Our Story

On Christmas Eve, an exhausted single mother, Amelia, is in the middle of her Santa duties when she realises she's out of wrapping paper. When her best friend Danielle unexpectedly arrives, she seizes the opportunity to head to the local convenience store for more paper, leaving Danielle to keep an eye on her sleeping daughter.

Amidst mounting pressure as the night slips away, will Amelia's struggle to create the perfect Christmas morning all be worth it?  

Directors Statement

Sometimes, amidst the challenges of life, you need to roll up your sleeves and get the job done.  

As a filmmaker, I'm drawn to stories that delve into the complexities of the human condition, inviting reflection about life's sometimes complicated yet beautiful colours within our circumstances and our relationships. Growing up, my childhood was filled with challenges, but amidst the chaos and uncertainty, my mother always managed to weave moments of enchantment, especially on Christmas morning. Now, as a mother myself, I find myself reflecting on her quiet strength as she navigated the invisible burdens carried by so many during that time of year to create the seemingly effortless “magic” of Christmas morning.  

Santa Duties is a powerful exploration of friendship, a subtle look at loneliness and the unexpected moments of connection with strangers. It seeks to capture the essence of the holiday spirit in its purest form, away from the hustle and bustle of commercialism. The film serves as a quiet love note to motherhood and shines a light on the experiences of single mothers, a demographic often underrepresented in the mainstream media. As a filmmaker, I wish to champion narratives where women support each other and embrace the notion that they can be the heroes of their own stories.  

Working with such an articulate and heartfelt script, I am honoured to collaborate and direct this film alongside such a talented group of creatives. I'm immensely grateful for the trust of the Western Australia Screen Academy and the Western Australian Academy Of Performing Arts as we endeavour to bring this story to life. 

                                                                                                                                  - Alana Spencer 

THE CAST 

Bridget Bourke
Amelia 

Bridget Bourke is an actor from regional Victoria, completing her third, and final year, of the Bachelor of Arts (Acting) at WAAPA. She has been performing from the age of 8, playing violin, singing at school concerts, busking, performing at weddings, and music festivals. However, Bridget fell in love with acting after her first school play in year 5. From then on, she performed in every school production including in her graduating year, before securing a spot in the Acting Degree in her first year out of school. 

Within the three years she has explored a variety of roles including, a Chekhovian wife and mother, a Shakespearean princess, a 1940s 13 yr old girl, a French philosopher, a gang leader, a soldier, a Scottish mum and more.

Bridget is very excited to collaborate with the WA Screen Academy filmmakers of Santa Duties to tell a heartfelt story of family, friendship, hardship and the unexpected moments of connection with strangers during the Christmas season.

Bexley Spencer

Lilly

Bexley’s love for the creative arts started as a baby when she made interpretive masterpieces from her favourite fruits and vegetables. Now a budding young dancer at a local dance school, she enjoys ballet, tap, and musical theatre. When Bexley grows up, she wants to be a rainbow. 

Sukyeong Shin
Danielle

Sookyung Shin is from South Korea and is currently completing a Bachelor of Acting at WAAPA (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts). Sookyung began her acting journey by learning dance at the age of 12 and then singing at Ham-Lim Arts High School in Korea. Sookyung also has a strong passion for music, having learnt to play a variety of musical instruments being a part of an orchestra since primary school.

Sookyung is looking forward to collaborating with the WA Screen Academy filmmakers to bring this touching story of love, family and friendship to life.

Deep Sroa
Ryan

 
Deep has been studying and working as an actor, singer and writer for over 10 years and is currently in his final year of Bachelor of Acting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). 

During his studies at WAAPA, Deep has played King Leontes in Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale, Hugh Darcy in Harp in the South, Witch in Macbeth, and is currently highlighting as Bobby Burgess in Beautiful Burnout.

Santa Duties is such a beautiful story that is real and comes straight from the heart, and Deep is so grateful and excited to be a part of it.

