Old Aussie Horror

Retribution is inspired by real events that took place in Guyra, NSW. There has been a film made of this before called The Guyra Ghost Mystery  by John Cosgove in 1921 (The year the events began, so no messing around there). I haven't been able to track a copy down and I'm not sure if any survive. I contacted the National Film and Sound Archive and they weren't that helpful. In fact the dude, seemed kind of annoyed that anyone had made him look up from his busy filling schedule but he did send me this;

There's a tiny bit from the story of Fisher's Ghost which is also a 1924 film by Raymond Longford of the same name. Can't find that either. Wait what's this in this old tin under granddad's stinky bed? Nuh it's just a complete print of the original Ned Kelly film from 1906. I'll just scratch it with pins and make some cool (but eventually boring and overlong) animation with it.

Gestalt

The style of this film, Retribution, in script and design, is based on the Closure idea mentioned in Gestalt Psychology. This is where our mind quickly fills in gaps for things we don't see.

eg If you see a bunch of beer cans in a bath full of ice you can read the brands on most of them because you've seen them before. You don't think "that says V on it from this angle but I can't see the B so maybe it's not there ."

Another example may be seeing a girl sitting at a table. You don't tend to look under it before you conclude that her bottom half is actually there.

Here are some less stupid examples.

Schoolgirls and Charles Blackman

After the traversty that was Hanging at Picnic Rock, I Clint Cure, do solemnly swear to never again make a film that involves murdered schoolgirls. Except this one (and maybe a few others). After reading the script a friend did say, "they are actually letting you make this?" I've spent the afternoon looking at girls school uniforms. It's cold so I'm wearing a long jacket, but bright so I've got my sunglasses on. It's hard to find the style I want second hand and new is expensive. Maybe it would be a lot easier if I just appraoched a group of school girls and offered them money to buy their clothes.

In part, the look of this is inspired by Australian painter Charles Blackmans series of schoolgirl paintings. He was inspired by the 1921 murder of 12 year old Alma Tirtschke in Melbourne.

Random Retribution Storyboards

Sad News from Christine Schuler's Son.

I really enjoyed this film, and mum did too.

But unfortunately I have to relay some sad and terrible news.

Christine Schuler, My mum (Edith) Died of heart failure in october last year. It was sudden and unexpected, but this thing happens in life.


Thanks again.

Peter Arthur Charles Lawrance (Schuler)

Val Lewton again

I'd also like to borrow a bit of noire lighting ideas from Val Lewton.











This kind of shot, if you removed the figure at the stop of the stairs, is very evocative of Asian cinema as DOP Christopher Doyle likes to point out.

May Decaying

Part of an animation test.