Monolith (2022 film)

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Monolith
Directed byMatt Vesely
Written byLucy Campbell
Produced byBettina Hamilton
StarringLily Sullivan
CinematographyMichael Tessari
Edited byTania Nehme
Distributed byBonsai Films (Australia & New Zealand)
Release date
27 October 2022 (2022-10-27)
CountryAustralia
Budget<A$500,000

Monolith is a 2022 Australian sci-fi/thriller film due for release on 27 October 2022. It stars Lily Sullivan, the only on-screen actor in the film, as a journalist uncovering a mystery. Described as high-concept science fiction, the film is written by Lucy Campbell, directed by Matt Vesely, and produced by Bettina Hamilton.

Plot

"A disgraced journalist... turns to podcasting to salvage her career, before uncovering a strange artefact that she believes is evidence of an alien conspiracy".[1]

Cast

  • Lily Sullivan as The Interviewer
  • Erik Thomson as Dad (voice)
  • Kate Box as Laura (voice)
  • Terence Crawford as Klaus (voice)
  • Damon Herriman (voice)
  • Ling Cooper Tang as Floramae (voice)
  • Ansuya Nathan as Paula (voice)
  • Matt Crook as Scott (voice)
  • Rashidi Edward as John (voice)
  • Brigid Zengeni as Shiloh (voice)
  • Belle Kalendra-Harding

Production

Monolith is the first feature film to be produced as part of a joint initiative called "Film Lab: New Voices", by South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) and the Adelaide Film Festival (AFF). A development lab ran for 11 months, in which three teams (chosen for development out of an initial 63 contenders[2]) developed their scripts, and one was chosen for production at this time.[3] Monolith received an initial A$400,000 in funding from SAFC and AFF,[4] and with Mercury CX also helping to fund the film. The whole film was funded on less than A$500,000.[5]

Lucy Campbell wrote the script; it is directed by Matt Vesely (development manager at Closer Productions[1]) and produced by Bettina Hamilton.[4][6] The cinematographer is Michael Tessari and Tania Nehme edited the film.[1]

Filming took place in the Adelaide Hills from late May 2022. It is described as a high-concept science fiction thriller.[4] It is all shot on one location, and there is just one on-screen actor (Lily Sullivan); various actors' voices speak to her on the telephone. These include Damon Herriman, Erik Thomson, and Kate Box.[7]

Release and reception

Monolith had its world premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival[8] on 27 October 2022.[1]

Rachael Mead of InDaily wrote: "Sullivan is superb as the ethically dubious journalist, effortlessly holding the focus of the entire film", and "Vesely’s feature is far more than a clever manipulation of constraint to heighten tension... Beneath the thrilling claustrophobia lies a cunning puncturing of privilege and a clear-eyed critique of the way we construct, manipulate and ultimately consume 'truth' in a globalised world".[9]

Bonsai Films will distribute the film in Australia and New Zealand cinemas,[5] and interest was shown in the film while filming was under way.[10]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Monolith: World Premiere Gala". Adelaide Film Festival. 7 July 2022. Archived from the original on 16 July 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  2. ^ George, Sandy (22 February 2022). "Sci-fi 'Monolith' wins first greenlight from Australian film lab". Screen Daily. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Production to begin on sci-fi 'Monolith' from Film Lab: New Voices". IF Magazine. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "High Concept Sci-Fi Monolith Shoots in Adelaide Hills". FilmInk. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  5. ^ a b Jones, Craig (28 September 2022). "Monolith: Plot, Cast, and Everything Else We Know". MovieWeb. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Lily Sullivan sci-fi Monolith now shooting in Adelaide". Cinema Australia. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  7. ^ Debelle, Penelope (7 October 2022). "The state of science fiction". InDaily . Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  8. ^ Bolton, Cameron (25 May 2022). "Monolith: High Concept Sci-Fi Thriller Enters Production". MovieWeb. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  9. ^ Mead, Rachael (30 October 2022). "Adelaide Film Festival review: Monolith". InDaily. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  10. ^ "Film Lab feature MONOLITH announces casting, begins filming this week". Adelaide Film Festival. 24 May 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.

External links

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