by FilmInk Staff
Archie Hancock and Jack Zimmerman short film The “Conversation” will premiere at Flickerfest’s tour of Brisbane.
For many, this film serves as an introduction to you as filmmakers. Can you share your journey leading up to this point?
Archie & Jack: “We both met at university—though, funnily enough, we were studying law at the time. Deep down, though, we’d both always wanted to be filmmakers and had been making small projects throughout our childhoods and high school years. We first crossed paths in a law class during our first week, and quickly realised we were probably the only ones in the room who’d rather be on a set. That common ground brought us together.
“Throughout uni, we collaborated on a bunch of short films and stage productions. As graduation loomed, we had to decide whether to follow the law path or take the leap into filmmaking. Not surprisingly, we went with the latter and co-founded a production company, TALLY, a few years ago. Since then, we’ve made several short-form projects that have screened across Australia and internationally. We’ve also worked on set and in development with production companies both here and overseas.”
How did you first become interested in documentary filmmaking, and where did the idea for The Conversation come from?
Archie: “Early last year, we were deep in development on a much bigger fiction project—one we quickly realised was going to take up the rest of the year. But we were itching to just get on set and make something. As filmmakers, you spend so much time fundraising, in pre-production, or stuck in the edit, but so little of it actually directing on set.
“Around that time, I had just come back from visiting my grandmother, Judith, in Brisbane. The next day, I sat down with Jack and told him about something she’d only just shared with me. For her entire life, she’d secretly suspected she was adopted—and she would’ve given anything to have had that conversation with her mother [left, with a young Judith] back when she was alive. Not necessarily because she needed an answer, but because she just wanted to know what it would have felt like to say those words out loud. That moment planted the seed for The Conversation.
“As we dug deeper, we realised that Judith’s wasn’t an isolated experience. Because of Australia’s history of forced adoptions and how prevalent it was, many children from her generation grew up secretly wondering whether their parents were truly their own. In fact, it’s estimated that over a hundred thousand women—often young and unmarried—were coerced by institutions into giving up their children for adoption during the 20th century.
“Before we knew it, we were crafting a hybrid documentary where Judith would reimagine this conversation she never got to have, with several actresses playing her mother. It was a deeply personal project, made even more meaningful by the fact that my earliest short films—shot when I was ten—were made with my grandmother. This felt like a chance to create something together again.”
The film explores memory, reconciliation, and identity. How did you approach telling such a personal and emotional story?
Archie & Jack: “The subject matter was delicate for a lot of reasons, and our first priority was making sure Judith genuinely wanted to go through with it. Confronting your past—especially in a simulated setting—takes immense bravery.
“We spent a long time developing the concept with Judith, ensuring she felt in control every step of the way. She wrote the script she wanted to perform, she chose the actresses to play her mother, and ultimately, she had the final say. This was her story, and it was essential that she led the way. For her, the biggest question was whether this process might bring her some kind of catharsis.
“To approach such an intimate subject with care, we looked at other documentaries that experimented with recreating conversations. We were also conscious of the broader historical weight of the topic—forced adoptions were a harsh reality for many in the 20th century. But our goal was never to generalise or speak for anyone else. That’s why the entire narrative is framed around Judith’s own words, with very little archival footage from that time. We wanted to act as facilitators, not impose an external perspective on her experience.”
What was the biggest challenge in balancing personal truth with cinematic storytelling?
Archie & Jack: “The two go hand in hand. The most powerful cinematic storytelling comes from treating a simple truth with sincerity.
“Our approach was to pinpoint the core truth of the narrative—what this film was really about—and then build a visual world around it. At its heart, The Conversation is about whether recreating a conversation can offer closure. Every creative choice, from working with the actresses to the film’s minimalist setting, was shaped by that central idea.”
How did you approach casting actresses to portray Judith’s mother?
Archie & Jack: “Rather than looking for actresses who were a perfect physical match for Judith’s mother, we prioritised those who approached the role with empathy and sincerity—actors who could improvise and respond in the moment, wherever Judith decided to take the conversation. This wasn’t about replicating or imitating a past exchange; it was about giving Judith the space to finally have it.
“We auditioned a number of women before selecting four actresses who weren’t just deeply engaged with the project but also helped Judith navigate this space of memory with ease. Their presence was invaluable.”
What was the atmosphere like on set?
Archie & Jack: “It was very emotional, but also filled with moments of warmth. The actresses’ empathy and kindness truly made all the difference.
“There were lighter moments, particularly during the introductions, but also deeply emotional ones as Judith opened up about painful parts of her past. Watching her connect with the actresses, both on and off camera, was incredibly moving.”
What were some unexpected or memorable moments during production?
Archie & Jack: “One of the most touching moments was when one of the actresses shared her own personal struggles with her family, and how this issue had resonated with her. Off-camera, she and Judith bonded over their experiences, forming a genuine connection. It was powerful to step back and watch those conversations unfold so naturally.”
Did your vision for the film evolve over time?
Archie & Jack: “Absolutely. No matter how much planning we do, we always find ourselves in the editing room staring at raw footage, completely stumped.
Allowing the project to shift and evolve was crucial to giving the story the weight it deserved. Truth is hard to fully capture in a script—so much can happen during filming that reshapes the narrative. While we always had a general direction, finding the real emotional core of the film required deep reflection and revision over many months.”
How does it feel to have The Conversation have its world premiere at Flickerfest?
Archie & Jack: “It’s an honour. We’ve been attending Flickerfest since we can remember, and being one of Australia’s only Academy and BAFTA-qualifying festivals, it was such a cool experience. We were part of the documentary competition, one of only a few other Australian documentaries being shown, so it was very special to also be able to see a bunch of international stories on the screen. We’re excited for this to be the film’s launchpad of hopefully many more festivals to come.”
What kind of responses have you received so far?
Archie & Jack: “During the screening, there were definitely moments of profound emotion—some even brought to tears. Afterward, we received several messages from people who saw themselves in Judith’s story. Some had personal experiences with forced adoption, while others simply understood the pain of unresolved conversations left too late. We’re excited for the film to screen in Brisbane as part of the Flickerfest Australian Tour in April, where Judith will have the chance to introduce the film and see herself on the big screen for the first time.”
What’s next for you?
Jack: “We shot two other projects in 2024 and will be focused on editing them this year. One is a fiction short film starring two brilliant actors—Ed Oxenbould (Wildlife, Paper Planes) and Joe Bird (Talk to Me). The other is a smaller film shot in Mexico as part of a directing lab that Archie attended last year, under the guidance of an incredible international director, Pedro Costa.”
Are you interested in more documentary filmmaking, or do you plan to explore other genres?
Archie & Jack: “We’re always pushing ourselves. Alongside our current projects, we’re developing an animated film adapted from the diaries of a frontline volunteer during the Australian AIDS crisis, as well as a live action feature film. We’re working with incredible collaborators and can’t wait for what’s next.”
The “Conversation” premieres on Thursday 3 April, 7pm in the Best of Australian Shorts program at Flickerfest’s tour in Brisbane at Palace James St Cinemas. Details here. Tix here.
