Tremble (film)

Tremble
Directed by	Matthew J Schelle
Produced by	Ben Schelle
Written by	Matthew J Schelle Ben Schelle
Starring	Danny Boyd Joe Brown Tim Bean Ricky Bush Matthew Barry
Release date(s)	13 July 2008 (2008-07-13)
Running time	6 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English

Tremble is an independent short film, written, produced and directed by Australian filmmakers The Schelle Brothers, Ben Schelle and Matthew J Schelle. The film stars actor Danny Boyd as an old man trapped beneath the rubble and debris of the former Newcastle Worker's Club in the aftermath of the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake. Co-starring are actors Joe Brown, Ricky Bush and stand-up comedian Tim Bean. The film was produced solely for the 2008 Newcastle Shootout film festival, where it received the award for Best Art Direction for its scenes depicting the devastation of the Worker's Club. The award was also won by the same filmmakers the previous year for their World War II comedy short, The Night They Attacked Australia.

The film Tremble was shot on location at the Lock-Up Art Gallery in Newcastle, Australia, formerly the colonial Police Station and at the rebuilt Newcastle Worker's Club (Newcastle Panthers).

Plot

Tremble is a poignant film which coincides with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the 1989 Newcastle Earthquake which claimed the lives of 13 people. The film opens with a staggering depiction of the collapsed Worker's Club, with shattered concrete beams, torn cables and twisted steelwork strewn over the club floor. In amongst the rubble are various Christmas decorations, the event having occurred only three days after the holidays. Stuck beneath a fallen poker machine is an Old Man, littered with debris, struggling to breathe and call out. Nearby is a still and seemingly lifeless arm wearing a beeping wristwatch. The film depicts the Old Man's attempt to stay alive whilst keeping the other unseen person buried in the rubble in contact. Intercut with these scenes are episodes depicting the rescue efforts of volunteers from the Police Rescue Squad and the State Emergency Service.

Production

The film was made for the 10th annual Shootout 24 Hour Film Festival, which required that the film be entirely shot and submitted with 24 hours, that only in-camera editing was allowed and that a minimum of five items be included in the film as proof that it was made within the specified timeframe.

The five items featured in Tremble included:

• Greek Statue - shown briefly on a television before the Earthquake sequence.
• Purple Head Sculpture - shown briefly on a television before the Earthquake sequence.
• Foot Art Installation - shown briefly on a television as the Earthquake cuts the power out.
• The Dude (The Shootout Logo) - littered on the floor of a house after the Earthquake strikes.
• Cafe in Hamilton - shown as a man drives to the Worker's Club.

Themes

The film is a running commentary on the themes of survival and communication, breaking down from alienation to isolation. This can be evidenced during the Earthquake scene itself, which occurs during a somewhat discordant phone call. The remainder of the film then becomes a one-sided reply to the interrupted conversation. The events surrounding the Newcastle Earthquake have had a major impact on the local community, as over forty survivors were pulled out of the club in the days following the quake, meaning the short film has an important cultural significance in the Hunter Valley.

Cast

The film centers around Danny Boyd as the Old Man but also features:

• Joe Brown as the Young Man
• Tim Bean as the State Police Rescue Worker
• Ricky Bush as the Paramedic
• Matthew Barry as the State Emergency Service Rescue Worker
• Joanne Schelle as the Survivor

Awards

• 2008 Best Art Direction at the Newcastle Shootout Film Festival. The award was voted by a panel of judges including actors Damian Walshe-Howling, Matthew Newton and Gyton Grantley, Chaser's Chris Taylor, comedian Juila Morris and singer Marcia Hines.