“Shed Talks” by the SurfCoast Shire
The session offered valuable insights into acting, stage management, production, and distribution.
The Surf Coast Shire delivered another fantastic instalment of their Shed Talk series on Saturday 22 November, this time diving deep into the film industry, from acting and directing to distribution and production.
The session was expertly MC’d by Michelle Conn from Surf Coast Shire and featured a powerhouse lineup of industry professionals, including our very own Geelong Waterfront Film Foundation Director, Meryl Whiteside.
With a full room of emerging creatives, curious community members, and filmmakers at every stage of their journey, the energy was inspiring and the advice was gold.
The Panel
✨ Nicole Freeman – Actor, producer and founder of Freeman Films, known for creating authentic, story-driven content for businesses and communities.
✨ Meryl Whiteside – A multi-talented film, theatre and TV professional with decades of experience, passionate about championing local creative projects and showcasing Geelong’s unique filming locations.
✨Leslie Morris – Film distribution expert with a focus on bringing Australian and Southeast Asian stories to global audiences.
Our Top Takeaways!
🎥 Getting Started in the Industry
Nicole’s essentials:
Get to events – be seen, be curious, meet people.
Say yes often. Volunteer, help out, get on sets, build relationships.
Explore casting sites like StarNow and join industry Facebook groups.
Every opportunity leads to another. Keep the momentum going.
Leslie’s advice:
You already own a camera – your phone! Start shooting today.
Make something small and submit it to festivals.
Build your online presence through YouTube, TikTok or similar platforms.
🎬 Production Insights
Word of mouth is everything in this industry. Crews form through trusted connections.
The GWF database continues to be a valuable resource for local creatives looking for talent and crew.
Before approaching distributors: get strong actor photos for your poster and marketing. It’s often overlooked but incredibly important.
💰 Funding: Where to Begin
Explore the Surf Coast Shire’s Grant Guru platform for funding options.
Larger-scale productions may qualify for VicScreen tax offsets — speak with your accountant early.
And don’t forget, Geelong Waterfront Film Foundation runs local grants to support emerging and established creatives developing screen projects in our region.
✍️ Scriptwriting & Making Your First Film
Leslie kept it real:
Just start! Your first film won’t be perfect — and that’s the point.
Keep it simple: one location, a handful of actors, a manageable budget.
Don’t burn out on your debut. Treat the process as a learning experience.
🎧 Technical Tip for Beginners
Above all: audio matters.
Poor sound can disconnect your audience instantly — even if your visuals look great.
A Big Thank You
A huge thank you to the Surf Coast Shire for hosting this valuable and inspiring event. Shed Talks continue to offer incredible insights into creative industries while bringing the community together.
If you’d like to discover more free Arts & Culture events happening around Torquay, jump onto the Surf Coast Shire website, there’s always something exciting on the horizon.
