Take It In (take it all in)

For over 5 weeks now I've been in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia, and I'm really starting to love the place. A little fact I just discovered is something that might interest my London friends...the Kimberley is 1.7 times the size of the UK. So pretty big.

My experiences from the past week are some I'll never forget. They vary from spotting a few more big snakes, to learning stories about the East Kimberley from locals, to blowing something up for the movie (we had explosives, big smoke, fire truck nearby, and a huge dose of awesome!!), to fending off a big sloppy pash from our lead actor. One day I'll show you the photos.

It's now our 3rd week of filming with just under 4 to go, and the end is very much in sight. We're lucky not to be working on weekends, so on the one just gone a few of us headed out to Home Valley via El Questro, along the Gibb River Road.

You don't need to tell me twice!

There are SOME places you can venture in without fear of crocs. Like Zebedee Springs.

Zebedee Springs

One of the favourite spots a lot of our crew head to on the weekends is El Questro, so we called in for a look around.

El Questro

Jesse, Fiona & Julie

Then it was on to our destination of Home Valley via a rocky road through the Pentecost River.

Crossing Pentecost River 'Thelma & Louise' style

Lucky we had a 4WD....JC wouldn't have survived.

We had lots of sing-a-longs in the car for the drive, but the most fitting song was from The Waifs 'Take It In'. The scenery was breathtaking.

After a drive that wasn't as treacherous as we'd anticipated, we arrived at our oasis.

Home Valley 

Eco Tent accomodation

Lunch in the Dusty Bar

We met up with some more of our team for sunset at the lookout

Just before the sky turned dark for the star show

Back to the Dusty Bar for a kangaroo & roast veg dinner, followed by chocolate mousse

Fiona dismounts the next morning, and not a minute too soon!

My favourite view so far.

On the way back we called in to Emma Gorge for lunch before back to reality.

Emma Gorge, WA

Simple Stats

Days since departure: 123
Distance travelled: 10,060km (+5758km for work)

Snakes run over: 2

Portaloos towed: 2

Weeks worked as Runner on film: 5

Whale Sharks swum with: 2

Emergency mechanic stops: 1

Kangaroos hit: 0

Spits & Snacks

I've now been in Wyndham for 4 weeks working on a movie, and we've just completed our first week of filming. Damn my confidentiality clause, because there is SO much I'd love to share! Let's just say this is not a Hollywood production where there are Tantrums & Tiaras. Instead, if only for my own memory bank, this week will be known as 'Spits & Snacks'.

So what I CAN tell you......Friday night we all sat in the mess tent after dinner to watch the rushes from the first week, and it's a real thrill to see the hard work and the vision start to come alive on screen. 5 weeks to go!

I've had a chance on the weekend to have a bit of a look around the Wyndham area, so here's some pictures I'd like share.

The first shipment of cattle since the live export ban to Indonesia was lifted, heads out this week.

The ship awaits the cattle

Road train heads home from the port where 9000 cattle depart this week.

Near Wyndham Port

Between Wyndham town and the port

Guda Guda community just outside Wyndham

Guda Guda

The Boab tree grows on sandy plains, creek beds and stony ridges throughout the Kimberley. All grow in very unique shapes, big & round, with the wood soft & spongy. At the caravan park, we're camped alongside the largest boab in 'captivity'. Over 2000 years old.

It's captured.

And old. And spongy.

After a very eventful week that lives in the cone of silence, a night at the Barra Shack was required, and the best way to get there is of course, in the back of a divvy van.

'Barra Shack', Wyndham. Barramundi grilled, fried, in burgers. Whatever you like! 

Everyone out!

I'm not here to name and shame......

And one last thing...I towed another portaloo!

In use, on set. You see, my job IS important!

For this week, that's a wrap!

Simple Stats

Days since departure: 112
Distance travelled: 10,060km (+3850km for work)

Snakes run over: 2

Portaloos towed: 2

Weeks worked as Runner on film: 4

Whale Sharks swum with: 2

Emergency mechanic stops: 1

Kangaroos hit: 0

Snakes, Crocs and movie stars!

This is my third week working on a film as a 'Runner'. It is quite an essential job, but to be fair, the lowest on the ladder, and the start of this week was when I had my lesson in learning my place. Monday morning, "Michelle, would you mind moving your laptop and gear to that other desk please? The one near the toilet?" But it's okay, at least I don't have far to go in an emergency. Plus, majority of time I'm not there because I'm on the road, with 6 return trips to Kununurra this week.

My other 'desk'

Along with the rest of the country this week, we all took part in the 2011 Australian Census. No matter where we were, these ladies found us! In fact they bailed me up on 3 occasions in different locations!

That's it, keep your head down and ignore the Census ladies Jesse. They'll never know you exist!

There was one question I got quite stuck on when filling it out. "In a typical working day last week, what were your main duties?" Hmmm, well, here's a few things

* Drive 202km return to airport to collect major international movie star to start filming next week

* Drive 5 more 202km return trips for various reasons; collecting big tents for crew at campsite, shopping for trestle tables, mp3 players, an urn, vacuum cleaner, washing powder, and many more random items

* make up individual bags of washing powder with individually wrapped in cling film $3 coin lots for crew and cast to get their washing done.

It's washing powder, trust me!