THE CREW

Alana Spencer

Director

Growing up in Melbourne, Alana’s love for the arts started as an actress at the National Theatre in St Kilda. She then graduated from the intensive full-time program at 16th Street Actor’s Studio, working with industry mentors such as Jason Raftopoulos, Larry Moss and the late Elizabeth Kemp from the Actor’s Studio in New York. 

With an interest in telling female-driven stories, Alana was compelled to step behind the camera. She completed a Bachelor of Film in 2019, with her directorial debut short film winning Best Drama in New York’s Imagine This Women’s Film Festival. Now living in Perth with her young family, Alana is excited to grow her knowledge and joy for filmmaking while undertaking the Master’s program at WA Screen Academy. 

Robert Wilkinson

Producer

Robert began his filmmaking journey at North Metro TAFE in 2021, where he discovered his love for cinematic storytelling through screenwriting and sound design as well as developing a profound respect for the role of producing before beginning his studies at Screen Academy in 2024. 

With a love for drama and horror films, Robert's goal as a filmmaker is to tell stories that will shock, entertain, terrify, and touch the hearts of audiences. For now, Robert is eager to produce and help bring to life the warm family drama, Santa Duties. 

Antonio Ivic
Writer

Antonio has had a keen interest in film from a young age. After graduating high school in 2015, he wasn't sure what he wanted to pursue creatively. It wasn't until he began studying at TAFE that his passion for storytelling began to take shape. Whilst completing his Advanced Diploma in Screen and Media last year, Antonio had the opportunity to write and direct his first short film. 

Now studying for a Bachelor's Degree at the WA Screen Academy, Antonio is continuing to strengthen his love of the arts and craft stories that are close to his heart.  

Stephanie Beckham
Cinematographer

Stephanie is an artist and creator from Perth in her second year of the Master in Screen Studies at the WA Screen Academy. She has a background in acting and visual arts and enjoys bringing her experiences in other art forms to the screen. 

With a particular interest in telling female-lead narratives and working with other women, she is excited to take on the role of cinematographer for Santa Duties and to keep bringing stories like these to life in the future. 

Sheridan Neilsen
Sound Recordist 

After Bi Bi Baby, Sheridan was excited to work on another WASA Drama project to improve her skills in the sound department.  She found her interest in sound during her Bachelor’s Degree at Edith Cowan University, realising she wanted to know more about sound, enrolled at the WA Screen Academy. She has since found a love for screenwriting alongside sound and strives to combine the two disciplines. 

Her passion is finding ways the soundscape can contribute to the story. While sound accounts for 50% of the film experience, it isn’t usually considered one of the pillars of storytelling. Sheridan strongly believes that sound is a pillar of storytelling and is constantly working towards developing strong, sound-based narrative elements. 

Abbie Dans-Schunselaar
Editor

Abbie is a recent North Metropolitan TAFE and WAAPA graduate, with more than half a decade spent working in broadcast television. Growing up in a single parent home, she was very excited to join this project as the story rings very close to her heart. Abbie is very excited to see your donation under the tree this holiday season. 

Santa Duties is produced by WA Screen Academy (WASA) students, featuring third year actors from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).  By donating to this page you are donating to the students involved in this project. No funds will be received by Edith Cowan University, WASA or WAAPA. 

Budget Overview 

We need to raise $2100 to bring the magic of Santa Duties to life.

Your generous donations will be used for specific purposes. Funds go towards location fees, props, costumes, festival entries, and on-set catering, ensuring that every aspect of the film is of the highest quality. 

To express our gratitude, we're offering a range of perks to thank our supporters, including behind-the-scenes content, opportunities for on-screen credits and an exclusive tour at one of the set locations.

Your support for this project is not just about making a film. It's about amplifying the voices of single mothers, a group often overlooked in mainstream media. Your contribution will help us tell their stories and make a difference.