Wiley Park’s Belle Myers wins film award for They’re Listening
Rachael Belle Myers, a part-time writer/director from Wiley Park, has won the Women in Film & TV prize for Best Female Creative at the 2019 Smartfone Flick Festival.
The Express
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Wiley Park’s Rachael Belle Myers is savouring her latest award in her blossoming film career, taking home the Women in Film & TV prize for Best Female Creative at the 2019 Smartfone Flick Fest in Sydney.
Her latest film, They’re Listening, shot in Rouse Hill, has also been nominated for the Best International Film at this weekend’s Last Frame Smartphone Film Festival in London.
Ms Belle Myers is particularly chuffed because she is only able to write and direct her films during her spare time, holding down a full time job as a instructional designer — creating e-learning videos.
“This award is unique and special to me,” Ms Belle Myers said. “It wasn’t just about my film, it was about my career.
“It was truly an honour to be recognised for not just this film but the years of work, commitment and perseverance that I have dedicated to the art of filmmaking.
RACHAEL BELLE MYERS FILM TAKES OUT AWARD
“My goal is to inspire change in the world through visual storytelling and to be recognised for my efforts by an organisation like WIFT is truly incredible.”
They’re Listening, produced by her own firm, Jaded Belle Productions,premiered in Sydney on September 15 at the Smartfone Flick Fest Film Festival.
Ms Belle Myers’ previous film, Three Feet Deep, earned the Best Musical Score for Anisha Thomas at the 2018 Made in West Film Festival.
The script for They’re Listening was written in two hours, shot in nine hours and edited in two days.
They’re Listening is based on her own experience when she was on a holiday and told her partner that she had a sore neck.
She said soon afterwards, her social feeds were flooded with adverts for pillows and mattresses and she became paranoid that her conversations were being secretly monitored.
“They’re listening to us, it’s no longer a conspiracy theory,” Ms Belle Myers said.
“They admit it too. And for some reason we should be ok with that?
“This film was made to bring to light the fact that this is already happening to all of us no, however, you still have a choice.”
“You can still find a corner of the earth where your conversations will not be recorded.”
Ms Belle Myers is working on a web series, called Trolls Anonymous about four internet trolls who are sentenced to a rehab facility to change their cyberbullying ways.
Being a victim of trolls on social media and bullying at school, Ms Bell Myers says she wants this dark comedy to help others deal with these issues.
“If you put yourself out there, you do get people commenting on you,” she said.
“You can’t let the haters get you.”