Pope Fiction

Infobox Film
name = Pope Fiction


caption = Pope Fiction Cast
director = Jim Redman
producer = Jim Redman Haydn Mazzoni
writer = Jim Redman Haydn Mazzoni
starring = Haydn Mazzoni
released = Start date|2008|7|13
runtime = 4 min.
country = Australia
language = English

"Pope Fiction" is a 2008 independent short film directed by Jim Redman and stars Haydn Mazzoni as the main character, the Pope. The film was co-written by Redman and Mazzoni for the 2008 Newcastle Shoot Out film festival, where it received numerous awards including Best Comedy and Best Film." [http://www.theshootout.com.au/newcastle/documents/WinnersandscreeningMediaRelease2.doc The lost Pope wins THE SHOOT OUT] " (DOC). The Shoot Out. Retrieved on 8 October 2008.]

"Pope Fiction" was filmed in Newcastle, Australia, with the sole purpose for entry in the cities annual Shoot Out film festival. The short 4 minute film captures the Pope falling asleep on the train on the way to World Youth Day and ending up in the nearby city of Newcastle. The visual references to Bill Henson, the Benny Hill-esque chase scenes and the visual effects that the team were able to come up with while keeping with the no editing rule, really struck a cord with the judges.

Plot

The timely piece portrays the Pope's visit to Australia for World Youth Day, which was occurring at the time of the film's release. However in "Pope Fiction" the Holy Father falls asleep during travel and ends up in the nearby city of Newcastle which he mistakes for Sydney, the much larger capital.

While wandering the streets of Newcastle, the Pope enters Newcastle Regional Art Gallery where he views the controversial portrait of Olympia Nelson. [ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/art-or-abuse-fury-over-image-of-naked-girl-862068.html.] ] Dead link|date=October 2008Unbeknownst to him, a protest against the portrait has began outside and upon leaving the Pope offends the protesters.

Production

As the film was made for the 10th annual Shootout 24 Hour Film Festival, there were a number of requirements the film makers had to meet. [" [http://www.theshootout.com.au/newcastle/theshootingbrief.html The Shooting Brief] ". The Shoot Out. Retrieved on 8 October 2008.] First of which being that the entire film was to be filmed and submitted in 24 hours without any external editing.

The film was to also include a minimum of five items from a list of fifteen given to the filmmakers at the beginning of the 24 hour time frame. "Pope Fiction" included the following items:
*White Anchor - is in the extreme foreground when the Pope arrives in Newcastle and is lost, wandering the foreshore.
*Greek Statue (Woman with bowl) - can be seen when the Pope in inside the art gallery. A photograph of the statue is the other artwork, next to the controversial Naked Girl portrait.
*The Dude (The Shootout Logo) - one of the protesters is holding a sign of The Dude throughout the protest scenes.
*Double Phone Booth - is in the background behind the Pope, as he is confronted by the protesters.
*Purple Head Sculpture - the Pope and protesters run past the sculpture, the Pope then reappears from behind it.
*A Birthday Wish - The Pope stands on, and destroys, a birthday cake at the end of the chase scene.
*Bonus Item - A Pilgrim - When the Pope leaves for Rome on a ferry a number of Pilgrems can be seen joining him, including some holding the sign that reads 'TO ROME'.

Themes

The film references and makes fun of a number of topical, current events which was one of the attractions seen by the judges. These include the Pope's visit to Australia as part of World Youth Day celebrations as well as the recent Australian controversy involving Bill Henson and other artists, that use naked and supposedly sexualized images of children.

Cast

The film centers around Haydn Mazzoni as the Pope but features a number of cameos by the producer's friends and family:

*Nigel Evans as the bobby
*Cartia Mazzoni as the nun
*Stuart Evans as the picnic boy
*Sarah Pickering as the picnic girl
*Matt Cambourn as Wheelchair Bogan
*Kim Redman as Protester #1
*Kate Stevenson as Protester #2
*Ben Marchant as Protester #3
*Mary Dinh as Protester #4
*Luke Ramm as Protester #5
*Mel Murray as Protester #6

Awards

*2008 Best Film at the Newcastle Shootout Film Festival. The award was voted by a panel of judges including actors Damian Walshe-Howling, Matthew Newton and Gyton Grantley, Chaser's Chris Taylor, comedian Juila Morris and singer Marcia Hines.
*Best Comedy at the 2008 Newcastle Shootout Film Festival
*Best Soundtrack at the 2008 Newcastle Shootout Film Festival.

References