Sam and the Sheepdog is a short film based on an original poem by Ken Windsor, a local Dubbo writer and poet. Kellie Jennar heard Ken recite this poem roughly two years ago and immediately visualised a film in the making, and as they say… the rest is history.
In the film Sam (18) arrives from Sydney and is promptly plonked at a remote sheep farm in regional NSW. Sam is a city boy and has never seen so much land and space in his life. He is overwhelmed.
Sam has a heart of gold and is eager to please but has two left feet and is naïve as they come. Tom (48) is a true blue farmer with no time for nonsense or city boys. He is continually frustrated and annoyed by Sam’s inability to learn even the simplest farm tasks.
Eleanor (43) is a practical, smart and caring woman. She knows her husband can appear uncaring and formidable at times, but he is just trying his best to survive and provide for them both. Eleanor plays peacemaker between Sam and Tom with little effect.
One day, Eleanor remarks that Tom needs a sheep dog – but that you need to buy them young and train them up. Sam sees an opportunity to finally prove his worth to his uncle and win his affection. Sam proceeds to buy and train up a young pup in secret, but things don’t go quite to plan…
CAST
Sam – Lachlan Thompson
Tom – Peter Volkofsky
Eleanor – Erifili Davis
Stall Holder – Jamie McGaw
Ute Driver – Ruby Davies
CREW
Producer/Writer – Kellie Jennar
Director – Jude Morrell
1 st Assistant Director – Alison Plasto
Director of Photography – Dave Lennox
Editor – Peter Aland
Sound – Maree Barnes
Art and Set Director – Ruby Davies
Continuity – Milena Sallustio
Hair and Makeup – Vicki Aland
Boom 1 – Jenny Hewish
Boom 2 – Matt Parmeter
Boom 3 – James
Clapper – Margaret Anderson
Gaffer – Ivan Gould
Stills – Rochelle Hinton
Kelpie – Boof
Rottweiler – Staunch
Border Collie 1 – Switch
Border Collie 2 – Ollie
Puppy – Hiccup
Dog Wrangler 1 – Shaun McHugh
Dog Wrangler 2 – Jeremy Sallustio
Dog Wrangler 3 – Jon Cantrall
Special thanks to Claire and Brendan Booth for the use of their beautiful property
Thank you to Lions Australia and the Geurie Markets.
Thank you to Alice and her puppies