1. What was one of the most challenging moments you faced while making Mary in the Mirror? Did this ‘setback’ change the direction of the final story?

As a first-time short film maker leading a crew while directing actors was challenging. When trying to direct emotional performances from actors I felt I was also being pulled in the direction of the technicalities of filmmaking. A setback that came from this was that we didn’t get as much coverage as we would’ve liked for the final scene when Mary’s in the mirror, but the long take at the end also means the audience is left with a long lingering note, both literally and metaphorically, which I find special.

2. What was the biggest inspiration behind Mary in the Mirror?

I grew up in Whyalla and I remember being in my teens and out with my friends and from across the road we saw a young pregnant girl on a scooter. From within the group, there were cold jokes made about the girl, and I felt like a bystander because I didn’t say anything.

3. What message do you want the audience to take away from Mary in the Mirror?

I’d like to bring a new perspective of empathy towards teenage pregnancies, to encourage support towards these young women.

4. How was your experience filming in the City of Unley? Did you require the Council’s permission to film on Oxford Terrace?

Filming in Unley was really great and it by far created my favourite scene in the film. It was incredibly cold that night and halfway through the shoot close to midnight workers came to clear out a sewerage drain right where we were filming. I was blatantly lying to them and told them we had booked the space as I thought they were going to be there all night and I was scared, but finally, they told me the job wouldn’t take more than ten minutes and I cooled. We didn’t ask the council, but I spoke with the priest of Saint Spyridon church, Father John, as the street light is right in front of his church, and he said he didn’t mind at all.