Filming 'Moons'

There’s every chance you haven’t heard of Amr Tawfik. I hadn’t until I saw (somewhere?) a brief advert looking for extras for a film that he was shooting.

What can you do when you see invitations like that but reply and offer up both my services and those of A&E plus their friend Seb.

Amr and I exchanged a series of slightly chaotic messages. With every message the location of the shoot grew more mysterious. Initially it was going to be in Googong – a new development just outside of Canberra, then in Gunghalin in the city’s north and finally we were told to head to Mulligans Flat – a nature reserve – we were even provided with grid co-ordinates of where to meet!

What we did know was that the film was called ‘Moons’ it was set in the future (a post-apocalyptic world) and we were to be in a montage that would form the start of the film. The rest of the film we were told had already been shot, but Amr needed a bit more material for the opening credits.

It was a freezing cold morning when we headed out to the location. The kids were fairly tentative, but they’re used to being asked to take part in crap like this and so they didn’t complain as much as perhaps they should have. It was 4 degrees when we arrived.

As we got out of the car it was like being in Hollywood. That is if you imagine a type of Hollywood where the director has one camera and him and his assistant are directing a group of student-types to run over the top of a hillock and then simulate giving one of their number a good kicking. 

The student-types were extras like us who were shooting another scene. They’d clearly tried harder than us and had dressed in ragged clothes and looked like the post-apocalyptic individuals they were supposed to be. We wore dark clothes, but no rips. A more upmarket apocalyptic group of survivors.

After about a dozen takes Amr was happy with what he’d shot. Sadly he didn’t declare that it was ‘in the can’ or anything like that, but it signalled that it was our turn.

The other extras disappeared into cars and drove off.

Amr explained that our role was to walk along and spot the film’s main protagonist who was walking determinedly towards us. We were to sight him and then it was my duty to pull the kids over to one side while the film’s main man strode onwards past us. We didn't have any lines, but then I guess I have to start my film career somewhere.

We found our spot and then proceeded to walk. But we'd gone too early and were called back for 'take two'. Take two and three were similar, We went too far to the right and the film's hero hadn't caught up to us. At about take five the kids suggested one of them stumble as we were walking. Amr agreed that we could try it but all three of the kids started to trip (several times) after a couple of goes Amr suggested we drop the idea. He said we looked clumsy rather than scared.

At about take 10 or 11 I think we'd perfected it. Amr said that he'd got what he needed - either that or he'd seen enough - a grown man trying to corral three constantly stumbling children.

I guess we won't know until we see the film whether we (literally) made the cut. Whether we did or not it was great to meet Amr. He told us that the guy playing the 'star' was the sixth lead that the film had had. Several people had been in the role, but had either moved away, got other jobs or just lost interest. Because the character wore a mask Amr felt he could get away with it. I wasn't entirely convinced.

I'm looking forward to the release date now. Apparently sometime this year!

Amr centre next to the main star (well star no.6 at least)

An artificial gun made by Amr himself.

On location