Briagolong is a town of 500 people, nestled against the beautiful backdrop of the Great Dividing Range, approximately three hours drive from Melbourne down the M1 freeway. Lush green paddocks dotted with sheep and cows are a visual treat, not to mention the magnificent red gum forest that you drive through on the town’s approach. Quite a change from my reccy to Woomera last week! As Big Screen’s Project Coordinator, Briagolong was the first town I managed from start to finish. I can only hope that every Big Screen town will be as welcoming and enthusiastic as this one has been!

The Briagolong Mechanics’ Institute Hall (our cinema for the weekend) was built in 1874. It has a history of being used as a picture theatre of sorts. Harry Kirkland, one of the most vocal supporters of Big Screen in Briagolong, actually toured films there with Lawrence Brothers Talkies just after WWII. In the absence of permanent cinemas, a number of companies (early distributors) including the Lawrence Brothers sent travelling picture show men to set up ‘movie theatres’ in local town halls, pubs, anywhere they could. Today, just about every aspect of the Briagolong community uses its hall. In the short time we were there we saw it used for painting classes, woodwork, yoga and old-time dancing.

Nicole Bell (Big Screen’s Marketing Coordinator) and I arrived just after lunch, and met up with our equipment hire people to help set up the hall. This year we all agreed that Briagolong would go totally digital, so instead of a three-tonne truck full of prints, projectors and reels (not to mention a projectionist!) I had an A4 envelope with the entire program on DVD. The hall took less than two hours to set up (with a few extra pair of hands helping), and I was the projectionist. We set up an excellent sound system as well. Combined with the crystal clear picture from the digital projector, it looked and sounded spectacular.

Our very first screening on Friday morning was for Briagolong primary school. Proceeding the feature film No Worries were the excellent short films Church St 3860 and Honeymoon Horror made by Mick Roberts, one of the very talented teachers from Briagolong PS using his brilliant student actors.

The Friday gala opening night was wonderful. Both open fires were roaring. The Hall committee provided a supper table groaning with goodies. Pip Mushin, writer/director of Josh Jarman, introduced his film, which by the roars of laughter coming from the hall, went down extremely well. The rest of the weekend felt like such a blur. I met so many very lovely and generous people. I think I have at least three or four places to stay next time I’m in town!

A few highlights:

• The Sharing Stories program from Rural Access Victoria. Before each feature we screened a short film made by people from the Shire of Wellington, describing the stories of their lives. These moving, beautiful stories from people with various abilities and disabilities brought us a little closer to understanding their lives in the community;
• Bub’s Club on Saturday morning was brilliant. Over 100 mums, dads, grandparents and kids sat spellbound watching The Magic Pudding;
• Seeing Strictly Ballroom again after a number of years. I’d forgotten how warm, funny and extremely colourful the film actually is;
• The Wellington Shire Short Film Festival – fantastic to see such talent in the Shire. More next year please! (See comp winners below.) Thank you so much to Councillor Bob Wenger for judging and being so enthusiastic;
• The Proposition – what a powerful film. Everyone stood around afterwards by the open fires debating the film and Australian history. That’s what a great film is supposed to do;
• Many thanks to Alex O’Lachlan, star of Oyster Farmer – the ladies of Briagolong appreciate your work!