For the Devlin family, God is everything. When their eldest daughter disappears from their remote farm, the local cop sent to investigate is disturbed by what he uncovers.

Interview with Writer/Director Robert Linsley

Congratulations! Why did you make your film?

Thank you! My main motivation for making 'Ritual' was that I wanted an excuse to shoot in the small town of Manilla in rural New South Wales. My Aunty Jenny and Uncle Cam own a beautiful federation property there that served as the inspiration for me writing the story. Manilla gave us all the irresistible ingredients for making a haunting film such as 'Ritual', with locations and scenery that are both beautiful and brooding. It is a special part of the country that demands to be on the big screen.

Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?

‘Ritual’ touches on issues that have become extremely relevant in today's world. Themes such as religion, violence and patriarchy are all addressed throughout the film and resonate further when you consider the global discussion concerning abuse (whether it be physical, sexual, mental or spiritual). Films such as 'Ritual' are important to keep the conversation going as society strives to confront and understand the nature and ramifications of abuse in all its forms.

How do personal and universal themes work in your film?

I wanted to use ‘Ritual’ as a vehicle to investigate and illustrate the corrosive nature and impact of religious extremism and fanaticism. I think there is also a personal quality to this exploration because most people have had their lives impacted by religion in one way or the other, for better or for worse. No matter who, everyone has an opinion on organised religion that is positive, negative or even neutral.

How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?

The script was in a constant state of evolution right up until we began shooting. Sometimes this was because of the story and other times it was because of the schedule. Needless to say the first draft was wholly different to the final product. This was not necessarily a bad thing either in that some of the changes came about because of the collaborative nature of the process, especially during rehearsals with the actors. However, we made sure never to deviate from the core themes that buttressed the story. As for post production the only alterations we made to the film concerned moving scenes forward to keep it at a lively pace befitting a psychological thriller.

What type of feedback have you received so far?

The feedback has been really good so far. The only complaint people have is that they wished the film was longer!

Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?

I think the feedback that surprised me the most was the odd person that wanted more closure with the ending. It challenged my point of view in the sense that it made me think about the expectations of the audience and the art of the 'pay off' when it comes to finishing a psychological thriller.

What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?

As much exposure as possible. I think the invaluable quality of an outlet like www.wearemovingstories.com is its potential to shine a light on new and unique voices in a highly competitive and saturated market.

Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?

I think when it comes to making a short film the mission should be to show it to as many people as possible. Everyone can dream of a feature deal by way of a benevolent producer, but in the meantime you should be pragmatic in the pursuit of your film's visibility. The aim should be to show your film at as many festivals as possible before uploading it online to an accessible site such as Vimeo.

What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?

I hope whoever watches it wants to see more.

What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?

Does religion advance the human condition, or does it hinder it?

Would you like to add anything else?

I must give a big thanks to my producer Andrew Brinsmead who has been with this project since its inception. Also our Director of Photography Joel Froome ACS, deserves a huge amount of credit for delivering a stunningly cinematic vision. We were also honored to work with some of the best talent Australia has to offer with the services of acting greats such as Gary Sweet and Alison Whyte. Added to that we were also very lucky to be able to work with one of Australia's best young talents, Rory Potter, as well as being thoroughly captivated by a thrilling performance from Sam O'Dell. Sam was also a massive financial help to the film and the same must be said of our other associate producers: Sam Conrick, Richard Salter, Darren Ottawa and Sue Kingsmill. Also a big shout out to everyone at Spectrum, Sixteen19, our editing queen Danielle Boesenberg and my best mate John Towey who scored the film to perfection.

What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?

I will be doing a short film in rural Louisiana in May, 2019 with the aim of participating in the 2019 Louisiana Film Prize, the largest cash prize short film festival in America.

Interview: January 2019

We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela

Ritual

For the Devlin family, God is everything. When their eldest daughter disappears from their remote farm, the local cop sent to investigate is disturbed by what he uncovers.

Length: 15 Minutes

Director: Robert Linsley

Producer: Andrew Brinsmead

Writer: Robert Linsley

About the writer, director, producer and Director of Photography:

ROBERT LINSLEY (director and writer) is a filmmaker based out of Sydney Australia. A graduate of the New York Film Academy in New York City, Robert returned home to Sydney in 2013 to pursue his career in his homeland. After three years of rigorous development, Robert is proud to present Ritual as his directorial debut in Australia.

ANDREW BRINSMEAD (producer): Coming from a background in television and documentary editing, Andrew Brinsmead is a producer who has worked in Melbourne, Sydney & London. A producing graduate of the Australian Film, Television & Radio School, he’s produced numerous short films that have screened in major festivals in Australia & overseas.

JOEL FROOME (director of photography) is based out of New York and Sydney, Australia. A graduate of the prestigious Australia Film Television & Radio School, Joel has been recognized for his work by receiving numerous awards from the Australian Cinematographers Society (ACS) and various International film festivals. In 2018, Joel was awarded the highest honor in Australian cinematography by being accredited by the Australian Cinematographers Society giving him the privilege of using the letters ACS after his name.

Key cast: Gary Sweet, Rory Potter, Sam O'Dell and Alison Whyte

Looking for: producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists

Facebook: Ritual The Movie

Twitter: @RitualTheMovie1

Instagram: @ritualthemovie

Website: www.ritualthemovie.com

Made in association with: Plato Cave Productions

Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? January 12, 2019, Best of Australian Competition, Flickerfest 2019