Electronic Press Kit

IVY LEWIS has a problem with social constructs. She sees them. Even understands why most of them exist. But when you can’t feel fear, empathy or shame, what’s the point in following the rules?

There are words in Ivy’s chart to describe her. Words like narcissistic, manipulative, and sociopath. But her new therapist, EVELYN GREEN, suspects there are also words to describe what has made Ivy like this. Words like trauma, abandonment and repression.

As Evelyn, Ivy's ex-therapist JOHN MANNS and an unexpected stranger named HENRY O'BRIEN begin to unravel the complex knot that is Ivy - the car accident, her family issues, and the name she can’t say - we examine how the unspoken rules and social norms we live by can put us on the razors edge of a breakdown or a breakthrough.

The Rules is a black comedy about finding and confronting the things that define us, and having the courage to see them differently.

Directors Statement: Jim Lounsbury

2020 triggered a global existential crisis. Life as we once knew it no longer existed, and we were thrust into a new, unfamiliar place where the rules of human existence were being re-written, almost on a daily basis.

On top of this, our love lives are controlled by algorithms. Our social lives are curated for us by tech giants and our future is being planned by the people put us in this mess... and it's time to hit the reset button.

The Rules addresses that frustration and scratches that itch.

When Rose Treloar, a friend, actor and playwright approached me with the idea to explore the issues she felt being cooped up during the pandemic, I was like… Yeah, just write it and we’ll figure out how to make it. I’d always loved Rose’s acerbic wit and the dark comedic tone of her work on stage… and wanted to see if we could bring some of that energy to the screen and that’s how The Rules was born.

Made in 2021-22, with a fresh new lease on life as we were collectively released from lockdown and the pandemic, it was like a stretch before a boxing match with the energy of… c’mon let’s fuck some shit up. We did this over a 5 day shoot on a total shoestring. I think the total budget was somewhere around $10,000, spent mostly on props, wardrobe and feeding the cast and crew.

We were fortunate to work with a number of fantastic actors, namely Briony Williams who I’d worked with previously on the network TV show Lockie Leonard, and Socratis Otto, who had recently won a Logie for his turn on the popular Australian series Wentworth. Add to that, Brad Moller, Laurence Coy and a cameo by Travis Jeffrey, who gave us a day during a stint working on Planet of the Apes, and we had a great little tribe to bring this story to life. I can’t thank Sophie Jermyn enough (she’s the agent to 90% of these fine actors) for believing in the story and supporting us to get this made. She’s truly a friend to independent storytellers and I love her for it.

The script started as something more akin to a therapy session… and then evolved to include more visual manifestations of Ivy’s internal world, as we strove to paint a picture of a character who was struggling to feel something, and doing anything she could to move her internal needle.

To me, Ivy represents our own blunted feelings about the world. Our repressed desires and reckless impulses. Our self destructive tendencies and irrational fears. And my hope is that her journey to blindly address her own self-inflicted wounds inspires us to realise our need to re-evaluate our own terms of engagement with the world.

Another incredible contribution worth mentioning was from musician and songwriter Thandi Phoenix, who worked with our composer Jason Fernandez on an original song as the title track for the film. After Jason and Thandi worked out the bones of the track musically, Rose and Thandi worked on the lyrics for the song together, making this a truly special collaboration between screenwriter & songwriter. What a wonderful way to unify the themes of the film with a song that both lyrically and musically explores the same emotional territory as the character is experiencing on screen.

The Rules was a wonderful creative experience, and convinced me to continue believing in the power of just ‘getting it made’ when inspiration strikes. So many times, as filmmakers, we may write something from a raw, emotional place, but by the time we’re making it… the original, emotional intent can be somewhat dulled by time. We don’t often have the benefit of exploring our creative impulses in the moment, like songwriters or even playwrights. But, I believe that the world needs films told from raw, emotional places, and sometimes that is best captured in the weeks and months after a band-aid is ripped off, such as The Rules was after the lockdown lifted.

That immediacy and commitment to capturing the creative impulse in the moment it strikes is why I’m very proud of The Rules, and excited to share it with the world.

NOTE: The Rules was conceived as a TV series and this episode, though it stands on it’s own, is only the start of Ivy’s journey. If you are curious where we envisaged this journey going from here, here is our pitch deck for the series.

A few behind the scenes shots from Church Street Studios, where composer Jason Fernandez worked with Thandi Phoenix & Rose Treloar on the title track for The Rules.

Featuring shots of Emmy award winning music producer, recording engineer, musician and songwriter Sean Carey, who also worked on the track with us as engineer & session guitarist.

A one-take performance of Thandi recording the track ‘Swimming Down’.

CAST

Rose Treloar

Briony Williams

Socratis Otto

Travis Jeffrey

Brad Moller

Laurence Coy

Chris O’Mallon

Sheree da Costa

George Zhao

Grant Lyndon

Bron Bates

Rose Bates

CREW

Produced & Directed by

Written & Produced by

Producer

Cinematographer

Production Designer

Composer

Makeup & Wardrobe

Sound Design & Mix

Focus Puller & Underwater Unit

Second AC

Director’s Attachment

Sound Recordist

Boom Operator

Safety Officer

Original Title Track ‘Swimming Down’ by

Thandi Phoenix & Jason Fernandez

with lyrics by Rose Treloar