Erskineville director in Tropfest debut

Erskineville filmmaker Matt Bird hopes that Sunday’s Tropfest film festival will help boost his growing profile in the Australian film community.

More significantly he hopes his entry, A Desperate Deed, both entertains and challenges audiences in its first public screening.

“It’s very exciting to be involved,” he said. “First and foremost I hope the film resonates with audiences and the industry.”

Despite being a first time finalist, Bird is a career filmmaker, having directed over half a dozen films over the past ten years as well as numerous TV commercials and music videos.

His film The Doppelgangers was written by Brendan Cowell and starring Pia Miranda, while he has also worked alongside actors Clayton Watson, Gyton Grantley, and Gary Sweet. Bird is also the director and executive producer of “Chesterfilm”, a production company he formed two years ago.

Bird, who had been an unsuccessful entrant in the past, believes his professional experience has been beneficial to making Tropfest-style films.

“I first entered Tropfest a number of years ago – back in my student days – but didn’t make the cut,” he said. “So I decided to push the professional angle, which I’ve been doing for the past few years.”

“It has prepared me for Tropfest in that I know how to create something that has good production values using very little time, money and resources – which was certainly the case with A Desperate Deed… we made it on a shoestring.”

Like much of his work, Bird says that A Desperate Deed, has a prevailing dark undercurrent.

“I wanted to craft a story based on something rather sinister,” he said. “I like to explore the nuances of life and what it means to be human.”

Given that Tropfest represents the first public screening for the finalists, the film’s synopsis gives little away.

“In an act of desperation, a father sets off into the night to commit a crime, while his wife waits anxiously for his return,” it reads.

Typical of many Tropfest entrants, Bird says audiences can expect a “very sharp twist”.

“I definitely like to play with genres. Let’s just say [the film] starts as one thing and becomes something else altogether,” he said.

“I think Tropfest gives directors the opportunity to have their stories seen and garner success regardless of whether they’re professional or just starting out. Success for me has been making the Top 16 out of a competition of 700-plus entries. Winning something on the night would just be a bonus.”

Tropfest is on Sunday, 20 February at The Domain, Sydney. Grounds open at midday with the Festival Program commencing at 1pm and live entertainment throughout the afternoon. For more info visit www.tropfest.com