The Bushman of Bunyip Billabong

The Bushman of Bunyip Billabong

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Directed by:	Cameron Edser, Michael Richards
Written by:	Cameron Edser
Starring:	Cameron Edser, Andrew Mewett, Michael Edser
Country:	Australia
Created:	2006
Runtime:	3 min.
Member:	Guru_Animations
	Guru_Animations's Other Films & Listings Film: The Bridgekeeper Film: Animal Instincts Listing: Feel Good Film Festival 2008

Film Description:

Summary
Filmmaker Blog
Gallery
Video

Synopsis

Based on the tune of ‘Waltzing Matilda' and the legendary myth of the bunyip, the film portrays Australia’s distinct outback environment and characters using a unique style of stop-motion animation. The original poem was written by Elisabeth Edser, as a parody of the Australian ballad 'Waltzing Matilda', but developed into an entirely different script, with a meaningful environmental message. The original poem was significantly changed to suit animation production. The Bushman of Bunyip Billabong tells the tale of a careless swagman, who learns his lesson for disrespecting the environment. The Swagman arrives at a waterhole and describes the place as a 'dump', in his typically 'Aussie' accent. He then begins a whole series of environmentally damaging acts including littering and blasting his stereo at full volume to disturb all the native wildlife, especially the 'bloody maggies' (magpies). He even ends up shooting some defenceless kangaroos. But his presence didn't go unnoticed by the resident Bunyip. The hideous creature, based on an ancient Aboriginal myth, rises from the waterhole, seizes the swagman and drags him into the water. The legendary tale finishes with the narrator saying, 'His ghost may be heard as you pass by the billabong...' before the Swagman rises as a ghost out of the waterhole and delivers the films environmental message.

Forms: Animation, Narrative Fiction, Short
Animation Techniques: Clay
Genres: Comedy, Wildlife, Environmental, Satire
Niches: Student

Screenings & Events

First Cut Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Best of festival
Adelaide, Australia
November 2005

Bond University Film and Television Awards
Film Festival
Awards: Best comedy and overall winner
Robina, Australia
November 2005

Penrith Valley Video Festival
Film Festival
Awards: winner of 'short shorts' section
Penrith, Australia
November 2005

Lingual.net web broadcast
Internet/Broadband
(unsure of location), U S A
December 2005

SemaFX Animation Festival
Film Festival
Awards: -
Detroit, U S A
December 2005

The Flux iPod Film Festival
Internet/Broadband
U S A
March 2006

www.ifilm.com
Internet/Broadband
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721235, Internet
April 2006

Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film
Film Festival
Stuttgart, Germany
April 2006

www.studentfilms.com
Internet/Broadband
http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=1160, Internet
April 2006

Short Screen Film Festival
Film Festival
Adelaide, Australia
April 2006

Starz First Look Film Festival
Film Festival
Denver, U S A
April 2006

Reelife Short Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: Best u/18 film
Sydney, Australia
May 2006

Over The Fence Comedy Film Festival
Film Festival
Touring the country (May-July), Australia
May 2006

International Youth Film Festival
Film Festival
Awards: 2nd best film in 16-19 year old category a for school production
Kundl, Tirol, Austria
June 2006

box[ur]shorts Film Festival
Film Festival
Los Angeles, New York, Hiroshima, Basel, U S A
June 2006

FutureWave Awards (Part of Seattle Film Festival)
Film Festival
Seattle, U S A
June 2006

www.switch.tv
Internet/Broadband
Internet
July 2006

Angry Film Festival
Film Festival
Melbourne, Australia
July 2006

Film Gate International Student Film Festival
Film Festival
St. Louis, U S A
August 2006

Ottawa International Animation Festival
Film Festival
Ottawa, Canada
September 2006

NextFrame: UFVA's Touring Festival of International Student Film + Video
Film Festival
Touring around America, U S A
September 2006

In The Bin Touring Film Festival
Film Festival
Australia
September 2006

Kyoto International Student Film and Video Festival
Film Festival
Kyoto, Japan
October 2006

Cast & Crew

Production

Cameron Edser (Executive Producer, Producer, Director), Michael Richards (Director)

Writing

Cameron Edser (Writer)

Performance

Andrew Mewett (Lead Actor), Cameron Edser (Lead Actor), Michael Edser (Lead Actor)

Camera

Cameron Edser (Cinematographer/DP)

Art Department

Michael Richards (Production Designer)

Post Production

Cameron Edser (Picture Editor), Michael Richards (Sound Editor)

Music

Michael Richards (Original Music/Composer)

Representation

Cameron Edser (Publicist)

Academic

Rod Kirk (School Administrator), Rod Kirk (School Administrator, Academic Advisor)

Animation

Cameron Edser (Animator), Michael Richards (Animator)

Follow the Bushman on its world tour Jun 29, 2006 09:10PM

Here's a list of festivals Bushman has been or will be involved in. Be sure to catch the upcoming festivals if your in town!

-In the Bin Film Festival, Touring Australia, September 2006

-Box[ur]shorts Film Festival, Los Angeles, New York, Hiroshima, Basel, June-August 2006

-Angry Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia, July 2006, Finalist

-FutureWave Awards (Part of Seattle International Film Festival), USA, June 2006, Finalist

-International Youth Film Festival, Kundl, Austria, June 2006, Best Student Production by a 16-19 Year Old

-Over The Fence Comedy Film Festival, Touring Australia, May-July 2006

-Reelife Short Film Festival, Sydney, Australia, May 2006, Best u/18 film

-Starz First Look Film Festival, Denver, USA, April 2006

-Short Screen Film Festival, Adelaide, Australia, April 2006

-Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film, Germany, April 2006, Finalist in Student Section

-The Flux iPod Film Festival, U S A, March 2006

-SemaFX Animation Festival, Detroit, U S A, December 2005

-Lingual.net web broadcast, U S A, December 2005 (still online)

-Penrith Valley Video Festival, Australia, November 2005, Winner of 'Short Shorts' Section

-Bond University Film and Television Awards, Gold Coast, Australia, November 2005, Best comedy and overall winner

-First Cut Film Festival, Adelaide, Australia, November 2005, Best Film of festival

Bushman everywhere Jun 29, 2006 09:05PM

You can now view Bushman in 3 different places on the net:
http://www.studentfilms.com/film/get.do?id=1160
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2721235
http://www.lingual.net/movies/animation/bushmanbillbong.php

It will soon be viewable on another 2 websites as well:
www.switch.tv
www.thepinktrailer.com
(Both of these websites have recently contacted me about screening Bushman so that goes to show it's being noticed!)

Also, you can view a trailer for it online at:
http://www.boxurshorts.com/program/index.html
(Please give it a big thumbs up- only of course if you think it desreves it)

Welcome May 17, 2006 08:06AM

Guru Animations is the combined creative team of Cameron Edser and Michael Richards, responsible for this film. Keep an eye out for 'The Bushman of Bunyip Billabong' in various festivals worldwide. Check out our calendar for more details (when I get it going). In the meantime you can view it online at www.lingual.net under the animation section. While your their also have a look at one of our other films, 'Never Gonna be a Star'.

magpies

bunyip carrying swagman

Trailer

Trailer for 'The Bushman of Bunyip Billabong'