Created by Red Earth Films principal Mike Crowhurst, this short film examines a moral dilemma faced by a down-and-out shopkeeper as she balances her needs against what's right. The film has been recently screened at Dungog Film Festival and was an entrant in the prestigious Queensland Short Film Competition which is part of the Brisbane International Film Festival.

SYNOPSIS: Following a purse-snatch from a woman in the street, a thief discovers a lottery ticket in the purse.When she enquires about whether or not the ticket is worth anything from a local shop, her ticket is slyly confiscated by the shopkeeper who knows it’s a winner and intends to keep it for herself.The shopkeeper is faced with a difficult decision when she is then confronted by the real owner of the ticket.

ABOUT THE DIRECTOR:

Mike Crowhurst, Director, on Lost&Found: This film was created through the excellent QPIX Director's Course and was produced on an extremely low budget of less than $300 of out-of-pocket expenses. I was hoping to create a sort of no-frills look anyway as the intention was to be a "kitchen sink" kind of story as my mentor Evan Clarry put it. So all the visual and shooting styles you'll see in the film were deliberate to help make the setting as ordinary and authentic as possible.

I was very pleased with my actors, particularly the lead actress, Kate Cullen whom I think perfectly embodies the character that I imagined as I wrote the script. A lot of credit is due to my colleagues who helped shape this film with me and made me realise just how collaborative a film must be in order to iron out the wrinkles and allow all the different talents to shine through.

This is one of those little "what would you do in their shoes" kinds of films which I enjoy, so I hope you like it too.

About the Director: With a visual arts background in design and illustration, film seemed like a natural progression for Mike, although initially it was to be a cinematographer. Having directed a handful of short films, music video clips and commercial work now, he is warming up to the idea of telling stories and working with actors.

Born and raised in Canada, Mike is slowly figuring out the way Aussies think and
talk which is made more challenging when directing actors with different cultural
references to guide them and him. He is excited by creating work along blurred
lines of genres and likes the idea of putting people in unusual circumstances
without relying on effects to drive the story.

Mike plans to write and direct as much as possible, but does have a keen interest in
cinematography and camera work still as well.

Mike is recently finished working as a news camera operator for the SEVEN Network and has returned to pursuing his own film and television ambitions. He is situated in Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.

VIEW THE FILM:

The film will be available here soon as it is wrapping up the last of festival entries by the end of 2010. Watch this space!

Contact us if you are interested in purchasing the film (PAL format, $15 to cover materials, shipping & handling) or for screening the film at your shorts festival.

MOVIE STILLS:

There will be stills from the film and from production posted here soon.

SCREENING INFO:

18th Annual St. George BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL; QUEENSLAND SHORT FILM COMPETITION (2009)

Lost&Found was invited and accepted into this year's festival as one of 10 finalists to be selected to be screened and judged. While Lost&Found didn't come out with any prizes, it was exciting to be considered in the same company as some of Queensland's fine filmmakers.

3rd Annual DUNGOG FILM FESTIVAL, Dungog, New South Wales (2009)

Lost&Found was invited and accepted into this up and coming Australian film festival which draws quite a lot of interest being that it's only in its 3rd year.

LOST&FOUND PREMIERE: 12 June, 2008

The premiere of Lost&Found took place at the Portside Dendy theatre in Hamilton, Brisbane and was the celebration and graduation of this year's QPIX Directors who had completed this first and last time course.

The film was attended by a cross-section of filmmakers, cinematographers, actors and producers. Many had been involved in the films but there were also others from the industry keen to see what we'd gotten up to.

If you would like to know how you can help or if you have a project you'd like to get off the ground, please contact us here at Red Earth.

CREDITS:

ARTPHOTOS presents LOST&FOUND
in association with CUNNING CROW PRODUCTIONS
music by LIAM GRIFFIN  edited by MIKE CROWHURST  
produced by COLIN J PEARCE  director of photography MARK BURKETT  
assistant director FABIANNE RAMOS   executive producers QPIX  
written and directed by MIKE CROWHURST
featuring KATE CULLEN  EMMA RANDALL  WARREN MEACHAM  EMMA ALBURY