General News
16 June, 2024
Revered actor-director delights Horsham movie audience
A packed Horsham audience has greeted new Australian film What About Sal? and its director and screenwriter John Jarratt with great enthusiasm.
Mr Jarratt, who also played a lead in the film, chose Horsham Centre Cinemas as one of 17 centres for the screening, followed by a Q&A audience session, during which he spoke candidly about his battle with alcohol.
It was an opportunity also to encourage young actor Erin Kearns, who has Down syndrome and has starred in two films and several stage productions, to follow her dreams in life, as the film's star Gerard O'Dwyer had done.
The character played by Mr O'Dwyer has Down syndrome, and he is desperate to find the father he has never met, knowing that his mother is dying of lung cancer.
He is determined to avoid at all costs having to accept accommodation in a group home, in a heart-warming story of empowerment and love.
Mr Jarratt said back in 1990 he watched a boy with Down syndrome at a soccer match who showed amazing jubilation after his team scored goals.
"His mother was with him and looked as though she really didn't want to be there, but his enthusiasm was amazing," Mr Jarratt said.
"It was very humorous really.
"I went back to the carpark thinking about who would care for the boy if his mother died."
That led to the What About Sal? script.
He knew Mr O'Dwyer's acting ability and that he could carry the part of Sal.
"We're all blown away by Gerard’s ability," he said.
"He holds this film on his own. I'm so proud of him.
"Also, he was a great fan of McLeod's Daughters and often calls me 'Terry', my name in that show."
Mr Jarratt said he worked for about a year to raise the money needed for the film.
He said where possible he preferred to use independent cinemas for his screenings, and include as many regional centres as possible.
"Regional people back Aussie films more than city people," he said.
"And talking to local papers, speaking on local radio and having people use word of mouth is the best way to sell the film."
Mr Jarratt said he had worked on about 100 projects over the years, including Picnic at Hanging Rock.
"I've self-directed myself most of those," he said. "And I've read about a million scripts.
"Now writing scripts is my new passion.
"And I like getting into the skin of a character. Make-believe is great."
Mr Jarratt said his next film was a ''comedy western" titled Passing Winds, to be filmed north of Sydney and on the northern NSW coast.
"It's a kind of mixture of Crocodile Dundee and Blazing Saddles," he said.