Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies in cameo roles in White Lies at Flickerfest

The Morning Show hosts Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies are making a surprise cameo at Bondi’s short film festival.

Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies make cameo appearances in White Lies at Flickerfest. Picture: Christian Gilles

Breakfast TV favourites Kylie Gillies and Larry Emdur are taking on new roles in Flickerfest, Bondi’s Academy and BAFTA recognised short film extravaganza.

The Morning Show hosts are joined by former deputy prime Minister Barnaby Joyce in making cameo spots in White Lies, a 12-minute short film by Sydney director Greg Moran.

Moran wouldn’t give too much away about their roles for fear of ruining the storyline.

“Comedy is about the gap between expectation and reality. If people expect it then it’s not funny,” the writer, producer, director and motivational speaker said.

Moran became a C3/4 quadriplegic at the age of 15, when he was a student at Sydney’s St Ignatius College Riverview and playing rugby.

Larry and Kylie have been a TV team for more than 14 years.

Barnaby Joyce went to school with filmmaker Greg Moran.

He has very little movement below his shoulders and uses a mouth stick to type.

Moran, 55, has enjoyed varied careers as a painter, winery manager, counsellor and comedian.

Sydney filmmaker Greg Moran.

“You could say I am a sit-down, stand-up comedian,” he joked.

Moran will be doing a two-year masters degree in producing at the The Australian Film Television and Radio School, starting in 2023.

Greg Moran’s short film White Lies is screening at Flickerfest in January. Picture: Supplied

His film White Lies is one of 200 of the most inspiring short films that have been hand-picked to show at Flickerfest at Bondi Pavilion, out of a pool of more than 3000 entrants.

“It’s a very prestigious festival and hard to get into, so we’re really pleased,” he said.

In Moran’s words, White Lies is a little morality tale about a father and daughter.

The film stars David Woodland, Ed Wightman and Kyra Harlan.

“It’s based around someone trying to get their kid into a Catholic school, and pretending to be a bit more religious than they really are. I thought it was a good avenue for comedy.”

Greg Moran on set.

“These well intentioned lies escalate out of control and the father has to choose between having money and power, and being a good role model for his daughter.”

Half the challenge of securing big-name cameos, he added, is simply “not thinking you can’t get somebody because of their status”.

Moran and Joyce have been friends since childhood, as they were students together at Riverview.

The filmmaker’s other recent short film, Culicidae, about a quadriplegic and a pesky mosquito, has won several awards, including Best Comedy and Best Australian Short Film at the Newcastle Short Film Festival, as well as the Grand Jury Prize at Sydfest.

Flickerfest runs from January 20 to 29.

Originally published as Larry Emdur and Kylie Gillies in cameo roles in White Lies at Flickerfest