“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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