The Cranker - A Bar On Borrowed Time

Interview with director Lyra Noblet

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

I was quite lucky in that we didn't face many severe challenges, which is rare for any production but especially documentaries. I'd say the most stressful moment for me was when one of our key interviewees almost didn't show up on one of the days. He was very busy with work, and it was up in the air whether he'd show up or not. Luckily, he was able to squeeze in an hour or so for us, and he ended up being the best subject.

2. What was the biggest inspiration behind your short film?

At the time of making this documentary, I was very much into the live music scene in Adelaide. I'd often go to gigs as well as play drums in a band with my friends. I'd seen a few venues close down during this time such as Arthur's Art Bar (which thankfully is open again) and it was devastating to see such important places of culture have to close their doors due to lack of appropriate funding or international developers, which was the case for the Cranker.

3. Let’s say you had to make this film all over again. Knowing what you know now, is there one thing you’d do differently? And if there’s nothing you’d change, what have you learnt since finishing the film that you didn’t know on day one?

I think that I underestimated the degree of preparation needed for interviewing people, especially when you're meeting them for the first time as they're sitting down in front of the camera. Now that I've shot another documentary and worked as crew on a couple others I feel that I would've got much better responses if I'd taken more time getting to know my interviewees before we started rolling.

4. At its core, can you tell us what The Cranker: A Bar On Borrowed Time is about, and what do you hope audiences will discover when they come to see the film?

I really wanted to highlight the importance that spaces like the Cranker hold within the live music scene here in Adelaide, as well as the significance of the heritage buildings these spaces often occupy. I hope that more people start to realise the importance and the power behind uniting together to support a good cause such as saving the Cranker.