Lost Boy: Peter Skinner, Michael Sheasby short film in Oscars contention

A powerful short film shot entirely in the eastern suburbs by a local film maker and actor is in contention to be short-listed for the Academy Awards.

Move over Cate Blanchett, a short film shot in a beloved eastern suburbs RSL is preparing to take the Oscars by storm.

Lost Boy was written and directed by Kingsford’s Peter Skinner starring Maroubra’s Michael Sheasby and shot predominantly at the Malabar RSL arm of the South Juniors Leagues Club.

After scooping the prestigious Best Short Film Award at the 2021 St Kilda Film Festival, Lost Boy became eligible to enter the Oscars race.

Mr Skinner was raised in Maroubra, attended St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School Malabar and Waverley College and worked behind the bar himself for a time at The Juniors in Kingsford.

He said the lead character was based on the many of the struggling young men he knew growing up in the east.

“It all came together in a story I wanted to tell about the world I grew up in,” Mr Skinner said.

“To me, I’m just this kid from Maroubra and next thing I know I have a PR team helping me hopefully get an Oscar nomination.

“It’s a long road. First you need to make the film, which is hard enough, then you need to get into an Oscar qualified film festival and win best film and only then you can be considered to be short-listed.”

The Oscar shortlist will be revealed just before Christmas.

Supplied Editorial Actor Michael Sheasby is directed by Peter Skinner on the set of Lost Boy

Mr Sheasby, who is best known for his role in Mel Gibson’s Hacksaw Ridge said he was honoured to star in the short film especially since Mr Skinner is in many ways responsible for saving his career.

It was 2015 and after a disenchanting stage experience, Mr Sheasby had given up on his dream.

“I got a message from another actor that someone had pulled out of a short film,” Mr Sheasby said.

“I hadn’t acted in a year but next thing I knew was at Peter’s kitchen table and I agreed to do it.

“He rekindled my passion and after that I booked three jobs including Hacksaw Ridge.”

Actor Michael Sheasby and film maker Peter Skinner.

Working with Mr Skinner a second time around was even more rewarding than the first according to Mr Sheasby.

“It’s a film I am just so proud of. I’m so happy with the work in it and to suddenly turn around and hear it has become eligible for there’s Oscars and there’s an actual chance Pete’s work could be nominated and I could be a small part of it is just extraordinary,” Mr Sheasby said.

Lost Boy can be streamed for free on the ABC iview app.