Year:  2023

Director:  Shaun Anthony Robinson

Rated:  E

Release:  July 30, 2023

Running time: 64 minutes

Worth: $14.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth

Cast:
Shaun Anthony Robinson, Michael G Welch, Matt Nable, Aaron Jeffery, Christian Isaiah

Intro:
… a keen sense of place and will strike a chord with its hang-on-to-your-dreams message.

Truck driver turned actor Shaun Anthony Robinson takes a trip to Hollywood, largely to prove to himself that he’s serious about acting. The Australian had no concrete plans – his mission was simply to make a go of it. He interviews a long list of (mostly) Australian hopefuls as well as established actors in a documentary that, when looked at from its best side, is a treatise on not giving up. It’s almost pure positivity, but there are some words of biting reality in the mix.

Seen from its worst side, there are almost too many interviews for the film’s short running time, so you never get a proper handle on individual stories – including Robinson’s own Hollywood adventure. It seems that Surviving Sunset focuses on his first trip to La La Land and that he’s been over more than once, but that’s not quite clear. We see him at karaoke, but not auditions.

The parade of interviewees includes Michael G Welch (Clickbait), Bree Bain (Home and Away), Peter Mochrie (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Cameron Barnes (Betrayed), Matt Nable (Transfusion, Last King of the Cross), Style Dayne (Deadpool), Kahli Williams (Neighbours) and many others.

The down-to-earth Robinson, who wrote and directed this, is to be admired. He’s put himself out there and has met with a decent measure of success. Surviving Sunset includes a potted history of his life; someone who has lifted himself out of extremely difficult circumstances. His demo reel (not seen in the documentary) shows him playing some tough guy roles, and playing them well. You may recognise him from Frayed, Wellmania or from a brief stint on Neighbours.

Although the doco lacks narrative or any real depth, it does have a keen sense of place and will strike a chord with its hang-on-to-your-dreams message.

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