“Occupation” By Robin Summons

A therapist is unable to leave her workplace where she helps abusive men.

The film started with an image. On a long drive, the image of a professional woman being screamed at by a circle of men came to me. I didn’t understand it, but it was compelling. I quickly jotted it down. It seemed a little too wild to fit anywhere in the feature screenplays I was working on, though I knew I had to use it.

For years I’d been considering how to make a film about domestic violence. The rates of abuse in Australia are alarming. But I couldn’t find an approach that didn’t feel worn out. I realized that this could be a film that explored themes around abuse in more of an allegorical mode. To use the old filmmaking cliche, I thought it would be more interesting to make a film that raised questions rather than provided answers.

Nonetheless, Clara’s behavior is motivated by research around emotional abuse. I took on much of the research from a 2018 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report. In particular, that almost 1/4 Australian women encounter emotional abuse, violence usually takes place in the home and violence often leads to homelessness.

I took this research to a kind of surreal extreme, in which our protagonist feels unable to leave her workplace-cum-home due to the emotion-al abuse she is paid to endure from her male clients. I want the audience to question why Clara endures such abuse and feels unable to leave the building in which it occurs.

‘Why doesn’t she just leave?’ is a judgemental question often hurled at women in abusive relationships and an interesting question to interrogate. From all accounts, it’s not that simple.

I came across many reasons why people who are in abusive relationships find it difficult to leave including but not limited to damaged self worth, distorted thoughts, fear, desire to help, financial constraints, isolation and hope that the abuser will change.

I don’t expect the above reasons to be clearly interpreted by our audience in the film, but I do hope they will lend a sense of truth to a somewhat surreal piece.

I had an incredible generous crew and cast on this film who were willing to commit to something different and daring. If we did our job right this film will feel fresh, honest and get people thinking.

Robin Summons - Director


Credits

Starring:
Clara - Tanya Schneider

Divorcee - Brad Liddicoat 

Real Estate Agent - Arthur Giamalidis

Veteran - Paul De Freitas 

Suburban Guy - Oliver Murdoch 

Businessman - Marty Rhone 

Troubled Youth - Jayden Popik

Intellectual - Aaron Walton

Tough Guy - Adam Ramzi

Writer, Director - Robin Summons

Producer - Alex Gillespie

Casting - Peta Dermatis

Editor - Damien Magee 

Cinematographer - Alice Stephens 

Composer - Chiara Costanza

Production Designer - Leah Popple 

Production Manager - Justine Pitcher

1st Assistant Director - John Sandow 

Sound Design and Mix - Colin Simkins

2nd AD - Hannah Koch 

Production Coordinator - Isabelle Graham 

Casting Reader - Jayden Popik 

1st Assistant Camera - Harry Byrne, Cam Stewart 

2nd Assistant Camera - Monique Bettello
VTR
 - Nicholas Dempsey
Gaffers - Ruru Reedy, Adam Hunter 

Additional Gaffer - Hannah Palmer 

Best Boys - Shylo Tui, Crispian Hayler 

Lighting Assistants - Rhys Watkins, Joel Green 

Gaffer Mentees - Erin Mahone, Bridget Doyle, Zachary Mcdonald

Key Grip - Glenn Arrowsmith 

Best Boy Grip - John Regan

Grip Assistant - Jake Tovestin 

Grip Mentee - Nikita Dunovits-Ferrier

Set Decorator - Jules Grant

Art Assistants - Nikki Barba, Jasper Snelleman

Wardrobe - Lenna Boord 

Make Up - Greta Keddie 

Stunt Coordinator - Graham Jahne 

Sound Recordist - Bart Bee

Sound Mentee - Kirsty Walsh 

3rd Assistant Director - Summah Hurley

Runners - Julia Moerman Hellman, Rebecca Madin 

Catering, Unit - Maureen Cooney, Stephen Snellerman, Alex White, Mads White

Art Dept Bump Out - Lauren Crocket, Lou Rooney, Otis Filley, Will Mccann, Genevieve O’Shea

Offline Edit - Arc Edit 

Offline assistant - Bella Walker

Post Producer - Freya Maddock

Exec Producer - Joseph Perkins

Sound Design and Mix - Gusto Studios 

Audio Producer - Brigid Giles-Webb

Grade and Online Edit - Crayon Studios
Colour Grade - Abe Wynen 

Producer - Meg Doyle

Online - Visible Studios 

Online Editor - Tim Whiting

Key Art - Charlie Perry, Anu Kumar




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