ASPIRING young writer, Jourdann Frost readily admits she is far more comfortable with pad and pen in hand than behind a camera, despite starring in a short film set to feature at junior Tropfest in February next year and the Forster Film Festival.
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“I’d much rather be behind the camera,” the Forster year 7 student said.
“It was really nerve-wracking, but I’m looking forward to seeing it.”
The short film, being shot by the Forster Film Festival’s Greg Smith, is based on Jourdann’s short story that won last year’s ‘Why I love My Library’ short story competition run by the Friends of Great Lakes Library Service (FOGLS).
“The organisers of that competition thought that the winning entry would make a great short film and after reading it myself, I agreed,” Greg Smith said at last week’s shoot at Forster Library.
“We’re going to enter it in this year’s Tropfest which is the world’s biggest short film festival and of course the Forster Film Festival. Today we’re shooting the signature item scene which this year is a balloon.”
The ‘signature’ item must appear in all Tropfest entries to show the film was prepared especially for the festival.
Great Lakes Library manager Chris Jones said the film was great for the library and the people involved.
“FOGLS had the idea for the competition which was very well supported and we were very happy to support it, it’s pro library, it’s pro reading and writing and uses modern mediums which is something we’ve been trying promote here at the library.”
It’s been a real whirlwind for Jourdann who is delighted that the story has been picked up.
“It just came into my head really, I love to write so when I saw the competition posted I thought why not.”
For someone who writes regularly and freely, the 200 word limit proved tricky.
“It was really difficult to get it down to 200 words, I had to write and re-write but I finally got it down to where I was happy with it.”
Jourdann hopes to pursue a career in writing in the future and the film experience has provided a welcome confidence boost.
“She’s desperate to be a writer or a journalist,” mum Shauna says. The next hurdle will be in naming the film which at this point is undecided with suggestions welcome.
“The story was just written in response to the question so there is no title as yet, so if anyone has any suggestions we’d be happy to hear it” Shauna said with a laugh.
