ANGELCAKE - Teaser August 2013

3 min  -  1960's Gothic Realism. 

An adolescent fights for visibility in a world of domestic dysfunction.

SYNOPSIS

In Auckland suburbia late 60's, Alice (16) uses Dylan(17) to escape the suffocation of a caustic family life, which tips her into a desperate spiral for attachment. So after a failed blood pact, and a bungled burglary, Alice reconsiders the consequences of her reckless agenda and its almost irretrievable toll. Only her grandmother Grace, leaves a door open for her. With her mother Shirley occupied with Johnny, and her father Lionel lost in past wars, Alice uses her invisibility to live in a space of deception. But Dylan's motives indirectly expose a family hornets nest of lies and neglect, and the ordered dysfunction of the family is forever disrupted. As Alice searches for a way out, she is left to question how to live with her decisions, when it seems easier... not to live at all.

extended synopsis here http://angelcakeshortfilm.blogspot.co.nz/
and like us on Facebook here www.facebook.com/AngelcakeShortFilm

VELVETEEN - Short Film November 2012.

When letting go becomes a battle of wills

12 MIN   Gothic Melodrama
SYNOPSIS
When Gloria is brutally taken by polio, Thomas sinks to place of despair and darkness. As he struggles with reality he is shaken to his senses by the impending loss of his daughter, Anna.  But Anna has something worth fighting for, and she leads a chase to the death that allows Thomas to let go of his past and embrace a stronger future of hope together.

Writer, Director                   LINDA DARBY
Director of Photography      WALTER LAWRY

Thomas                              SEAN O'CONNOR
Anna                                  LUCY CORING


1ST Camera and Lighting     FINN McGOWAN
2ND Camera                       DAVID CHAN
1st AD                                 NICOLAS LEE
Sound                                  CALLUM LISTER
Production Design                LINDA DARBY
Makeup/Wardrobe              MAHA ALBIWDALI
Producer                             LINDA DARBY

Location:  Couldrey House; Wenderholm Regional Park,  , Auckland, New Zealand.
Filmed  31st  to 4th August, 2012.

Funded by Creative Communities NZ, and Brightspark Creative Media.
This is a 2012 Screen Production Major project for the BA Hons program at University of Auckland.

MACKEREL - Short film May 2012

When fear becomes an all consuming appetite

2 MIN  Gothic Melodrama
SYNOPSIS
Sophia searches for the tapping sound that brings her through the passages of the house to where her father sits in the study. He turns to her and all she sees is a giant Makeral head on his shoulders. She flees in horror. Sophia at the kitchen table lifts her head off her arm as her father taps incessantly on her plate.
'Sophia, sit up and eat your supper'. He shoves the plate at her.. she looks down and sees a giant Mackeral staring back at her.

Writer, Director                   LINDA DARBY
Director of Photography      WALTER LAWRY

Sophia                                 LUCY CORING
Lawrence                            GREGORY PRYOR

2nd Camera and Lighting     FINN McGOWAN
1st AD                                 LEAH McVEAGH
Production Design               LINDA DARBY
Makeup/Wardrobe              SHANTELL NAIR
Producer                             LINDA DARBY

Location:  Puhinui House,  Howick Historic Village, Auckland, New Zealand.
Filmed on 14th & 15th of May, 2012.

This is a 2012 Screen Production project for the BA Hons program at University of Auckland.

LE CUPCAKE - Short Film Dec 2011

There's more than one way to taste life

5 MIN    1950's Period Drama/Comedy
SYNOPSIS
Gemma thought all was pretty good and under control at the ‘High Tea Room’, that was until she discovered a large stunned cockroach in a freshly baked cupcake. So, one minute the cocky cupcake was there, and the next it was gone, but where was the infected cupcake?  It could be on anyone’s plate; but what made it worse was a stuffy food critique from the Food and Beverage Board was arriving any minute to scrutinize their menu. Gemma couldn't stand it anymore, she was positive she’d throw up.
In the kitchen, Hettie, her boss, drank from a used wet tea cup once again. Then as she reached for the lone left over cupcake, a wispy thin tentacle raised up just above her eye line…  Funny how a bad day can turn around so sweetly with a crunchy end!!

