Oliver Burton

'Diagnosis' synopsis...

Eden waits in a doctors surgery for his diagnosis- the news isn't good. He has 7 months to live- maybe less, definitely not more. What will be die of? A car accident. Meanwhile, Jo is given medical news of a different nature, leaving them both with an impossible choice. 'Diagnosis' is a black comedy exploring life with a prophecy. We all know we'll die eventually- but how would you respond if you knew exactly when? And how. 

At its heart, 'Diagnosis' is a relationship drama, and a meditation on our expectations of life and death. We're shooting for the top- exquisite cinematography, brilliant performances and sensitive story-telling. Also, it's based on the Oedipus myth- but without the incest. Ambitious, who us??

How did we get here..?

Byron and Oliver met on the set of Wild Honey's music video "Break Away", and immediately recognised in the other a passion for great, actor-centric story telling. Byron's worked with so many famous people it would be obnoxious to list them (maybe we will if we get desperate). It was Byron's enthusiasm for the 'Diagnosis' concept was the kick up the arse that Oliver needed to actually write the script. It's his fault we're all here. 

Kate and Oliver met while auditioning for a theatre show in early 2017. Neither of them got the part. Who's laughing now, right?  (Not us, we could easily have done both. This business is so freakin' hard..) Kate also brought Carina and Jess along for the ride, yay for collaboration and networking!

Rod and Oliver met at high school. This time though the awkward, "so what've you been up to?" conversation really worked out awesome. Rod's a genius. A VERY well travelled genius. 

Ana and Oliver met in an Uber. That Oliver was driving. Acting is a glamorous life. Ana is a unique soul who genuinely loves doing all the administration, paperwork, fundraising and research that creative types suck at. They broke the rules and exchanged cards. Ana's now producing a film. It's a story as old as time. 

From there this rolling stone has also gathered the brilliant Erin James and Chantelle Jamieson. Erin and Chantelle share surnames that play on 'James', and the fact that they're incredible at what they do. 

What a pack of legends.

Meet the team...

BYRON KEANE - DIRECTOR

A Director, Producer, D.O.P, Editor, Animator, Composer, Byron Keane has been been creating work for some of the worlds largest brands for nearly a decade, including Cartier, Tiffany & Co, Revlon, Estée Lauder, Henkell, Campbells, Westfield & Myer Emporium. Beginning his career in Paris France, he has shot documentaries in Brazil & India, His work is seen by millions each across Australia & New Zealand each month.

ANA MUSSON - PRODUCER

Ana is our co-producer, taking care of the financial and business management side of the project. She currently works at Ernst & Young, and is the Global CFO of 180 Degrees Consulting. Her passion for the arts, and interest in bolstering support for the arts, got her involved in "Diagnosis". She has written, directed and performed in plays, but is unfortunately plagued by a cruel dichotomous love for opera and poor intonation. She has received accreditation with distinction from Trinity Guildhall, and co-ordinated performances at school, university and extra-curricular levels.  

ROD GOTFRIED - CINEMATOGRAPHER

www.rodgotfried.com

Rod is an Australian-based commercial cinematographer with experience working for some of the worlds most recognisable brands, having shot films in 6 continents around the globe. He has a passion for creating emotive and inspiring visuals that create a lasting impact. His style gravitates towards darker, low-key imagery inspired by cinematographers such as Roger Deakins and Mathias Boucard. 

OLIVER BURTON - WRITER | CAST | PRODUCER

oliverburton.com.au

Oliver is an actor based in Sydney. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Media/Communications) from the University of Sydney (though he spent more time in the drama society than the library) and a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting) from NIDA.

In 2009, Oliver produced the inaugural season of the Sport for Jove Outdoor Shakespeare Festivals and then went on to become SFJ’s founding business manager, producing and performing for the award winning company until leaving to attend NIDA.

Oliver is a regular face on Sydney’s improvised comedy scene, having founded impro company, The Post-Haste Players, for whom he continues to direct and play in the long-form improvised Shakespeare shows, Bard to the Bone and The Post-Haste Histories. When not performing works of fiction, Oliver can be found on Sydney stages working as an MC/presenter, with clients including Telstra, Sony Playstation and Fox Sports. 

ERIN JAMES - PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Erin James has always had a love for Film and Television, from a young age she dabbled in making her own props and costume pieces out of household items to emulate the characters she loved in Films, this sparked her love of production design and costume. Following the completion of her Bachelor of Arts (Film and TV), she began freelancing as a Production and Costume Designer on variety of different projects. She has just completed her second feature film A Long Night, (Starring Rachel, Beck and Malcom Kennard) as both a Costume and Production Designer.In her spare time she enjoys making artistic lighting pieces and had one of her pieces displayed in Vivid 2017 as part of the Royal Botanic Gardens 'Electric Forest' exhibition.

