Since then it has made an amazing turn around. Tourism is a boom industry here and there are now over 90 art galleries. There's a real sense of pride in the town and you see this in the care taken to restore and maintain the stunning architecture.

Films have been shot out here almost since film started being made in this country, and it's hard not to meet a local who hasn't had something to do with a production. Right now there's a British sitcom being shot in Silverton. The 21st anniversary of Mad Max was held here; the seminal Wake In Fright was also shot here; and Chips Rafferty was born here. So film is in the town's blood as well.

The terrain around town is stunning. You only have to drive five minutes in any direction to find yourself staring at an endless flat horizon. The earth is deep red and when the sky is deep blue and peppered with big white cotton clouds, the light takes on a magical pink haze. It's hot and dry - a good clean heat, not the humid heat of the coast.

Big Screen has toured here once before so it's great to be bringing it back. We screen at the Silver City Cinema, a classic old single-screen cinema owned and run by the Wren family.

John Wren, dad, is a classic country cinema owner. These guys are a breed apart. They were born into it: it's never just a job; it's a way of life. They delight in entertaining the locals and have devoted their lives to it. John's sons all work in the cinema with him. He's the first one in and the last one out.

He's also a pretty amazing guy. Four or five years ago he had a tumour removed from his spine. By rights he should have died, and when he didn't they told he'd be quadriplegic. But no!, there he is in the cinema, every day, seven days a week, walkin' the walk, and like all good country people, talkin' the talk. I'm sure it's the cinema and his love of the movies that kept John alive and keeps him going. There's nothing like a big 'Hello good sir' from John Wren to start your day.

We also screen in the Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, which is now in a beautifully restored old wool store and shop front. It contains a wonderfully eclectic collection and also stages some quite fantastic touring exhibitions.

We screened Jedda and Rosalie's Journey, out the back in the car park. We had a BBQ going and everyone brought their seats and made themselves comfy under the balmy star lit sky. It was a great night and everyone who came thoroughly enjoyed it.

Screening Rosalie's Journey, the story of Rosalie Gnarla Kunoth, who played Jedda, as told by herself, was greatly appreciated. Everyone immediately felt that they had a greater understanding of the film Jedda, after having seen Rosalie's story.

So far almost 900 local and out of town school kids have watched Hating Alison Ashley and Storm Boy. The holidays have just started so it was a bit of an end of term treat. There's nothing like a sea of smiling little faces lighting up as the 'fillem' hits the screen; there's something even more special in it when you know some of them have driven for 3 or 4 hours to get here, and it's Australian they're watching.

Last night we screened outdoor in Sturt Park. About 140 locals turned up for another screening of Hating Alison Ashley. It was hard to work out what the crowd liked more: the film, or just the fact that for the first time they were sitting in this beautiful park in the middle of town watching a movie.

I know they all enjoyed the film, but I think that most of them had discovered for the first time how much fun an outdoor screening can be, particularly if you're stopping in a place you normally skirt around or walk through. I have a sneaking suspicion that there'll be more outdoor in Sturt Park in the not too distant future.

All in all so far Big Screen Broken Hill has been a great success. On Sunday we head to Wilcannia for more outdoor screenings; One Perfect Day, Rosalie's Journey and Jedda. This is going to be really interesting: Wilcannia is 80 per cent Aboriginal with an 80 per cent unemployment rate. I'm really hoping we can put on a good show for the town. There's no cinema there, and this is one of the things Big Screen will do more of: take the pictures to towns with no movies.