Vanessa McMahon

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THE TURNING (2013)

During Cinefest-OZ, actor and patron to the festival David Wenham discussed his recent turn from acting to directing in the film ‘The Turning’, an adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same title, ‘The Turning’ by Australian novelist Tim Winton.

The film will be produced by Australia’s award-winning director/producer Robert Connolly (Underground, 2012; Balibo, 2009) and will be an experimental venture of about 14 short films completely independent of each other, albeit edited together to create one feature film. The novel itself is comprised of 17 individual short stories, most of which will be adapted onto screen by the following ensemble of directors: Ben Andrews, Jonathan auf der Heide, Tony Ayres, Cate Blanchett, Shaun Gladwell, Rhys Graham, Justin Kurzel, Ian Meadows, Mia Wasikowska, and David Wenham, and...

Each short film will have a different director and apparently each director has total artistic freedom to adapt the short story however they want. The idea is that each film, taken separately or together, is to leave the interpretation of the film/films open to the viewer, as opposed to leading the audience through the storytelling in a more traditional linear way. It is certainly something that will shake up cinematic form and provide a critical movie watching experience and something that has never been done before in Australian, maybe even world, cinema.

When asked about the film, actor/director David Wenham said this:
“Each story exists in its own right. I mean, I could do a Bollywood version of it with a heap of Indian actors and actresses if I wanted to. You know, we have Shaun Gladwell, a great visual artist, who is directing one. We have choreographers directing as well. So, who knows what’s going to happen. It’s very ambitious. I mean, there is no other project like it and for that reason the idea is not to draw lines creatively.“

The stories from the novel are:
1. "Big World"
2. "Abbreviation"
3. "Aquifer"
4. "Damaged Goods"
5. "Small Mercies"
6. "On Her Knees"
7. "Cockleshell"
8. "The Turning"
9. "Sand"
10. "Family"
11. "Long, Clear View"
12. "Reunion"
13. "Commission"
14. "Fog"
15. "Boner McPharlin's Moll"
16. "Immunity"
17. "Defender"

'The Bank' (2001), directed by Robert Connolly and starring David Wenham.