Writer, Director                   LINDA DARBY & TROY BLACKWELL
Director of Photography      FINN McGOWAN

Gemma                               KIRIANNE KARDIMIA
Miss Hettie Kiljoy                KERRY FORSE
Reginald                              JOSH DUNN
Kendra                                CHLOE FORSE    
Charles Huxley                    SEAN O'CONNOR            

1ST Camera and Lighting     FINN McGOWAN
2ND Camera                       JEMIMA JAMES
1st AD                                 WALTER LAWRY
2nd AD                                KARTIKA  DITIRI
Sound                                  CALLUM LISTER
Makeup/Wardrobe              SHANTELL NAIR
Producer, Prod. Design        LINDA DARBY

Location:  'Star of the Sea' convent in Howick, New Zealand.
Filmed  10th December, 2011.

'Le Cupcake' was funded by Creative Communities NZ,  Brightspark Creative Media and The Lab.

Puppetry 2012

Over the past three years, I've done mainly children's party shows and School presentations. My screen work involves doing the pitch for TVC 2008 - Telecom 'clever toys' campaign, and Sarah Brown's Music Video 'Hands' 2007. I have done other TV work including advising Disney designers of the 'Legend of the Seeker' S1E6 on puppet design.
    I am available for work this year. I am currently doing Screen Production Hons at Auckland University; of which I am specialising in Creative Producing.

2011 - Screen Production

2011 - Dec., Short 'Le Cupcake'
Creative NZ Funding
/Brightspark Pictures/ The Lab/Trinket Box
Writer/Director - Troy Blackman
DOP - Finn McGowan
Writer/Producer/ Director - Linda Darby'Chocolate Fish Films'.
Development project for showreel.
4 minutes, dramacom    
status - in edit

2011 Oct., - Short 'Collision'
Brightspark Pictures/ The Lab
Writers - Linda Darby/ Troy Blackman
Director - Troy Blackman
DOP - Finn McGowan
Producer - Linda Darby for
'Chocolate Fish Films'.
Development project
4 minutes, action/drama    
status - in edit


2011 Aug., - Short 'Headlights'
Brightspark Pictures/ The Lab
Writers - Linda Darby/Finn McGowan
Producer - Linda Darby for
'Chocolate Fish Films'.
Director - Rahul Parbou
DOP - Finn McGowan
Development project
3 minutes, action/drama    
status - complete
________________ o0o__________________

2011 - V48 July., - 'On the jetty
beneath the willow tree

Production Manager -'Fix it in Post'
Writers - Amelia McVinnie, Greg
Director - Ashley Cornall,
Producers - Ashley Cornall, Sam Medary.
7 minutes, Genre; Mystery 

                        

2010 - Screen Production

2010 - 6 x short eps 'Continuum'

Producer -  two of six 3 minute episodes were
produced as part of film production class from
undergraduate film and media studies at University
of Auckland. I managed a subteam including a Director,
line producer, 1st AD, and writer; making up 'Doubletake Productions'.
The finished product previewed at UoA, and youtube.
18 minutes, Sci/Fi drama.

2009 - Short;  'Jellylegs'
Producer/Director - independant film project. Adapted 'Jellylegs' for screen from Elizabeth Pulford's preteen novel of the same name with the rights to do so from Scholastic New Zealand.
Funded ($3,000) from Creative New Zealand; creative communities for postproduction and promotion. Screened to various Manukau Primary and Intermediate schools in Manukau area.
20 minutes, adventure preteen drama.   Funded CCNZ

2007 - Short; 'The Princess and the Castle'
Producer/Director Adapted from the children's book 'The Princess and the Castle' with rights from Random House London. An independant film project part funded ($1000 ) by Creative New Zealand; creative communities for postproduction and promotion. Score by Marcus Fritsch HOD music Rangitoto College. Screened to various Primary schools in Manukau area.
17 minutes, children's adventure/drama.  Funded CCNZ

2006 - Short; 'Starcatcher'
Producer/Director Adapted from children's stroy 'Lucy the star catcher' The Book Company,Australia.
An independant film project sponsored by Edgewater Productions, with Score by Marcus Fritsch HOD music Rangitoto College. Screened to various Kindergarten and Primary schools in Manukau area. 2006 Tropfest entrant.
7 minutes, children's adventure/drama  Sponsored Edgewater Prod.

2005 - TVC; TV ONE - Holiday season
Producer/Director Christmas seasonal promo '05 to '06 holiday competition (1 or 5 finalists) for TV One and Two peak time filler. Theme 'Doing things together keeps our family strong'.
30 seconds.