SHORT SYNOPSIS
Jack is in mourning. It has been 2 years since the passing of his wife Lara, and in an attempt to forget his recent tragic past Jack moves into a remote country home - but the memories of his beloved wife follow him.
With the gentle urging of his elderly mother Jack turns to online dating - not realising that he is making contact with the ghost of the former inhabitant of his new home - hell bent on moving back in - whatever the cost.
She goes by the name of Magpie.
But Jack also makes contact with Sally, a woman in the real world with tragic secrets of her own - along with a desperate need to connect in a world drifting further apart.
A connection soon blossoms as Sally reveals her secrets to Jack, but not before his ghostly correspondent sets about sabotaging the emerging romance - with an increasingly enigmatic Magpie revealing her own sad truth to Jack.
A supernatural cyber/thriller romance where The Ring meets Wuthering Heights, MAGPIE is a tale of loss, love and hope that asks if the only way forward is to stop looking back – and if the very thing we fear is what will ultimately save us.
LOCATION
RAILWAY FARM
The homestead at historic Railway Farm was built by Irish settler, Tom Walsh in the 1860's, and has been the Walsh family home since. Set on 900 acres of working farmland, the family home is in its original condition and is the home to family matriarch and local identity, Mary Walsh - with her 9 children and 21 grandchildren never far away.
Railway Farm is also a social hub for the Trentham community and beyond, with local support for the filming MAGPIE gaining momentum.
Preliminary shooting at Railway Farm commenced over the weekend of July 2/3, 2022 - with principal photography planned for January 2023.
DARREN MARKEY - WRITER/PRODUCER
KATE WHITBREAD - PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ 'SALLY'
KATE WHITBREAD - PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ 'SALLY'
On completing his first screenplay LILLY, Darren travelled to West Hollywood where he got lost in a giant martini, somewhere on Sunset.
On returning from LA, Darren developed a slate of feature film projects including THE TUTOR, which did the rounds at Cannes 2016 and is slated for production during 2022.
Darren was screenwriter/associate producer on THE UNLIT, a supernatural/thriller feature film, released world wide in 2021.
KATE WHITBREAD - PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ 'SALLY'
KATE WHITBREAD - PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ 'SALLY'
KATE WHITBREAD - PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ 'SALLY'
Kate Whitbread is a producer of feature films, television series, television commercials, live theatre and events. Her company KWFilms develops and produces content with a focus on female audiences worldwide.
Kate’s feature film credits include THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME, THE CATERPILLAR WISH, SURVIVING GEORGIA and DEEPER THAN BLUE.
Kate produced and directed the supernatural thriller THE UNLIT - due for release in 2020.
ANGUS WATTS - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
KATE WHITBREAD - PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/ 'SALLY'
ANGUS WATTS - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Angus is an award-winning Australian screenwriter, producer and radiologist. He wrote and produced multi-award winning outback crime-thriller feature LOCUSTS, released theatrically in 2019.
Angus's second script 'The Blacksmith' won Best Thriller Screenplay - LA Film Awards 2016 and placed 3rd in the 2019 Queensland Screenwriting Awards. 'Legacy' picked up 13 international awards including Diamond Winner at the International Independent Film Awards 2016.
LEE MASON - 'JACK'
LUCY BEST - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/'LARA'
ANGUS WATTS - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Lee brings a wealth of experience having played many roles working solidly in film, TV and theatre for twenty plus years. He just completed directing his third film JUNK MAIL and featured in the theatrical release MISS FISHER AND THE CRYPT OF TEARS
Lee has won numerous awards for roles for his outstanding work in film, theatre and TV.
Lee has shares a wonderful relationship with LORNE FILM with his stand out turn as the disturbed and fragile 'Sgt Terrence Walker' in THE UNLIT - along with appearing in several short films featured during LORNE FILM 2019.
LUCY BEST - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/'LARA'
LUCY BEST - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/'LARA'
LUCY BEST - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/'LARA'
With a background in theatre Lucy has performed as an actor since childhood. In recent years she has worked with the Melbourne Shakespeare Company, several Fringe festival shows (Adelaide and Melbourne) and has worked as a voice over artist for stage and screen.
Lucy regularly produces and hosts Variety nights, as well as hosting for other producers.
Lucy has also written and produced several shows featured as part of Australian's festival circuit and independent productions in Melbourne, and is a novelist and screenwriter.
HELEN HOPKINS - 'MAGPIE'
LUCY BEST - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/'LARA'
LUCY BEST - ASSOCIATE PRODUCER/'LARA'
Co-founder of The Shift Theatre in 2009, Helen Hopkins has appeared in all their productions including The Girls in Grey, (published by Currency Press), Hallowed Ground - Women Doctors in War which featured at Edinburgh Fringe where it received a Summerhall Lustrum Award.
Helen has also worked for The Australian Shakespeare Company and appeared in the Green Room Award winning In Angel Gear.
She has featured in lead roles films including The Baga, The Marey Project, Hamlet X, Ghost Paintings 1-4 and Sensitive New Age Killer (SNAK).
PAUL HUGHES - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
PAUL HUGHES - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
PAUL HUGHES - DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
Paul worked for seven years as a focus puller on television projects and features such as VAN DIEMAN’S LAND, while concurrently serving as cinematographer on numerous TVCs and short films.
Paul was the main cinematographer on the award-winning web series COP HARD, co-directed by Jonathan auf der Heide, Alethea Jones and Oscar Redding, and shot the Tropfest finalist short film THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS.
Paul most recent credits include Director of Photography on the supernatural thriller, THE UNLIT - for which he drew universal praise for his beautiful and distinctive photography.
PROUD SPONSOR
