit at the WA Screen Academy as one of her electives this semester. Noah is the third short film she has been involved with, and the first she has helped produce. She is passionate about bringing stories to life in any form, and she is confident that the team brought together for Noah will create a compelling and uplifting film for audiences around the world.

All of the funds raised will go towards making ‘Noah’ the best possible film it can be.

The majority of the funds raised will be used to create the world of ‘Noah’. Our team has a very strong vision for this film and we would love to have the best production design possible.

The supporting roles in ‘Noah’ are crucial to the film and we want to have the best possible actors in these roles. We have two professional Perth-based actors on board. They have generously agreed to give of their time and talent to bring this film to life, and we would love to compensate them for their work.

We would also like a portion of our funds to go towards submitting ‘Noah’ to national and international film festivals. We believe that ‘Noah’ is a quirky, heartfelt story that would resonate with audiences worldwide.

                                                 Sam Corlett as Oscar

Approximate Budget Breakdown:

$200 – Costumes

$300 – Professional Supporting Actors

$1000 – Props, such as a gravestone and safety glass

$500 plus any additional funds – Festival Entry

Our biggest challenge will be filming a scene involving shattering glass. We need a specific type of glass that will break safely in front of the camera and create that magnificent shot that our director and cinematographer are looking for.

Another challenge is sourcing the right props. We will need an original painting created for the purpose of the film, as well as a gravestone to act as Noah’s. Your contribution will allow us to obtain these and any other props we require.

                                                      Mikayla Merks as Nadia

Please support us and make our dream of ‘Noah’ a reality.