part of this project?’ asked Colin with interest.
‘Yes. Regretfully, there is little work for cameramen in Australia. Not much film industry, not yet TV, so when I heard Maxim Topov was planning a film, I contacted him. His idea for this film is a good one, though we don’t know what is actually planned just yet.’
‘So you will be the cameraman, that’s exciting,’ said Colin, pleased the team had an experienced hand on board. Though Drago was only in his thirties, he seemed to be very worldly and capable, like Peter the Dutchman.
Drago shrugged. ‘I am not officially the cameraman. Topov likes to control the camera. I am his assistant. But I need to work and Topov is not as good as he thinks he is. Maybe he will need an experienced cameraman. This could be a big opportunity for me.’
‘Yes, I’m excited to see the outback.’
‘So you are coming along? What role has Topov for you?’ asked Drago with a smile.
‘Writer. Though I’m not very experienced,’ began Colin, ‘but I hope I can create something worthwhile and bring a sense of what we find to a cinema audience . . .’
Drago broke into Colin’s stumbling explanation and justification of his credentials. ‘Don’t worry about it. Topov will tell you what he wants. He is boss. Always boss.’ He glanced at Madame Olga and Helen. ‘Maybe too many boss people. It will be interesting.’
The party was winding up. Topov clapped his hands.
‘Topov has announcement. We have very good team coming here. We have Maxim Topov director, cinematographer.’ He gave a small bow as the room politely applauded. ‘We have patron, Madame Olga. We have business manager, Miss Helen. We have writer, Mr Colin. We have mechanic and driver, Mr Dutchy. We have assistant camera and second driver, Mr Drago.’ Each nodded as they were briefly acknowledged. ‘We take turns cooking.’
‘Until we find a cook and general factotum,’ broke in Helen who, it was obvious, had no intention of cooking for the camp.
‘Maybe we need other man. But, big, big question is – we must find
star
,’ thundered Topov. ‘Trees, natives, animals, all good, but we want beautiful lady actress to be star of film!’
Drago rolled his eyes and Peter the Dutchman smiled. Olga nodded in agreement.
Helen spoke first. ‘And how do we find this star?’ she asked.
‘Put ad in newspaper,’ declared Topov. ‘We make auditions.’ He stabbed a finger at Drago. ‘You use my Bolex camera and make film screen test.’ He then pointed at Colin. ‘You write scene for audition. You read with actress.’
‘So is this actress being paid, or does she invest as well?’ asked Helen.
‘Topov make her a big star but investing is also good,’ said Madame Olga.
‘Topov will decide,’ declared Topov. ‘We meet next week. Dutchy, find vehicles. Maybe boat. Come, we talk.’
Peter nodded at Colin. ‘See you next week. If you have any motor contacts, let me know.’
‘ ’Fraid not, Peter. I don’t even own a car,’ said Colin. He bid Topov goodbye and as his hand was gripped by the Russian’s large paw, Colin asked, ‘About this scene you want for the audition . . .’
‘You write something sexy. Make her cry, make her laugh, make her scared. You know best paper for advertisement?’
‘I think so,’ said Colin.
‘Then you write ad and put in paper. Say auditions on Wednesday.’
‘Ah, whereabouts? How do they apply?’ wondered Colin.
‘Tell them Nino’s Café. We take details and good ones get to screen test.’ Topov turned away.
‘Get a receipt from the newspaper,’ Helen reminded Colin.
‘Oh, right.’
The next day he lodged the advertisement, paid for it and put the receipt in his wallet. The ad appeared in a large box in the classified section of the morning newspaper.
ACTRESS FOR OUTBACK FILM
International movie director making a film in the Northern Territory seeks talented, adventurous actress. Must be prepared to travel in rough conditions for several
‘Yes. Regretfully, there is little work for cameramen in Australia. Not much film industry, not yet TV, so when I heard Maxim Topov was planning a film, I contacted him. His idea for this film is a good one, though we don’t know what is actually planned just yet.’
‘So you will be the cameraman, that’s exciting,’ said Colin, pleased the team had an experienced hand on board. Though Drago was only in his thirties, he seemed to be very worldly and capable, like Peter the Dutchman.
Drago shrugged. ‘I am not officially the cameraman. Topov likes to control the camera. I am his assistant. But I need to work and Topov is not as good as he thinks he is. Maybe he will need an experienced cameraman. This could be a big opportunity for me.’
‘Yes, I’m excited to see the outback.’
‘So you are coming along? What role has Topov for you?’ asked Drago with a smile.
‘Writer. Though I’m not very experienced,’ began Colin, ‘but I hope I can create something worthwhile and bring a sense of what we find to a cinema audience . . .’
Drago broke into Colin’s stumbling explanation and justification of his credentials. ‘Don’t worry about it. Topov will tell you what he wants. He is boss. Always boss.’ He glanced at Madame Olga and Helen. ‘Maybe too many boss people. It will be interesting.’
The party was winding up. Topov clapped his hands.
‘Topov has announcement. We have very good team coming here. We have Maxim Topov director, cinematographer.’ He gave a small bow as the room politely applauded. ‘We have patron, Madame Olga. We have business manager, Miss Helen. We have writer, Mr Colin. We have mechanic and driver, Mr Dutchy. We have assistant camera and second driver, Mr Drago.’ Each nodded as they were briefly acknowledged. ‘We take turns cooking.’
‘Until we find a cook and general factotum,’ broke in Helen who, it was obvious, had no intention of cooking for the camp.
‘Maybe we need other man. But, big, big question is – we must find
star
,’ thundered Topov. ‘Trees, natives, animals, all good, but we want beautiful lady actress to be star of film!’
Drago rolled his eyes and Peter the Dutchman smiled. Olga nodded in agreement.
Helen spoke first. ‘And how do we find this star?’ she asked.
‘Put ad in newspaper,’ declared Topov. ‘We make auditions.’ He stabbed a finger at Drago. ‘You use my Bolex camera and make film screen test.’ He then pointed at Colin. ‘You write scene for audition. You read with actress.’
‘So is this actress being paid, or does she invest as well?’ asked Helen.
‘Topov make her a big star but investing is also good,’ said Madame Olga.
‘Topov will decide,’ declared Topov. ‘We meet next week. Dutchy, find vehicles. Maybe boat. Come, we talk.’
Peter nodded at Colin. ‘See you next week. If you have any motor contacts, let me know.’
‘ ’Fraid not, Peter. I don’t even own a car,’ said Colin. He bid Topov goodbye and as his hand was gripped by the Russian’s large paw, Colin asked, ‘About this scene you want for the audition . . .’
‘You write something sexy. Make her cry, make her laugh, make her scared. You know best paper for advertisement?’
‘I think so,’ said Colin.
‘Then you write ad and put in paper. Say auditions on Wednesday.’
‘Ah, whereabouts? How do they apply?’ wondered Colin.
‘Tell them Nino’s Café. We take details and good ones get to screen test.’ Topov turned away.
‘Get a receipt from the newspaper,’ Helen reminded Colin.
‘Oh, right.’
The next day he lodged the advertisement, paid for it and put the receipt in his wallet. The ad appeared in a large box in the classified section of the morning newspaper.
ACTRESS FOR OUTBACK FILM
International movie director making a film in the Northern Territory seeks talented, adventurous actress. Must be prepared to travel in rough conditions for several
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