Caiaphas Scene Six Pilot: https://youtu.be/SCWD9Bg0HdA

My aim is to produce the feature film, Caiaphas in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie next year.

It’s taken me quite a few years to finish writing the screenplay to Caiaphas. It has been a real life’s passion. Caiaphas started off as a play.  It has gone through numerous rewrites.  I’ve had it assessed by the Australian Writers’ Guild and had it worked shopped a number of times.

I am fascinated by the human condition, and in Caiaphas I examine the inherent aspects of being human. The film explores the marriage between the main character, Jerome and his wife, Alice and their tumultuous relationship. The film shows the pain and suffering from unresolved issues, as well as the frustrations, resentment and breakdown of communication and intimacy. Jerome’s relationship with other family members, like his daughter Vera, are equally strained.

There are the universal human struggles like the search for meaning and mortality in the film. Add conflicts in personal identity, religious beliefs and business ethics and you have a cracking family drama.

The screenplay also delves into Jerome’s strange dreams.  Dreams can represent unconscious wishes and urges.  It is a psychological realm where overwhelming and opposing desires come together demanding equilibrium and resolution.

I have been asked about the name Caiaphas, and is it related to the High Priest who helped crucify Christ.  There is a modern connection, but it's definitely not a biography of his life.

The last film I wrote and produced was a cyberbullying film called We R Gonna Get U! It was shown locally in Lake Macquarie and at three international film festivals and was a semi-finalist at another.  It was nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress at the Children’s International Film Festival of Wales.

You can now watch We R Gonna Get U! on YouTube at https://youtu.be/JwJJscU0spc

FILM DISTRIBUTION:

After the shoot and edit, the focus will be on releasing Caiaphas in domestic and international film markets, as well as local and international distribution channels.  It's our intention that as many people see this film as possible.

PLEDGE TO HELP US BRING THE FILM TO LIFE:

Producing a film independently is very expensive. We ask that you pledge some money to help in the making of Caiaphas. All received funding will go to preproduction, shooting, postproduction and distribution of the film. 

You will also be supporting Australian stories by pledging toward the creation and distribution of this film.

SHARE THE LOVE:

Share our story with family and friends, on social media and encourage your community to pledge. Please share the love by spreading the word far and wide.

WHERE TO FOLLOW US:

Follow us here to stay up to date on stories and our progress, or on our Facebook page at: goodnetiquette (Mental Health Films) and Instagram at: caiaphas_2026

SOME OF THE CREATIVE TEAM:

Keith Olbery (Writer and Director)

Over the years Keith has been involved fairly extensively in Theatre & Film.  He has completed courses in Film Making (Australian Film Television and Radio School 2019), Stage Directing & Theatre Production (National Institute of Dramatic Art 1994 and 2010).  He has also done courses in Script Writing & Acting.  Keith’s most recent scripts include We R Gonna Get U! (made into a film in 2019), as well as Rocket Rage (2017) and A Dog’s Life (2016) for the Newcastle Theatre Company (NTC) Play in a Day.  Keith has also been involved in a number of NTC  and other productions.

Meldi Arkinstall (Publicist and Operations) 

Meldi worked as a journalist at News Limited for 11 years, and covered a number of different rounds, including Police, Health and the Arts. She wrote for community newspapers, The Daily Telegraph and The Australian.

Since leaving journalism Meldi has worked in Marketing, Media and Communications for numerous organisations, including Central Coast Council, ABC Newcastle, The University of Newcastle, HMRI and BHP.

Teaching and training has been a common thread throughout Meldi’s career, and as a Fulbright Scholar who completed a Master’s degree at Indiana University, she is committed to Education. A continuous growth mindset underpins everything Meldi does, and as such she started working as a Job Coach for atWork Australia in January 2025. This role combines her skills in marketing, teaching and coaching as she empowers those living with disability move towards employment.

She is thrilled to be working with her husband of 14 years, Keith Olbery, to bring his lifelong project and second film, Caiaphas to the silver screen.

BUDGET OVERVIEW:

All money raised will be used in the production budget as shown above.  This includes equipment and shipping, wardrobe and props, cast and crew, catering, marketing, insurance and fees.

If you would like to be part of creating a great independent film, help us today by investing in Caiaphas.

Thank you.