Rhae-Kye Waites: Gem
For eleven-year-old Rhae-Kye, a student of the Brewarrina Central School, the lead role of Gem was her first opportunity to act in a fiction narrative. On the second week of the shoot Rhae-Kye made the insightful comment about the role she was undertaking, stating it was ‘hard work’ as well as rewarding. On many occasions while shooting the film she reminded the director that she could not pretend ‘to be’ a certain way for a scene rather that was how she was. Rhae- Kye is an intuitive, honest and playful performer with an eagerness to learn. In Emu Runner she acts alongside her grandmother Mary Waites and her grandfather Lindsay Waites, as well as her cousin Letisha Boney.
Wayne Blair: Jay Jay
On television Wayne is best known for his AACTA-nominated work in two seasons and a tele-movie of Redfern Now for the ABC. Selected TV credits include Rowan Woods’ telemovie The Broken Shore, Small Claims, Fireflies, Water Rats, All Saints and Wild Side. More recently he starred in episodes of The Let Down, Squinters and Black Comedy as well as Mystery Road. Wayne’s film credits include The Turning – Family, the AACTA Award-winning Wish You Were Here, X, The Last Time I saw Michael Gregg, Blessed and Mullet. On stage Wayne has performed in True West directed by Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Tot Mom directed by Steven Soderbergh. Other theatre credits include The Sunshine Club, Inheritance and The Cherry Pickers for the Sydney Theatre Company; Jesus Hopped The A-Train, Stuff Happens, Run Rabbit Run, Conversations With The Dead, The Sapphires, The Dreamers and Cloud Street (International Tour) for Belvoir; Othello and Romeo and Juliet for the Bell Shakespeare Company, and Skin with Bangarra Dance Theatre. Wayne Blair is an acclaimed film and television director. He has directed for an array of television series including episodes of Redfern Now (some of which he wrote), Cleverman, Love Child, Offspring and The Gods of Wheat Street. His film directing credits include the award-winning film The Sapphires, September Of Shiraz and more recently Top End Wedding.
Maurial Spearim: Darlene
Maurial Spearim is an Indigenous woman from the Gamilaraay, Kooma, Muruuwari nation. A VCA graduate with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts Degree, Maurial continues to collaborate with a wide range of artists who, much like herself, have a passion to co-create, develop and perform. Maurial is interested in exploring theatre, song, and dance through the expressions of the body and the utterance of the voice, where artforms are combined to create a story evocative of past and present.
Credits include We Get It, Elbow Room/Neon for Festival Melbourne Theatre Company in 2015; Wentworth Foxtel 2013/2015; The Secret River 2015, Redfern Now tele-movie 2015; Who Stole The Sole state tour, Phunkitional Arts Limited 2013-2015; BalaaBalaa Yuli-Gi dancer 2015; Skin Choir Songlines, Aboriginal Music Corporation 2012-2014; Body Armor state and national tour, Ilbijerri Theatre Company 2010-2013; Seven Sisters dancer 2010-2013; Move It Mob Style, dancer 2012.
Georgia Blizzard: Heidi
Born and raised in Hobart, Georgia made the move to Sydney upon completing Year 12 to commence her studies at NIDA. She graduated with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts in 2015 and has worked across the mediums of theatre including the world premiere of Australian play The Surgeon’s Hands, television, with credits including Home and Away, and film, including award-winning short film Strange Beauty, The First Fagin and Thor: Ragnarok. She also spends her days teaching drama for children aged 2-12 in NIDA’s Open Program and dabbling in music and art.
Rob Carlton: Stan
Rob Carlton has been a professional actor since he was 15 years old. He won the Silver Logie for most outstanding actor for his portrayal of Kerry Packer in the ABC mini-series Paper Giants. He’s a multiple AACTA nominee in both drama and comedy categories. As a director Rob was the 2006 winner of Tropfest, as well as winning best actor at Tropfest that year. As a writer Rob won an Australian Writers Guild award for the show he created, Chandon Pictures. Chandon Pictures was also nominated for multiple AACTA awards, a Logie for most outstanding comedy and two Australian Directors Guild awards. Rob’s acting credits in a career over 30 years span television, theatre and film.
Introducing:
Letisha Boney
Rodney Mchughes
Lindsay Waites
Stella Carter
Anne Wright
Sandra Murphy