Two incredible young University of Adelaide students, Yasmin Wright Gittins and Cooper Williams, have taken their own initiative and their own (very limited!) money, to make a film about the beloved Adelaide Fringe Festival.
On the Fringe, is a documentary featuring five local comedians chatting all things comedy and Adelaide Fringe related.
It has been successfully selected for the Port Adelaide Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival and was also a finalist in the Changing Face International Film Festival. It has been being aired on C31 and is due to be aired on C44 this month.
The creation of this documentary was a journey not just for the participants, but for the producers, as they struggled with homelessness, study and working casually.
Glam caught up with Yasmine and Cooper to ask them some questions about this amazing feat.
C=Cooper Williams
Y=Yasmine Wright Gittins
What motivated you to make this documentary?
C: We have both tried stand up comedy and were aware of all the funny people in Adelaide with a unique style of comedy. I wanted to make this documentary because I thought it would be fun and give a voice to some local talent.
Y: I think people who choose to share comedy in this way are fascinating people. The documentary evolved out of our interest in film and its power to bring people’s stories to a broad audience. And also all the laughs we had watching these comedians locally!
What were the main struggles you had to over-come in making this film?
C: The biggest challenge we faced was experience. It was our first production and we learnt so much. It was challenging to acquire funding, establish contacts and get a crew to work for free. Yas and myself effectively directed, produced, filmed marketed, edited and organised the whole production. Going forward I know we understand the process much better but it is definitely a barrier to first-time film makers to get a project going.
Y: I think our biggest challenge was resourcing and juggling movie making with our lives. We were both working two jobs, studying and trying to put together this film, so sometimes editing involved staying up until midnight just to cram everything in!
How did you choose your particular subjects/interviewees?
C: We had watched all the participants perform and knew how talented and funny they were. It was through the fun dingey comedy nights and the informal meetings that we got the idea to cast them all in the documentary. The great part about each performer was how much their identity and character came through in their comedy.
Y: We had both done some stand up workshops and met people like Lori, Gordon and Carly while others just immediately came to our minds like Luke after watching him perform. When we chatted with each of them, we knew it was a cracker group.
What do you hope audiences will take away from this film?
C: I hope viewers can take away a few things from the documentary. Firstly, an appreciation for community stories and local artists. I also want people to support anyone who is willing to try something new and give it a go, whether that be comedy or film making. But most of all I’d like people to know that everyone has a story worth sharing and how powerful comedy can be as a medium to share your story.
Y: I hope audiences take away a sense of hope, some of these people have stories and experiences that don’t make a lot of sense to be comedic but their hope in the world shines through. I hope audiences can also appreciate the low-budget scale of the doco and the struggles that first-time documentary and film makers often face.
What documentaries or documentary film-makers have influenced you?
C: I really like “You Can’t Ask That” on ABC. It was a big inspiration behind this production. I also like “Old People’s Home for Four Year Olds” because I think it’s a nice community story about genuine people and real issues.
Y: I definitely like the work of people like Louis Theroux, which while not immediately relatable to On the Fringe, I think his way of looking at things from different perspectives is really influential.
What was the most surprising thing you learnt in making this film?
C: We learnt so much technically about film making but I think the biggest surprise was simply that you can do it. I think a lot of people, myself included, look at film making and think how can I possibly get started? We just had an idea and found a way to do it. It involved late nights, borrowing equipment and lots of emails but it was a great experience and I don’t have any regrets about it. Another surprising thing I learnt was how important the Adelaide Fringe is for emerging artists and supporting and fostering local talent. It made me very proud of the important role the Fringe Festival has in Adelaide, Australia, and the globe.
Y: I think the most surprising thing was how simple yet complex the process is, I mean all you need to do in some ways is have a camera and a script and yet it is so much more than that. Another surprising thing for me was the stories that local communities have to tell.
On the Fringe is due to be aired on C44 on Sunday 18th September at 8:30pm and re-aired on Wednesday at 11:30pm and the following Saturday at 10:30pm.
More News