* purchase and build a couple of chairs for the edit suite

Halfway there! Lucky they included the allen key.

* delivering film rushes to the airport, and collecting freight arriving from interstate

The hanger where I deliver and collect goods

* returning our big stars hat which he'd misplaced somewhere in the campsite

Whose head does it belong to?

* sitting in the makeup van with 2 of our young actors to make sure they didn't lick their lips. They're not  accustomed to wearing makeup and kept touching, peeling and licking their faces, so after 7 re-do's, it came down to this! They are meant to look rough and rugged, which lead to a great quote from one "good job, but I still look handsome." The kid's got spunk!

* driving around town to all the local hotspots looking for elders from a few different families to come along to our 'Welcome to Country' ceremony, being held by the Traditional Owners. Let me explain....

A lot of this film is being made on land around Wyndham which is traditional land of the local indigenous people. Before we start, the TO's do a Welcome to Country ceremony where they welcome us to their land, tell us stories of their people, and sing songs that tell their stories. The spirits of their ancestors are said to remain, and to ensure they don't 'trip us up' in anyway, and let us leave their land safely, a smoking ceremony was performed. A fire lit, then green leaves from various local plants are added, then one by one the cast and crew walk through and cover their body in the smoke, as a form of protection.

I kind of condensed it all for my census form.

Here in Wyndham we're right in the heart of one of Australia's hot topics from the last few months, live cattle trade. In 1 hour I crossed paths with 8 truckloads of cattle heading for the port.

A beef bus up front, and a horse heading to the Wyndham Cup.

People from all over the Kimberley and WA come along to the biggest day in the Wyndham calendar, the Wyndham Cup. It's 'the greatest show on dirt'.

It's been 125 years of horse racing, and according to the finish line, they're optimistic about its future.

1886 - 20011?

It was harshly described as "just like the Melbourne Cup!...car park"

4 horses in each race

And the one Fiona backed came last

And just quickly, so far one snake has been spotted in the caravan park, almost under someone's feet, and one of the crew had to slow down as he drove in the other night to avoid running over a small saltwater crocodile. We're all being very vigilant, because nature can kill you!

The friendly frill-necked lizard who lives in the caravan park, climbing the tree.

My journey so far

Simple Stats

Days since departure: 106
Distance travelled: 10,060km (+3244km for work)

Snakes run over: 2

Portaloos towed: 1

Weeks worked as Runner on film: 3

Whale Sharks swum with: 2

Emergency mechanic stops: 1

Kangaroos hit: 0

Working as a 'film Runner' week 2

Another interesting, crazy, frantic, and even satisfying week working in Wyndham on a film, where the average daytime temperature is 32 degrees.

Days in pre production start around 7.30am, and finish between 5.30-6pm. When filming begins soon, it will obviously change.

This week.....

* left town at 6.15am and drove 100km return to bus stop to pick up actor, thankfully she was on the bus (that was 1 1/2 hours late).

* many 202km return trips to Kununurra to order/buy/collect supplies for Set/Camp site/Office. Including costumes, camp lights, extension leads, tents, chairs, cleaning products, bedding, fans etc etc..

* a few 202km return airport pickups

* filling up individual glad bags with laundry powder for crew to keep themselves tidy

* so, so much more that has kept every minute of every day filled

An observation I've made after doing so much driving recently, is that drivers in this region must have superpowers. Not only can they see over hills/crests, but also around blind corners. Crazy!!!!!

The bus stop

Let me just show you a little of our Wyndham life at the moment, with the start of our tent city at the caravan park, plus the Mess tent set up for meals, and a caravan park resident.

Jesse inspects the tents.

Here's the result of some of my shopping...the Mess tent!

'Fuzzy' lives at the Wyndham Caravan Park

He's very friendly, and always hungry.

A few new words I've learnt since being here. 'Humbug' is the common term for fighting, and a few stores need to make it clear it's not acceptable. Every couple of weeks when it's payday and alcohol supplies can be topped up, humbug happens. A new rule has come in around the East Kimberley over the last couple of years, that you can't buy alcohol until 5pm, and then it's either, 1 box beer/cider, 2 bottles of wine, or 1 bottle of spirits per person. In part to help keep the humbug at bay.

Also 'bookup'. Short term store credit. They try it, but not successfully.

No humbug! You've been warned.

One of my favourite and most memorable things to happen this week was last thing on Friday. A couple of dogs in the backyard of the Production Office were going crazy barking and yelping. One was big...Labrador size, and the other small...Jack Russell size. From where I sat all I could hear was one of the Producers yelling 'we've got to help those dogs, they're stuck together!' I could almost hear the Benny Hill theme song playing over the next few minutes as then both the Producers found a hose from the front yard, raced around the back and gave them a squirt....and they parted. Hopefully there won't be any new additions to that dog family in the future!

Might stock up for the rest of my Oz lap.

Also, the last 2 weeks have been so busy, I completely missed a milestone when I reached Wyndham. Since my start point, I've taken JC for a drive over 10,000kms! 

Simple Stats

Days since departure: 100
Distance travelled: 10,060 (+2022km for work)

Snakes run over: 2

Portaloos towed: 1

Weeks worked as Runner on film: 2

Whale Sharks swum with: 2

Emergency mechanic stops: 1

Kangaroos hit: 0