Synopsis: Another child star who fucked up.

Melbourne Tribe / Tribe Online Movie News- Local Focus "Spliced" by Walter Bird and Anastasia Safioleas (edited)

(From an article about Dean Francis' production company JJ Splice)

Katrina Mathers and Dean Francis

...It's I Can't Even Think Straight! and the accompanying MY PENIS WILL EXPLODE* (directed by fellow JJ Splice member Katrina Mathers) that have attracted the most attention...

...A relatively recent addition to the JJ Splice team is Katrina Mathers. She's the director behind the inexplicably-titled MY PENIS WILL EXPLODE - a behind the scenes look at I Can't Even Think Straight!

A fellow actor, Mathers has also been involved in everything from TV, film, radio and theatre to acting, producing, directing and writing - before meeting co-conspirator Francis.

Starting out as a receptionist for a production company, she found work with casting queen Liz Mullinar, before settling at the ABC.

Soon after, Mathers found herself working as a producer at a low-budget level, and before long was making her own short films - her producing debut was Teenage Portraits.

"I spent a lot of time trying to work out how I could make a living in the industry, without having to be a production secretary or continuity person. For a few years, it was really hard," she says.

"Then I found out that Dean was looking for someone to do some behind the scenes stuff for I Can't Even Think Straight!. So we got together and had a chat and pretty much clicked straight away."

Forging a career in the Australian film industry poses problems. Francis cites the financial aspect of filmmaking as the greatest threat of all.

"Money is always a huge concern. Our projects thus far have primarily been self-financed, or financed through money borrowed or invested by people who believe in what we do," he says.

"At the moment, JJ Splice is a fair way away from breaking even, and is basically financed through a whole bunch of people's day jobs."

Both also cite a general lack of inspiration when it comes to the film industry within Australia.

According to Mathers, "There are a couple of filmmakers working in Australia that I like to keep my eye on, and they come up with interesting stuff. People like Rolf de Heer...

Similarly, Francis believes Australian film, as a whole, is continually struggling to find a voice. He cites new Australian films Angst and Sensitive New Age Killer as examples.

"The fundamental problem with the industry is that it's reactive. People are quick to reproduce something that has previously been successful."

Mathers probably sums up the mission of the visionary filmmakers best.

"I'm really trying to close my eyes and search my own gut for what I really want to say. I'd rather just be me."

*CRAZY RICHARD was originally titled MY PENIS WILL EXPLODE.

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Page last updated: 6 August, 2004