A local up-and-coming film-maker has had her taste of rock stardom by writing and directing a new music video to a classic Powderfinger song.
The iconic band donated the song to the Sunny Coast Showdown screen initiative, headed by the band’s drummer Jon Coghill.
Mr Coghill said he was blown away by the quality and energy of film-maker Jessie Hughes’ piece, shot to the song Rockin’ Rocks off the album Vulture Street.
The duo collaborated intimately on the freshly released film clip, eager to reimagine the cult classic for the 2020s.
“The film is full-on action,” Mr Cogill said.
“It’s iconic – a crazy chase for fool’s gold. It gives this old song a new lease on life in the modern era.”
Ms Hughes, who has established herself as one to watch behind a growing list of screen accolades, said she was overjoyed by the opportunity.
“Powderfinger are an Australian staple, they’re legendary. It’s been epic reimagining music from the early 2000s and reinvigorating it for the 2020s,” she said.
The video clip, set on a windswept beach, follows a pirate pursuit for treasure – with the twist that the pursuit takes place within a pokies machine.
Shot on Peregian Beach and at Rick’s Garage in Palmwoods, the film justifies the growing allure of Queensland as a film-maker’s haven, from its shooting locations to the talent of the cast and crew.
“We even nabbed the same pokies props from Baz (Luhrmann)’s Elvis movie, so hats off to art department for that one,” Ms Hughes said.
“As a local, it’s been phenomenal discovering and connecting with the talent we have here. We have crew who worked in Hollywood for 20-plus years who now call the Coast home – it’s only sensical that we leverage that,” she said.
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Ms Hughes said she was glad to spearhead a push to build a screen industry on the Sunshine Coast, which she said saw hardly any of the $465 million the film industry injected into the Queensland economy last financial year.
“Queensland has such an abundance for quality film production, and I really hope to see projects like ours attracting more opportunities to the Sunshine Coast,” she said.
Ms Hughes, whose previous titles have exhibited at esteemed film festivals including Sundance, Cannes and SXSW, won the production opportunity by securing over $20,000 in funding and in-kind support.
As an Imagine Impact alumnus, she last year presented Ron Howard and Brian Grazer their Innovation in Entertainment Award in Los Angeles.
Her work, which frequently features diverse gender representation, pursued casting from House of Alexander, a Meanjin (Brisbane)-based dance troupe centered on queer people of colour.
Central to the clip is newcomer Joshua Taliani, a First Nations (Bidjara/Kullali/Wakka Wakka) Italian artist and performer.
“Josh gave such an exceptional performance. Whoever’s casting the next Pirates of the Caribbean, I’ve got just the person for you,” Ms Hughes said.
Alongside in supporting performances are Ella Ganza and Mitchell Marion, both prominent LGBTQIA advocates, as well as nudists from Queensland Naturist Association.
Mr Coghill said the project shows how Powderfinger is dedicated to supporting up-and-coming creatives.
“It’s a charitable act, and I’m really lucky to be part of a band that helps our future film-makers,” he said.
The music video premiered at the film festival the Sunny Coast Showdown on June 24.
The Sunny Coast Showdown is a not-for-profit initiative where local screenwriters and producers win the opportunity to make their projects on the Sunshine Coast and showcase them locally and around the world.
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