by Dov Kornits
“We’ve had our COVID policy vetted and approved by scientific experts” says Ben Allan. “I hope that Dark Noise‘s production serves as a great example of how using a more streamlined approach to production can keep crews safe and families together, and becomes a model of how to shoot in a post-COVID world.”
It helps that the Chong and Allan are life partners as well, claiming that they watched the dailies with their kids last Thursday, following the first day’s shoot.
Described as a ‘mystic thriller’, Dark Noise was inspired by a project that the pair worked on with Taronga Zoo, discovering that “Frogs are the first to let us know when something bad is happening to the environment,” says Chong. “But frogs are difficult to study – the only way you can count frogs is by listening to them – and one of the real dangers frog biologists face while searching for frogs is avoiding illicit drug plantations.”
Rising star of the stage, Imogen Sage plays a young woman alone in the forest listening for frogs, hearing something she shouldn’t have, with Callan Colley, Brett Rogers, Leah Vandenberg and Lauren Clair in support.
Carlo Giacco will compose, while Sam Wilde is the production designer. Filming is on location in the Greater Sydney area, using Arri Alexa, Black Magic URSA and Black Magic 6K cameras.
