Behind the Scenes of The Culling – A Short Film Produced by Young Actors Assembly
Co-written by Ambekoba and Bella Clive
Directed by Dan Watson
Every year, my acting course Young Actors Assembly produces four short films created and performed by students. From 3–5 October, I had the opportunity to act, co-write, and assist behind the scenes on one of those films – The Culling, directed by Dan Watson and co-written by me and Bella Clive. Check it out on IMDb.
We filmed on a remote farm in Kulnura, on the Central Coast. The outdoor setting brought its own set of challenges: unpredictable weather, long travel times (which delayed some cast and crew), and the occasional forgotten makeup kit … mine! Luckily, someone on set had spares I could borrow.
I originally joined just as an Actor, playing the role of Bec. But after helping solve some scene and continuity issues, I proved myself to our First Assistant Director, Dario Salamone (IMDb). He appointed me as his assistant, which meant helping coordinate actors, making sure they were mic’d up, in the right place, and ready to go. Managing a group of 12-14-year-olds was no easy task, but they eventually got used to my voice of authority!
In addition to my AD duties, I also worked the slate, writing scene, shot, and take numbers on the clapperboard and slating before each take.
One particularly wild moment involved filming with sheep (yes, real sheep). The crew spent a good chunk of time trying to herd them into place, but they had other ideas. To make things more complicated, there were two herding donkeys who kept moving them away from the shot. Eventually, we scrapped a few scenes and improvised using a sheep skin wrapped around a pillow. It actually looked pretty realistic on camera!
As for my acting, most of it went smoothly – but I wasn’t satisfied with my first scene. I struggled to tap into the same intensity I’d achieved during rehearsals, especially the anger my character needed. While it still came across well on screen, I wish I could go back and give it another shot.
In the end, despite the challenges, the shoot was a success – and it looked fantastic when it premiered at The Chauvel Cinema in Paddington. Being part of The Culling – both on camera and behind it – was a rewarding and memorable experience.
