Niki Aken

'Poppy' is a 13 minute short film about cinema projectionists. It was shot in March and April 2011 at Cinema Aurora in St Kilda, Melbourne, and we are now raising funds to complete post-production and get this film out to the world!

the inspiration 

‘Poppy’ is set in a cinema multiplex, before the digital age, when films came on reels not portable hard-drives. Screenwriter Niki Aken worked as a projectionist during university and was inspired to write this film based on the reactions of people she showed into the projection room. “Everyone thinks it’s a tiny room with a computer and you just press buttons,” she says. “You’re often running ten projectors at a time, and when you have to lace them up, then check the start of slides, trailers and feature for each one, plus making up and breaking down new prints – you’re literally running up and down that hallway for the whole shift.” However, the depiction of projection rooms on the big screen has traditionally been more romantic. “You see a lot of the reel-to-reel systems, where the projectionist is running one film only, calmly waiting to cue the next reel. That’s lovely and nostalgic, but it’s completely incongruous with my experience as a multiplex projectionist. I just wanted to show people what this job is like, before it all goes digital.”

funding goal

Our funding goal is $1500. Reaching our target will help us achieve two main things: complete the film (edit, sound, grade) and fund publicity, marketing and festival entries.

the crew

Writer and executive producer – Niki Aken

After graduating with first-class honours in Creative Communication at the University of Canberra in 2007, Niki has spent the past four years working in the drama department of Screentime, the television production company behind the hit series Underbelly. Niki joined the team as a Script Assistant on Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, and worked as the principal researcher on Underbelly: The Golden Mile and Underbelly: Razor. Before moving to Sydney to become a scriptwriter, Niki worked as a projectionist for three years while at university. 

Director – Anna Jeffries

In 2001 Anna Jeffries graduated from the VCA School of Film and TV as Outstanding Overall Bachelor Third Year Student. Anna’s graduating 25-minute drama China Face was critically acclaimed; a recipient of the Film Victoria John Harrison Script Award, Dendy Award Finalist at the Sydney Film Festival and nominated for Best Australian Short by the Film Critics Circle of Australia. In 2008, Anna was mentored by director Jessica Hobbs on the Southern Star John Edwards series Tangle. In 2010, after completing a Film Victoria FremantleMedia Internship, she directed an episode of Neighbours. Anna is establishing a career in television drama and continuing to build an independent body of work, with the intention of working across genres throughout her career.

Producer – Ariel Parisi

Ariel has worked in the media industries for over 17 years. She has a thorough understanding of animation, live action and digital production processes and requirements due to extensive experience working in areas such as Producer, Production Manager and Production Coordinator. From 2007-2010 In 2008, Ariel established Shoot Films with director Damian McLindon. Over the next three years they produced award winning short films “My Girlfriend Jim’ (St Kilda Film Festival, Dungog Film Festival, Winner Peoples Choice award at Bondi International Film Festival), ‘Billy” (New York International Children’s Film Festival, Heart of Gold International Film Festival) music videos and the award winning ‘Killer Figure’ – a 3 minute commercial that was awarded two ACS Gold Cinematography awards. Ariel joined December Media (formerly December Films) in March 2011 and is now working across December’s slate as the Group Production Manager.

cast

Poppy – Pia Prendiville

Rick - Luke Lennox

Jason - Billy Pope

Tom - Harry Borland