Redcliffe local’s lead role in new thriller film

Filming has wrapped up on an independent film, recently shot in Moreton Bay, with a Redcliffe actress as the lead.

Hagar’s Hut, directed by Stephen Osborne, is a psychological thriller drama filmed in the Kurwongbah countryside over a four-week period.

Redcliffe’s Zarlia Chisholm plays the lead role of Skye and says developing the film was a three-person job.

“Me and Steve ended up creating this concept – me, Steve and my mum actually,” she says.

“We created the concept of the film because the location is actually based on my childhood growing up…it’s on one of my mum’s best friend’s properties, so it’s pretty much like my second home – I grew up there.”

Zarlia has been acting since she was 10 years old and has known Stephen since she was 12.

Now 19, Hagar’s Hut will be her sixth feature film and the role will stretch her as an actor.

“I really wanted to challenge myself to get into a role or a character that was a bit more complex.” Zarlia explains.

Stephen says the film is intense and experimental.

“It has a lot to do with mental illness and being medicated for it…it’s kind of a twist on how extreme medication can be for particular people,” he says.

“We’re trying to keep it really edgy; really experimental…we want it to be a little bit unsettling the whole way through.”

After reading the script, written by Jesse Seeley, Zarlia felt the role was perfect for her long-term acting goals.

“When Steve first sent me the script…I read (it) and saw how much character development my character Skye had,” she says.

“I really fell in love with how the story progressed, especially with the second lead character in it – who Lincoln Lewis is playing – I really loved their relationship.

“I just loved the overall complexity of the script. I trusted Steve completely, so I knew he would execute it really well.”

Filming wrapped in mid-July and the crew expects to complete the film by the end of August.