FEATURED WORK

Behind the Scenes of ‘Second Chances’. Photo by Joshua Belinfante

Written & Directed by Rhys Kerec

‘Second Chances’ is the first film Rhys has written, and the second he has directed. It was selected from 14 different pitches presented by the Sydney Actors School 2024 Advanced Diploma ensemble to be produced by the school as their final Short Film Project. The script & pitch were also longlisted in the top 10 for the AACTA Pitch: Focus Initiative, sponsored by Sony.

The production of this film was the culmination of everything the ensemble had learnt over their 2 years of study and producing 3 short films earlier in the year. It was filmed over 3 days at Sydney Actors School and on location in North Sydney, on a budget of $1000. The students took up crew roles across the production, supervised by their tutor and technical advisor Dr. Joshua Belinfante.

The film premiered at The Ritz Cinema in Randwick on December 12th, 2024, as part of the Sydney Actors School Graduation Ceremony.

Behind the scenes of the ‘Graduation Showcase’ Set. Photo courtesy of Sydney Actors School.

The Sydney Actors School graduate showcase is produced and filmed by the school every year as part of the outgoing graduates’ portfolio works. It consists of multiple scene works, usually in pairs, performed on a shared set and filmed professionally. Intended as a showcase of the Actor’s abilities on stage, each pair picks a 2-4 minute scene from an established work to rehearse and perform with the guidance of a professional director.

For the 2024 showcase, Rhys acted as the Set Captain, charged with taking the vision of the director and working with the production manager to make it a reality. For this showcase, the director wanted to create a white, void-like playing space standing out from a black surround, in which featured set pieces and props could be placed to create the atmosphere of each scene. It also made lighting one of the most important aspects of each scene, as the furniture and floor would reflect and emphasise the colours, adding to the atmosphere.

The ensemble spent multiple hours collecting, sanding, and painting furniture to create the pyramid centrepiece.

‘Christmas Lunch’ was Rhys’ first foray into directing. Written by Lily Rawson, another member of the SAS 2024 Graduating Ensemble, the script was chosen through an ensemble vote as 1 of the 3 Short Films to be produced in their 3rd semester of study. Rhys was chosen to direct the film by a panel of the ensemble’s tutors based on his passion and professionalism shown during their Technology Craft classes.

The film was shot over 3 days, on a budget of $700, at two locations. It was the last of the 3 films to be shot, so the production had the benefit of a seasoned cast and crew that had found their flow during the production of the previous 2 films. With the assistance of the Writer and 1st Assistant Director Lily, and Technical Advisor Dr. Joshua Belinfante, Rhys steered the ship of the ensemble to produce a film that he is very proud of.

The film premiered at The Ritz Cinema in Randwick on December 12th, 2024, as part of the Sydney Actors School Graduation Ceremony.