JESSICA PARAHA - FIRST AD

Jessica Taruna Paraha is a brown maori australian girl, obsessed with acquiring and intuiting human stories.

She has worked for television production company Essential Media, studied Fine Arts at UNSW Art and Design and has recently wrapped on the Lego Ninjago Movie. Currently she is working in production at Sydney's Animal Logic animation studio.

She reckons film can be a supremely accessible medium that allows for highly empathetic expression, being involved in this process is what she strives toward.

KATE CHEEL - CAST

Kate is an acting graduate of the Adelaide College of the Arts. Theatre credits include Three Sisters, The Glass Menagerie, Hedda Gabler, Jesikah (State Theatre Company of South Australia), Big Bad Wolf, Fugitive (Windmill Theatre Company) Brief Encounter (Kneehigh Theatre UK), Masquerade (Griffin Theatre/STCSA), Minus One Sister  (Stories Like These/Griffin Independent), Spring Awakening (ATYP), 4 Minutes 12 Seconds (Redline/Outhouse Theatre Company), The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant (MopHead/Redline) and Fracture (New Ghosts Theatre). Kate recently completed work as the lead on feature film Strange Colours, premiering at the Venice Film Festival. Kate has been the recipient of various scholarships and awards which have allowed her to study acting and directing in the USA and Europe.

CHANTELLE JAMIESON - CAST

Since graduating from WAAPA in 2009, Chantelle Jamieson has worked in film, theatre and television. She has appeared in feature films Eddy and Viv, Rip Tide and will next be seen in Will Gluck’s film adaptation of Beatrix Potter’s classic, Peter Rabbit.

Her television credits include House Husbands, Screentime’s Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away, and the Tony Tilse directed telemovie Panic At Rock Island. Chantelle was also a regular in the ABC’s legal drama Crownies, in the role of ‘Julie’.

Chantelle recently played ‘The Creature’ in Lally Katz’s Frankenstein (Theatreworks). Other productions include Fallen (Sport For Jove), The Importance of Being Earnest (DTC), and Look Back in Anger (Red line).

Chantelle created the web series Ang Wilson, which premiered at Seattle Web Fest 2017

CARINA BURKE - CAMERA/LIGHTING ASSIST

Carina is a Cinematographer and Camera Department worker with a background in Fine Arts, and a recent graduate of The Australian Film, Television and Radio School. There she was mentored in Cinematography by Australian DOP Justine Kerrigan and has recently screened short films in Antenna Documentary Film Festival and Made in the West Fest. She has worked on short films in both Documentary and Drama, as well as Television, TVC’s, web and corporate. Carina is a passionate storyteller above all else and loves the process of bringing stories to life on screen. 

YOU - BACKER

If you back 'Diagnosis'- at whatever level you can, you become part of our team, because your support will literally make this project possible.

Everybody on this project will be working for "profit share", which means in all likelihood, no one is getting paid- that means actors & crew. We're making 'Diagnosis' because we are artists, working for the pure reward of telling a great story. 

We are also deeply grateful for the fact that much of the incredibly expensive equipment needed to make this a world-class production, including Rod's Red- Scarlett (a seriously kick-ass camera!) will be lent to us by members of the production and generous friends.  

(So the final product is going to look a hell of a lot more expensive than this budget suggests!)

These two facts make this adventure possible. However, we will still be incurring the following expenses based on a 4 day shoot. 

Location Hire - $400

Art Department - $500

Equipment Hire (Digi Dolly, Easy Rig, Audio Equipment) - $880

Catering- $1000 (If you're not paying people the least you can do is feed them!)

Crowd Funding Expenses - $150 (Delivering on our promises!)

Public Liability Insurance - $520

Entrance Fees for Film Festivals - $250

Contingency - $300

= $4000

Making films is a tricky game but with our current and growing team, we're sure we've got them handled!

LOCATIONS...

The script calls for a couple of medical locations at the beginning and the end of the film - and after a tonne of searching, we've got 'em. We'll also be filming at a home in the Hills District (an Air BnB- the owners are literally the only people making any money out of this project!)

RUNNING OVER...

Time... Our experienced, gifted and vocal First AD Jess will be making sure we stay on track.

Budget... Ana will be keeping a watchful eye, but if we find we need more money to make this the film we've promised, Byron and Oliver stand ready to top up the tab!

SHOOTING IN FEBRUARY...

Jeez will it be hot!! Plenty of water. And sunscreen.