DFF's Operations and Logistics guru, Lisa Ellicott interviews Bronnagh Norris and Rachel Aps.
Lisa Ellicott: How long have you guys been involved with the festival?
Bronnagh Norris: Since the second year (2008), so three years so far.
Rachel Aps: A couple of years, I think about three too.
LE: So, why do you keep coming back again and again?
BN: It is amazingly fun. A lot of my friends do it every year and I live locally, so why not! Plus, you meet a heaps of new people and the parties are incredible.
RA: It's fun, it gives me a chance to see some of the Aussie films and you get to meet some great people
BN: You also get a good feeling helping out the community and everyone there is super friendly.
LE: Yes, flattery of the staff will get you the best jobs! Speaking of jobs, what have been some jobs that you have done over the years?
BN: Ushering, cloak room attendant, box office assistant, ticket checker and working in the candy bar.
RA: Mainly I have ushered at the cinema. I also did the candy bar one night and some errands for the box office.
LE: What would you say would have been the best and worst tasks?
BN: The best was probably the candy bar in 2009 and the worst would be the cloak room because everyone else gets to enjoy the party.
RA: The best part of ushering is that you get to see all the people as they come in and hear about how far they have come. The worst part would be cleaning up the cinema afterwards.
LE: So, tell us how awesome some of your supervisors have been over the years?
RA: They have been great especially when things run over time, so we have to try and get back to the schedule. They also make it enjoyable for you to be there.
BN: They've all been awesome over the years especially you, Lisa and Mrs. Lowrey.
LE: What has been your favourite shirt design?
RA: The 2010 shirt with the cow jumping over the moon.
BN: Yes, definitely last years one as they were fun and also the most comfortable.
LE: During the festival, what have been your favourite films?
RA: The Sculptor (2009), Gillian Armstrong's Star Struck and some of the shorts that I watched a few years ago were good.
BN: Star Struck, The Tender Hook, Hey, Hey, Its Esther Blueburger, The Sculptor and the one on closing night last year, Subdivision, I did enjoy it a lot.
LE: Can you give us some names of any film stars that you have met?
BN: Pia Miranda, Rhys Muldoon, Rose Byrne, Lily Bell-Tindley and Emily Barclay from the 2010 Opening Night film, Lou. To be honest, most of them are just so friendly I can hardly tell whether they are famous or just the audience! I also remember the year they lost Wes Carr, when he went for a walk without telling anyone.
RA: I met Cameron Daddo of Passengers last year and I was outside on the steps with Wes Carr. Also that cool guy with the red scarf from All Saints, Henry Nixon.
LE: What does the festival mean to you as a Dungog local? How does Dungog come alive?
BN: We have had a lot more tourists since the first year of the film festival and for businesses it brings in so much income over those few days. Each year it gets bigger and brighter. The locals do so many different things during it as well. We have a market nearly every day, the window dressing competition and the parade. It also gives an opportunity for schools to do workshops on a Friday and showcase short films which students from Dungog High School have made. It’s just a lot of fun for basically everyone in town.
RA: More and more people come to check it all out each year, and try and see somebody famous. The street parade really shows the quirkiness of the town.
LE: What have you learnt by being a volunteer?
RA: To remain nice even when frustrated and how to clean very quickly. In the first year that I volunteered I learnt how to live with little sleep, which was very fun.
BN: I’m not so afraid of talking to strangers now. I can also handle big crowds and have learnt how to use a cash register and popcorn machine. It has taught me patience and also that Sydney people can have a hard time understanding what we Dungog locals say.
LE: Who do you think parties the hardest on Closing Night, the vollies or the guests, and who is the best dancer?
RA: It’s about even. There was a guy who really dances like nobody is watching and puts all his effort in, but overall the vollies have the most fun I think.
BN: VOLLIES! We dominate Sunday nights. One of the best dancers was Josh Mclartey (Dungog local) last year and his bright white shoes.
LE: Thanks for all your great answers. Do you have anything further you want to say about DFF?
RA: The film festival just gets better each year and I hope that I’ll be able to do it this year, because it will probably be my last one if I go away for university.
BN: I hope it lasts forever as it is the highlight of my whole year.
Click here for more information on how you can enjoy the fun and volunteer for Dungog Film Festival.
